Controversies in Psychotherapy and Counselling

Colin Feltham is series editor of Professional Skills for Counsellors and Short Introductions to the Therapy Professions series, co-editor of SAGE Handbook of Counselling and Psychotherapy and author of several SAGE texts, including What is Counselling?

`The book is written in a lucid conersational style and while it is accessible to non-specialists, few concessions are made for those who do not share the underlying tenets on which it is based.... Controversies in Psychotherapy and Counselling stands as a refreshing antidote to all those mutually affirming books on therapy. A little more grit of this sort may just help to make therapy the mature and socially beneficial pearl it potentially could be′ - Journal of Critical Psychology, Counselling and Psychotherapy`Editor Colin Feltham′s choice of topics shows an astute, on the ground awareness of the issues that dog the industry, while still making lively reading′ - New Therapist`My congratulations to Colin Feltham for assembling a set of contentious issues and lively authors which together made me forget my surroundings′ - Person-Centred Practice

• Controversies in Psychotherapy and Counselling - Colin FelthamPART ONE: THEORETICAL ISSUESDoes the Unconscious Mind Really Exist? - E M ThorntonOn the Existence of the Unconscious - Tim Kendall and Peter SpeedwellPrimal Therapies - Stillborn Theories - Jennifer M CunninghamThe Trauma of Birth - John RowanFalse Memories - A Peripheral Issue? - Roger ScotfordBelieving Patients - Majorie OrrPART TWO: CLINICAL ISSUESThe Ineffectiveness of Psychotherapy - W M EpsteinIt Has Been Amply Demonstrated that Psychotherapy Is Effective - Stephen SaundersThe Main Change Agent in Effective Psychotherapy Is Specific Technique and Skill - Albert EllisThe Main Change Agent in Psychotherapy Is the Relationship between Therapist and Client - David HoweDeconstructing Diagnosis - Ian ParkerPsychopathological PracticePsychopathology Is a Reality and Psychodiagnosis Is a Necessity - Norman D MacaskillThe Limitations of Boundaries - Derek GaleMaintaining Boundaries in Psychotherapy - David Livingstone SmithA View from Evolutionary PsychoanalysisPART THREE: PROFESSIONAL ISSUESPersonal Therapy as a Training Requirement - Ann MacaskillThe Lack of Supporting EvidenceIn Defence of Therapy for Training - Valerie SinasonBecoming an Effective Psychotherapist or Counsellor - Jim McLellanAre Training and Supervision Necessary?Training and Supervision Make a Difference - Mary ConnorAgainst and beyond Core Theoretical Models - Colin FelthamTraining in a Core Theoretical Model Is Essential - Sue WheelerProfessionalization of Therapy by Registration Is Unnecessary, Ill-Advised and Damaging - Richard MowbrayRegistration Benefits and Is Necessary to the Public and the Profession - Digby TantamPsychotherapy and Counselling Are Indistinguishable - Brian ThorneThere Are Real Differences between Psychotherapy and Counselling - Jan Harvie-ClarkePART FOUR: SOCIAL ISSUESStress Discourse and Individualization - Tim NewtonEmployee Assistance Programmes and Stress Counselling - John BerridgeAt a Crossroads?Psychotherapy and Counselling as Unproven, Overblown and Unconvincing - Alex HowardPsychotherapy as Essential Care - Jeremy HolmesMind at the End of Its Tether - Fay WeldonCounselling and Psychotherapy as Enabling and Empowering - Sheelagh Strawbridge