Understanding Counselling and Psychotherapy
- Meg Barker - Independent Scholar, UK
- Andreas Vossler - The Open University
- Darren Langdridge - The Open University
Counselling and Psychotherapy (General)
- Section 1 introduces counselling and psychotherapy and the history of these professions, considering how current understandings of 'mental health problems' have been influenced by psychiatric diagnosis, biomedical approaches and psychoanalysis.
- Section 2 covers four key therapeutic approaches - humanistic, existential, cognitive-behavioural and mindfulness - exploring how they work with problems relating to fear and sadness.
- Section 3 focuses on therapeutic perspectives that specifically address problems in a wider context, such as relationships, families, cultural groups and society.
- Section 4 considers practice and research issues in counselling and psychotherapy, including the different contexts and settings in which these take place, the therapeutic relationship, and outcome and process research.
This accessible and stimulating text uses innovative activities and case illustrations to demonstrate how people experience common problems, and how counsellors and psychotherapists work with these.
'I enjoyed reading this book, finding it stimulating, well written, and provocative. I thought it would make an excellent introductory read, especially if this was augmented by critical debate and discussion. For me it is an engaging read and provides both a clear and contextually relevant background to its subject' -
Journal of The Society for Existential Analysis
'This is probably one of the most useful books I am ever likely to own. It is the nearest thing to a complete Bible for all aspects of my work as a counsellor, trainer and supervisor that I have had the privilege to read...For those who cannot afford to invest in a whole library, [this] is the book to buy' -
Therapy Today
An excellent overview of different approaches which is well written and interesting to read. This book is recommended as a useful source for undergraduate study. It provides a comprehensive overview of different approaches and the activities and discussion points will help students to engage with the material.
A good foundation text for students who wish to understand and differentiate counselling practice and theory
This is a comprehensive book and a very useful "vade mecum" for students of Counselling and Psychotherapy.
This is a very strong, step by step reference book for students starting out on counselling training. The individual exercises peppered throughout encourage the development of reflexivity and enable students to engage with the concepts presented. I would recommend the text for undergraduates, rather than postgraduate trainings, however.
A useful introduction to the field of counselling
I will also use the book in current undergraduate courses in the area of Mental Health Nursing. I like the manner in which the chapters are laid out. The book should enable mental health nursing students and others to understand how Counselling and Psychotherapeutic principles are demystified and applied using simple activities and discussion examples at critical and appropriate stages at the end of sections under discussion. It is directive to the student in this regard and if the student engages as such, it will reinforce learning and improve practice.
Most comprehensive content - good to see mindfulness and also research covered!
An excellent text for general reference providing a wealth of supporting material for most major areas of counselling study at an advanced (undergraduate) level.
Course no longer running
