The Beginner's Guide to Counselling & Psychotherapy
- Stephen Palmer - Centre for Stress Management, London, Centre for Coaching, London
Are you interested in the field of counselling and psychotherapy or just starting out in your training? Trying to get to grips with the many different approaches and decide which are right for you? This book can help!
An ideal introductory text that assumes no prior knowledge, leading authors in the field provide overviews of 26 counselling and psychotherapy approaches in accessible, jargon-free terms. Each approach is discussed using the same framework to enable easy comparison and evaluation, covering:
· Development of the Therapy
· Theory and Basic Concepts
· Practice
· Which Clients Benefit Most?
· Case study
Four further chapters offer an insight into the therapeutic relationship, working with diversity, professional issues, and research, while resources such as suggested reading, discussion issues, appendices of further information and a comprehensive glossary help you consolidate your learning.
So look no further if you want to know the differences between counselling and psychotherapy, compare psychodynamic and psychoanalytic theories, discover how constructivist approaches can be applied in practice, learn about third wave CBT therapies, or just get an general overview of the field; this second edition of a bestseller gives you a whirlwind tour of the breadth, complexity, fascination and problems of the field of counselling and psychotherapy.
Written by established leaders in the field and talented (relative) newcomers, this book is a comprehensive introduction to the wider field of counselling and psychotherapy and as such will be useful to trainees across a range of the psychological professions. The chapters on diversity, research and professional issues are a crucial and welcome addition to the field and should enable practitioners to recognise their wider role in clients’ lives.
This work provides an exemplary introduction to the field of counselling and psychotherapy. An impressively wide range of theoretical modalities are covered in a svelte manner that recommends this text as both a sound resource for beginner counsellors and psychotherapists as well as a valuable reference for seasoned practitioners. Of particular recommendation is the manner in which the text aids the reader in understanding how these modalities fit into the broader field. This is done through effective introductions and examinations of topics such as the therapeutic relationship, relationships among different approaches and through the exploration of contemporary research and practice issues. It is undoubtedly a text that one will want on their shelves for ready and repeated use.
Incorporating contributions from key figures with in the counselling field, this book provides an excellent introduction to the diversity of counselling approaches that underpin contemporary practice. It also addresses important issues such as the significance of research, diversity counselling and the maintenance and development of professional and ethical practice. Authoritative but accessible, it is a valuable introductory text for trainee counsellors and prospective clients alike, as well as a useful resource for practitioners wishing to keep abreast of wider developments within the counselling world.
There is a great need for textbooks that help students and practitioners make sense of all the different approaches to counselling and psychotherapy. The second edition of Stephen Palmers' book helps us do that. The case studies at the end of each chapter help bring it all to life especially as they are written by those who actually apply the various theories day to day.
I also liked the way that differing approaches to CBT were treated separately rather than lumped together as they are in some introductory texts. Other useful additions are the chapters outlining a pluralist approach to the therapeutic relationship and overviews of professional issues, research and diversity issues.
This book makes a solid contribution to the literature on counselling and psychotherapy, underpinned by the rich expertise and extensive professional experience of the many authors. Stephen Palmer has done an excellent job in editing an accessible yet wide-ranging coverage of the field. This text will appeal not just to beginners but also practitioners and other interested readers. I look forward to recommending it to my students.
This book is some useful in my teaching. It has allowed me to teach a subject that I did not know a lot about. It is simple to use and the case studies are an excellent resource.
I have chosen this as an additional source for students, as it is a comprehensive text, inclusive of all the foundational concepts and theories related to counselling. A good resource for students beginning with counselling theory
Clearly laid out for students who are new to the area of Counselling.
Good variety of counselling approaches which students can use as a reference book.
A good basic introduction to counselling for beginners.
This book is more appropriate for the health visitors who attend the introduction to the person-centered approach- it works well as a revision for the CfD delegates but is certainly suitable for a beginner who is considering understanding the process of person-centered listening and contemplating either engaging with or training in a therapeutic discipline
Sage College Publishing
