The psychology of women's health is an area traditionally controlled by male-orientated scientists, psychologists and doctors. Women by definition have been unquestioningly seen and treated as deviant from the male norm. This model has been challenged by feminist historians and sociologists but not by psychologists who seem to have implicitly accepted the medical model and emphasised the pathology in women's behaviour and emotions. In this book women's views and their experience of their own health and health care are taken seriously and analysed within a psychological and a feminist angle.

This new edition from a trusted author team bridges the gap between psychological theory and social work practice. Revisited and re-structured to reflect the changing social work context, it provides an authoritative introduction to the key ideas, skills and research from psychology and highlights their role within effective social work practice.