Counselling in Health Care Settings

ROBERT BOR is Lead Consultant Clinical Psychologist in Medical Specialities at the Royal Free Hospital, London, UK. He is a fellow of the British Psychological Society and works in hospital, specialist and primary care settings. RIVA MILLER is Honorary Senior Lecturer at the Royal Free Hospital, London, UK. She has a background in social work, and is now also a Systemic Psychotherapist and a Family Therapist in the Haemophilia Centre, London. She has contributed to many books, including 'Doing Therapy Briefly', with Robert Bor and Sheila Gill.SHEILA GILL is a counsellor for the Keats Group Practice, London, UK, and a student counsellor at the London School of Economics. She has worked in health care settings for many years and is co-author of a number of books on therapy in primary care contexts.AMANDA EVANS is a chartered psychologist at the Royal Free Hospital, London, UK. She has over 20 years of experience as a psychologist in health care settings and in private practice. She has contributed to many publications in the areas of evidence based practice issues, ethical dilemmas in health care settings and psychological interventions in HIV management.

'The authors are eminent and have decades of experience working with people struggling to manage the uncertainties of ill health, impending death and emotional distress...I recommend this book to any counsellor or trainee embarking on, or already working within, any multidisciplinary setting.' - Christine Barley, Therapy Today 'This handbook gives us a guide to the territory of health care counselling so we may enter easily and provide services effectively. From health beliefs to gender issues, from genograms to grief sessions, this volume provides an overview of the skills and challenges that are special to working with people who are physically ill, their families and the other health professionals who treat them.' - Susan H. McDaniel, Professor of Psychiatry and Medicine, University of Rochester, New York, USA 'Comprehensive and coherent, this is a classic and essential text for psychological therapists working in the health care domain, and will help many other health professionals to understand how this work is done.' - John Eatock, British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists Lead Advisor in Health Care in Counselling and Psychotherapy (2000-7); British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists Lead Advisor Spiritual and Pastoral Care in Counselling and Psychotherapy (2007-present) 'This book is a refreshing attempt at conveying the complexity of counselling practice in health care settings. The authors refuse to champion any one theoretical approach and instead reflect the reality of the "specialist generalist" that is today's NHS practice counsellor.' - Antonia Murphy, Director of Professional Standards, Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists in Primary Care 'I would recommend Counselling in Healthcare Settings to counsellors who are beginning work in the field and as a reference text for experienced practitioners who work in solution-focused and issue-based ways.' - Ewan Davidson, Healthcare, Counselling and Psychotherapy Journal 'This book offers realistic and helpful guidance on how to deliver effective and focused therapy while keeping the patient firmly in control. There is a wealth of knowledge and practical advice and I would recommend this text to students and qualified healthcare counsellors. There is something here for all healthcare practitioners looking for a better understanding of health psychology and improved communication skills.' - Phil Russell, Nursing Standard

• PART I: A FRAMEWORK FOR PRACTICEIntroductionTheoretical ConceptsBeliefs about Health and CounsellingAdapting Psychotherapeutic Practice to the Health Care ContextModels of Consultation and CollaborationPART II: CORE SKILLSCounselling Objectives in Health CareExploring and Defining Problems in CounsellingThe Structure of the Counselling SessionPART III: SPECIALIST SKILLSPromoting Coping and Resilience in the PatientReframing and Creating Balance in Patient BeliefsWorking with the Family in MindApplication of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to Health Care SettingsPART IV:  ISSUES AND CHALLENGESDealing with Confidentiality and Secrets in the Course of CounsellingGiving Information and Breaking Bad NewsCounselling for Loss, Terminal Care and BereavementCounselling the 'Worried-Well' and Patients with Health AnxietiesWhen Progress in Counselling Seems ElusiveCounselling for the Prevention of Ill HealthWork Stress and Staff Support