Introduction to Counselling and Psychotherapy: The Essential Guide

by Stephen Palmer (Editor)

Stephen Palmer is joint award winner of the Annual Counselling Psychology Award for outstanding professional and scientific contribution to Counselling Psychology in Britain for 2000. `An Introductory Text that applies a down-to-earth approach to a diversity of 23 therapeutic approaches within couselling and psychotherapy, it was actually a pleasure conducting the review and having to read over the oulined models....It is a definate entry for counselling training courses and will offer pleanty of ideas for those teaching as well as training. It is fun to read and offers numerous ideas of how to put into place counselling techniques′ - Counselling Psychology Review This essential guide t

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Stephen has written/edited over 50 books including the Handbook of Counselling, Handbook of Coaching Psychology, Cognitive Behavioural Coaching in Practice, Brief Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Developmental Coaching, The Coaching Relationship and Solution Focused Coaching in Practice. He developed the PRACTICE model of coaching and counselling. He is Professor of Practice at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David.

In his spare time, he produces 10 webradio stations.

Reviews

[abughug · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are wanting to get an introduction to some popular therapeutic approaches, this is an excellent book. I have tried to find resources like this that are beginner-friendly, well-structured, and neutral to help me compare/contrast modalities and this is it.

Each chapter on a modality is written by a practitioner with knowledge on that modality. The voice/writing changes in each chapter (some are more dry, others are more personable), but the organization is generally the same. There are 3 chapters at the end about diversity, professional development, and research.

For folks like me in the US, it is a UK-based book, so be aware that the language, references, resources, organizations, and laws they discuss are not super relevant. Nonetheless, the content is applicable.

I’d recommend this for beginner therapists or experienced therapists wanting to explore other modalities and understand more about the approach’s history, theory, practice, and ideal clients.

[Sandeep Gautam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant book that provides an understandable overview of 23 different therapies. The therapies range from existential to cognitive to personal construct or REBT or reality or Primal Integration etc . Most therapies add a unique lens of viewing people and how their problems originate or can be solved. The chapters are structured excellently with origination, theory, practice and case studies elucidating the basic mechanism and technique very cogently . Reading it is a pleasurable experience, each chapter stands on its own , but you can also contrast with other therapies and techniques to get an overall sense. This should stand in good stead for all in the counseling/ helping profession.