Questions And Answers For Counsellors And Therapists (Whurr) – serie

This book explores key areas of working with adult survivors of childhood abuse that in the author?s experience as a practitioner, trainer, and supervisor are frequent concerns of those working in this field. Areas covered include an exploration of theoretical approaches and their relevance, definitions of abuse, ethical issues and questions, the impact of abuse on the child and on the adult survivor, the effects of working in this field on the worker and how to respond to these. Some of the specific areas covered relate to self harm, the recovery of memories, dissociative responses, the dynamics of the therapeutic relationship and many more. Throughout the book it is recognised that the questions covered are frequently contentious and arouse strong feelings. Every attempt is made to provide a measured, careful and thorough response based on many years? experience in this area. The book is aimed at all those in the care professions and voluntary sector who work with abuse survivors. It is written accessibly and with the recognition that this important and demanding area is one that increasing numbers of counsellors and therapists, social workers, nurses and many others are dealing with on a daily basis, and that working well and safely is an enormous concern to them. This book aims to be of real assistance to those people.

This book is unique in that it specifically addresses the concerns that counsellors and psychotherapists may have about the mental health of their clients. It is published at a time of significant change in the management and treatment of mental illness both within the UK and internationally. In addition the roles of mental health practitioners and counsellors within NHS practice are undergoing notable review. The content provides a comprehensive introduction to contemporary issues in mental health, sign posting the importance and relevance of the topic to those working within the counselling and psychotherapy fields. The background to the current context of mental health care, treatment and management both within the UK and globally is outlined and definitions of mental health are discussed by way of drawing attention to the complex and diverse understanding of what constitutes mental illness.

Supervision is a prerequisite for all counsellors, and for most psychotherapists, yet until recently it has been assumed that any experienced counsellor or therapist could become a supervisor without any special expertise. But the experience of those in supervision is sometimes of inadequate or even unhelpful work by their supervisors. At the same time supervision is receiving considerable attention as a discipline in its own right, with an expanding literature on the dynamics of the supervisory couple (or the supervisory triad, since the client is a central if absent presence); more attention is also being paid to the technical skills required of the supervisor. This book addresses those issues both from the perspective of the supervisee and the supervisor, suggesting what supervisees might expect from good supervision, as well as offering guidance to supervisors on how best to use to the full the opportunities offered by a therapeutic situation which has some similarities, but also some radical differences from counselling and therapy itself.