Common Presenting Issues in Psychotherapeutic Practice

Barbara Douglas is a Chartered and Registered Counselling Psychologist. She is Registrar for the British Psychological Society′s Qualification in Counselling Psychology and has a private practice in Edinburgh. Barbara previously taught Counselling Psychology at the University of the West of England and prior to that was Director of the North West Centre for Eating Disorders. She is co-editor of the third edition of the Sage Handbook of Counselling Psychology and has particular interest in the histories of both psychology and psychiatry. Barbara was honoured to receive the BPS Professional Practice Board’s Practitioner of the Year Award in 2011 and is a former Chair of the Division of Counselling Psychology. Pam James is a Chartered and HCPC Registered Counselling Psychologist and a Registered Psychologist Specialising in Psychotherapy (Senior Practitioner). She has been Chair of the BPS Qualification in Counselling Psychology and twice Chair of the BPS Division of Counselling Psychology. She held lecturing and management posts at Liverpool John Moores University over 25 years where she was awarded Professor of Counselling Psychology in 2000. She worked in NHS Adult Mental Health for 10 years; currently she has a private practice in Southport. Her doctoral thesis was in learning and she remains interested in the learning process per se, including the process of change whilst in the therapeutic relationship.

For too long Counselling Psychology perspectives to understanding human distress have been drowned out by medical and clinical voices. This book challenges this, adding as it does to the emerging literature offering reflection and debate as to what a human – and humane - approach to such distress might be. By reflecting on the dilemmas embedded in this area this book offers a rare chance to think meaningfully about distress rather than simply ‘do something’ to it.

• Foreword - Professor Ray WoolfeIntroduction (with Carol Lund) - With a contribution from Dr Carole LundExploring anxiety (with Mary Reid) - With a contribution from Dr Mary ReidExploring depression (with Dee Danchev) - With a contribution from Dr Dee DanchevExploring trauma and post traumatic stress (with Tony Parnell) - With a contribution from Anthony ParnellExploring psychosis (with Hamilton Fairfax) - With a contribution from Hamilton FairfaxExploring bipolar (with Roly Fletcher) - With a contribution from Dr Mabel MartinelliExploring the borderline (with Clare John and Nicola Gale) - With a contribution from Nicola Gale and Dr Claire JohnExploring eating disorders (with Amanda Hall) - With a contribution from Amanda HallConclusion (with Sheelagh Strawbridge) - With a contribution from Sheelagh Strawbridge