Soljana Çili and Lusia Stopa have written an accessible account of the ‘memory-self’ relationship and its relevance to clinical practice using cognitive, social, personality and clinical psychology literature. The authors’ aim is to advance and guide the holistic conceptualization of the ‘memory-self’ relationship and the role it plays in a range of common mental health conditions.

Chapter 1 provides an overview of autobiographical memory and the factors that may influence how people relate to it in everyday life. The authors have succinctly provided rich detail to help the reader develop a multi-dimensional understanding of autobiographical memory.

Chapter 2 digs deeper into the ‘memory-self’ relationship and brings together the theoretical underpinnings of the constant interplay between memory and the self with the goal of developing and maintaining a positive and coherent sense of self that remains stable over time.

Chapter 3 focuses on the more immediate influence autobiographical memory has on the self in the ‘here and now’. The authors draw on contemporary cognitive models to explain how autobiographical memory has a transient impact on an individual's affective state, their self-perceptions and behaviour.

Chapter 4 explores the impact the ‘memory-self’ relationship has on psychological well-being, and pays particular attention to the role of autobiographical memory and memory-related intrusive images in psychopathology. The authors refer to memory characteristics and mental images and how these function in healthy individuals and those affected by psychopathology including conditions such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and psychosis.

Chapter 5 initially considers how cognitive behavioural therapy addresses autobiographical memory using established techniques. The authors suggest an approach to enhance the therapeutic interventions of this gold standard model of treatment, by introducing the importance of the narrative identity perspective and identifying therapeutic goals towards achieving a more positive and coherent life story. The authors helpfully suggest a model for the mechanism for change of their theory.

Chapter 6 discusses the literature relating to previous chapters, highlights ongoing issues and debates, and threads these ideas together to present a holistic perspective of autobiographical memory in order to develop more effective therapeutic interventions. The authors highlight the need for greater communication between research and practitioner disciplines in order to achieve a harmonious synthesis of research in practice.

In summary, Soljana Çili and Lusia Stopa provide a comprehensive yet accessible understanding of the ‘memory-self’ relationship and the role it plays in a range of common mental health conditions. It is a book that bridges research and practice, offering depth of understanding. It is perhaps most helpful to people who work with individuals with more complex or chronic mental health difficulties, although is completely applicable to mild and moderate conditions.