An introduction to counselling and psychotherapy : theory, research and practice

Text includes: What it's like to be a client; What it's like to be a therapist; Building a therapeutic relationship: working together; The process of therapy: the beginning; The hard work: choices, learning, and change; Leaving therapy; The psychodynamic tradition; The cognitive-behavioural perspective; Interpersonal therapies; Person-centred, humanistic and experiential approaches; Transactional analysis: a comprehensive theoretical system; Gestalt therapy; Existential therapy; Narrative approaches to therapy; Working with families; The use of art in therapy; Therapy in nature: using the outdoor environment; Religion and spirituality; Embodied conversations: implications of developmental neuroscience and other biologically informed perspectives; Integrative therapies; Pluralistic therapy; The historical context of contemporary practice; Culturally sensitive therapy; Therapy and the social; Gender and sexuality; A social justice orientation: therapy as political action; The qualities of effective therapists; Professional structures for supporting therapist competence; Working within an ethical and moral framework; Using research to inform practice; Making use of different delivery formats to enhance access and effectiveness; Looking ahead: future challenges for the psychotherapeutic professions.

This book provides a comprehensive introduction to the theory and practice of counselling and psychotherapy. It has been thoroughly updated with new research, examples from practice, case studies and a matrix of psychotherapeutic practice. A new radical 2-part structure separates practical and theoretical topics and helps readers to track key themes across each section.