The theory behind Co-Counselling argues that emotional expression should be welcomed and that human beings can help each other recover from past distress by taking turns giving and receiving attention. Benefits of the method include the acceleration of personal growth and the reduction of the stresses inherent in the practitioner's role. This accessible book offers a serious challenge to much of what is currently considered good practice in mental health services, and succeeds in developing a dialogue between co-counselling and other therapeutic approaches. It provides a thorough introduction to the method, incorporating recent developments in the field and providing a comprehensive account of both the theory and practice. The reader also benefits from inclusion of clinical material outlining the experiences of people from a range of backgrounds offering evidence of the value of Co-Counselling. Co-Counselling offers a model that has many implications for anyone struggling with emotional problems, particularly those recovering from discrimination, prejudice and oppression. Counsellors and psychotherapists will find this book to be an invaluable resource which both challenges and stimulates.

Annotation This comprehensive account of Co-Counselling theory presents valuable insights into subjects including human vulnerability to distress, the societal context of emotional problems and emotional discharge in relation to the healing process.

This is the second edition of a book that I hope continues to be of practical value. For counselling must always be that: practical. No amount of talking, on its own, can really make a difference if people do not end up doing something as a result of counselling. The practical thread remains an important one throughout this edition. Counselling Skills for Health Professionals is not just a 'how to do it' book: people are probably too complicated for that approach to be of much use. Counselling is never simply a matter of learning a range of skills which you then apply in a range of settings. In the end, counselling is about facing the person in front of you, listening to them carefully and then supporting them as they work through their problems. For many problems, there are no easy answers and counselling doesn't offer any 'quick fixes'. It is essentially a supportive process. There are many things it cannot do. It cannot change certain social and political situations. It cannot cure diseases. On the other hand, what it can do is offer people more hope. Often, just the fact that there is somone who is prepared to hear your story and to listen to you is all that is needed. I remain convinced that the key issue in all types of counselling is the ability to listen.

Becoming a Counsellor is a one-stop reference book for all new counselling trainees. Whether starting out on an introductory course or tackling a postgraduate diploma, this book will make the journey to professional qualification that little bit easier. It addresses the complexities and challenges of counselling training by confronting and unpicking the many potentially daunting issues and questions faced by students throughout their training. The book covers a comprehensive range of topics, including - choosing a course and theoretical orientation - clarifying roles - who′s who on the course? - explaining common pedagogical activities and expectations, including the personal development journal - assessment, supervision and support - ethical and legal issues. While earlier chapters introduce methods of learning and developing for those new to the field, later sections addressing research, supervision and placements will be of interest to students who are studying at a higher level. This engaging, straightforward introduction to counselling will be an essential companion for students new to counselling throughout their training, whether on basic introductory or postgraduate diploma courses.

Practical Counselling and Helping is a practical, jargon-free guide to counselling. It offers clear information about how counselling and helping may be put into practice, whilst acknowledging and discussing its limitations. Contents include: * what is counselling and helping? * basic counselling and helping strategies * handling difficult situations * further personal development. Drawing from a range of counselling methods, and offering a useful and detailed reading list, Practical Counselling and Helping will appeal to all students in the health professions and to all those professionals requiring a clear account of how they might improve their own communication skills.

In the course of their daily practice, counsellors in a wide variety of caring agencies often need to assist families in dealing with the problems they face. Eddy Street defines successful family counselling as a combination of a number of elements. He argues that it should: be in keeping with a family's strengths and style; offer empathic listening to each family member; maintain a perspective of the changing nature of family life; focus on clear and open communication; and deal in a problem-solving manner with the task in hand. He takes the reader step-by-step through these elements, outlining the necessary skills, and provides a clear understanding of the processes families have to go through in order to deal with the tasks that are set for them.

Humanistic Psychology ranges far and wide into education, management, gender issues and many other fields. Ordinary Ecstasy, first published in 1976, is widely regarded as one of the most important books on the subject. Although this new edition still contains much of the original material, it has been completely rethought in the light of postmodern ideas, with more emphasis on the paradoxes within humanistic psychology, and takes into account changes in many different areas, with a greatly extended bibliography. Ordinary Ecstasy is written not only for students and professionals involved in humanistic psychology - anyone who works with people in any way will find it valuable and interesting.

This two volume text provides a comprehensive introduction to the issues, theories and methods of psychology, including both classic approaches and recent research. The areas covered range from the intellectual, social and emotional development of the child to the ways in which adults perceive, attend, remember and communicate; from Freud's psychoanalytic framework to the work of present day psychologists; from debates about the scientific status of psychology to the special problems which the study of people poses for psychologists. Each chapter presents important issues in depth, highlighting controversies while showing that they rarely have neat solutions. Throughout, emphasis is given to the contrasting levels of analysis which contribute to the understanding of psychological functioning, from fundamental biological processes to complex social interactions. While prepared for the Open University course "Introduction to Psychology" these volumes will provide an excellent introduction to students of psychology at other universities and colleges. The text incorporates the best of the Open University's tried and tested teaching methods, and particular importance is placed on encouraging the reader's active participation, making the books enjoyable and stimulating as well as informative. The text is divided into eight sections comprising eighteen

`This is one of the most comprehensive books that I have read that addresses the relationship between therapies, the social and the political. Comprehensive in the sense that it covers many areas in short but succinct chapters which focus on particular relationships in the field. It is, in some way, a textbook, rather than a monograph and I would imagine that students of the field would find it a useful source of reference that they would return to time and again′ - Psychotherapy & Politics `SAGE′s invariably stimulating book series ′Perspectives in Psychotherapy′, edited by Colin Feltham, is certainly fortunate to be graced by the latest addition from Nick Totton, who offers us a tour de force of the diverse and manifold ways in which therapy and politics interpenetrate and inform each other′ - Richard House, Self & Society `This is a truly outstanding book. In a world riven with anger, hatred, fear and aggression it provides a window of rationality, inspired by intelligence, understanding and humanistic principles′ - The Journal of Critical Psychology, Counselling & Psychotherapy `This stimulating addition to SAGE′s catalogues aims to give the practising counsellor/therapist a multi-dimensional overview of the various ways in which the political and psychotherapeutic worlds interface′ - Association for University and College Counselling Newsletter This stimulating book explores the long-standing relationship between psychotherapy and politics and argues that from the beginning psychotherapy has had a political face. Documenting instances where ideas from psychotherapy have been incorporated into the political agenda, the book demonstrates the practical value of psychotherapy as an instigator of social and political change. Related to this, attempts to understand and evaluate political life through the application of psychotherapeutic concepts are examined. The author poses a number of key questions, including: What is human nature? Are aggression and violence innate in us? Is the therapeutic relationship inherently unequal? And, is the political an appropriate topic for therapy and counselling?

Therapy: The Basics is an introductory book to psychotherapy and its different theoretical approaches. It attempts to demystify and de-stigmatise therapy by answering some common questions posed by prospective clients. lykou presents an accessible overview of psychotherapy and counselling, mapping a variety of the most popular approaches from psychoanalysis and cognitive behavious therapy to embodied and creative therapies, whilst giving an overview of the roots of psychotherapy in traditional and indigenous healing methods. The book also acknowledges criticisms of current approaches, with their neo-liberal heteronormative Eurocentric perspective, and considers where therapy stands in today’s globalised world. The book's structure allows different umbrella theories and their developments to be explored separately but also in relation to one another. This book is essential reading for trainees, a useful reference for qualified therapists who want to deepen their knowledge, a supporting resource for prospective psychotherapy clients, and a companion for readers who simply want to expand their horizons.