Brief Counselling: A Practical Integrative Approach

Front Cover
McGraw-Hill Education (UK), Mar 16, 2006 - Psychology - 304 pages
Praise for the previous edition:

“…an excellent resource for all trainee and beginning counsellors irrespective of theoretical orientation. I regard it as a core text for Professional and Clinical Practice components of counsellor education and training courses.”
Ian Horton, formerly Principal Lecturer, University of East London

Praise for the current edition:

"This book is a must. It informs the beginner and experienced counsellor howto undertake brief counselling, step by step, from orienting the client tocounselling, to termination of counselling."
Professor Stephen Palmer, City University, London and Director for the Centre for Stress Management.

Almost two thirds of counsellors and psychotherapists work with clients in up to twenty sessions each: this book reflects that reality and the challenges involved.

The bestselling first edition of this book, by two of the UK's leading counsellor trainers and academics, was praised by trainers and tutors for its accessibility, comprehensiveness and practicality. It was also a leading contribution to the movement towards time-conscious counselling and to an understanding of the therapeutic alliance across time.

The second edition has been thoroughly updated to include significant recent professional developments and new thinking in the counselling field. Additions include more detailed discussion of:

  • Assessment
  • Contracting
  • Very brief counselling
  • Clinical reasoning
  • Clients' modalities
  • Technical repertoire
  • Depression and realism
  • Supervision of brief counselling
In the rapidly maturing profession of counselling, this book's sensitivity to time as a precious resource, clients' perceptions, evidence-based guidelines and integration of some of the best thinking from several counselling models make it an ideal core text for beginners and reflective practitioners. Thoughtful and busy practitioners in primary care, employee counselling, educational, voluntary and private practice settings will find many immediately helpful ideas and examples in this classic text.

From inside the book

Contents

Introduction to II Edn
1
Introduction
3
Part I ORIENTING THE CLIENT TO COUNSELLING
9
Part II ASSESSING THE CLIENTS CONCERNS
43
Part III INITIATING CHANGE
89
Part IV ENCOURAGING CHANGE THROUGH HOMEWORK
111
Part V COUNSELLING IN THE MIDDLE PHASE
137
Part VI ENDING COUNSELLING
165
Appendix 3
192
Appendix 4
198
Appendix 5
205
Appendix 6
207
Appendix 7
211
Appendix 8
213
References
215
Index
223

Afterword
184
Appendix 1
187
Appendix 2
189
Back cover
237
Copyright

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Page 45 - ... attachment may develop between worker and client system in the course of their working together. For lesbian or gay clients, it may be the first time they have met someone who has been able to listen to their questions and concerns and been able to accept and respect them as unique individuals. For workers, it may be the first time they have had the opportunity to get to know and to work with a gay or lesbian individual or group. Terminating the relationship may evoke feelings for both worker...
Page 189 - FIVE possible responses to each of the questionnaire items: 1 = Strongly Disagree (SD) 2 = Disagree (D) 3 = Undecided (U) 4 = Agree (A) 5 = Strongly Agree (SA) Circle the number that best describes how much you agree or disagree with each statement.
Page 189 - Please indicate the extent to which you tend to agree or disagree with each statement. In each case, make your choice in terms of how you feel right now, not what you have felt in the past or would like to feel.
Page 1 - Preface to the second edition The first edition of this book was written in 1990/1991 and was my very first foray into the world of books and writing on such a scale.
Page 33 - ... 7. Patients faced with a truly unsolvable problem. Acknowledging the impossibility of change and aiding patients to cease useless or compulsive attempts to solve the impossible may help them attain a measure of equanimity and acceptance by letting go of further treatment and attempts for 'cure.
Page 181 - Accepts that many changes will occur "after therapy" and will not be observable to the therapist. Does not accept the timelessness of some models of therapy. Fiscal issues often muted, either by the nature of the therapist's practice or by the organizational structure for reimbursement. Views psychotherapy as being sometimes useful and sometimes harmful. Sees being in the world as more important...
Page 141 - refers to those aspects of relationship which may have been absent or traumatic for the client at particular periods of his or her childhood and which are supplied or repaired by the psychotherapist usually in a contracted form during the psychotherapy.
Page 198 - Using the 9-point scale shown below, please indicate how much you agree or disagree with each statement by circling one of the numbers on the scale beside the statement.

About the author (2006)

Dr Colin Feltham is Reader in Counselling, Sheffield Hallam University.

Windy Dryden is Professor Psychotherapeutic Studies, Goldmsiths College, University of London.

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