Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy: An Integrative Approach

by Elsie Jones-Smith

This text offers an extensive array of theories, including all the mainstream approaches as well as contemporary ones such as narrative, feminist, and post-modern. The author provides an integrative framework that allows students to assess the various theories with respect to possible clinical application. By comparing and contrasting the theories, as well as analyzing strengths and weaknesses of each, students will learn to apply them more flexibly in practice. The book is divided into four major theoretical forces in psychotherapy and introductory sections are provided to help students place a particular theory within a major theoretical period. The four theoretical forces discussed (1) psychoanalytical and psychodynamic; (2) behavioral and cognitive school(s); (3) existentialism and humanism; and (4) social constructivism school of psychotherapy. The author discusses social constructivism and then describes at least five theoretical approaches within this theoretical force--solution-focused therapy, narrative therapy, strengths-based therapy, and so on.

Genres: Psychology, School, Textbooks, Counselling

696 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2011

Reviews

[Luke Heberle · Rating 2 out of 5]

A fairly poor introduction to counseling theory. I felt that the explanations of theory were repetitive and lacking in insight. At times, I even found statements that revealed that the author fundamentally misinterpreted some theories, for instance, she equates functional competence in strengths based theory with the good enough mother in object relations theory. She also presumptuously credits herself as the founder of strengths based theory. To her credit, the descriptions and histories of theories aren’t completely inaccurate, only they are convoluted and not concise. Despite the authors credentials, I do not find this to be a credible academic text.

[Carolina Leal · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book to better understand different psychotherapeutic approaches

[Ashley Van Vonderen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author lays the bare theories out there for introductory courses. The text does what it aims to do, with clear and readable text.