The Beginning Psychotherapist's Companion

by Jan Willer

Filling in the gaps from students' lack of experience and confidence, The Beginning Psychotherapist's Companion, Second Edition is a supportive and empathetic guide, addressing real-world concerns and providing essential insights not taught in textbooks.

With a reassuring and clear writing style, Willer offers practical suggestions and clinical examples to address the professional development and emotional concerns of the beginning psychotherapist. She guides readers through structuring the first session, making clinical observations, and establishing a therapeutic alliance. Through the use of culturally diverse clinical vignettes, Willer discusses the foundations of ethical practice, including informed consent, confidentiality, documentation, and setting boundaries. The reader is guided on how and when to refer clients for medication and other health care. Crisis management principles are detailed, including suicide and violence risk assessment, child abuse, elder abuse, intimate partner violence, and rape. Willer also provides professional advice on contemporary concerns such as social networking, online searches of clients, the psychotherapist's internet presence, and other important emerging challenges. Comprehensive, practical,
and thoroughly updated, The Beginning Psychotherapist's Companion, Second Edition is the ideal resource for students and early career psychotherapists.

Genres: Psychology

490 pages, Paperback

First published July 31, 2008

Reviews

[Degan Walters · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit simplistic but a decent primer / base for discussion

[Sarah Skeeters · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing. It covers the things not taught in class - exactly how should you dress? What happens when the supervision relationship goes awry? and so much more. The book provides questions for specific disorders which a therapist can ask in order to gain valuable information. I would recommend this book for any mental health grad student. It is an invaluable resource!

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Touches on virtually every aspect of therapy a beginner therapist might want to have awareness of. Certainly doesn't go deep into any topic, but is the starting point for a lifetime's reflection.

Includes practical information about running a private practice also.


Very useful in writing reflection papers for grad school.