Synopses & Reviews
Drawn from his wealth of experience as a counsellor and trainer, this book comprises thirty brief reflections in which Windy Dryden addresses some of the most important aspects of the counselling process. The book opens with five pieces that consider the authors major personal counselling interests and other general issues. The following section examines the influence of Arnold Lazarus on his thinking about counselling. Dryden then discusses his interests in the use of language in counselling and also deals with ethical issues. In the fifth section the author relates three memorable encounters with clients, and in the sixth section he outlines a number of issues relating to counsellor education and training. The final section draws together five pieces describing some of Dryden's important personal experiences. The book will be of interest to anyone in the field, but is particularly well suited for use on training courses where each piece may serve as a stimulus for discussion.
Table of Contents
Foreword.
Preface.
Acknowledgements.
Part I Counselling approaches and process.
1. Cognitive-behavioural approaches to counselling in a nutshell.
2. The therapeutic alliance in a nutshell.
3. W(h)ither non-directive counselling?
4. On neglecting the therapeutic relationship.
5. To tape or not to tape? The use of audio tapes in counselling and supervision.
Part II Flexibility in counselling.
6. If at first you don't succeed, stop fluttering your wings.
7. The discomfort of being a counsellor.
8. The counselling field needs shadchonim...
9. ...and bespoke tailors too.
Part III The semantics of counselling.
10. Counselling, semantic precision and pedantry.
11. Put-downs, insults and other disparaging remarks.
12. The semantics of rationality.
13. Putting the cart before the house: the paradox of confidence, courage and comfort.
Part IV Ethical issues in counselling.
14. Phony client, phony research.
15. Confidentiality revisited.
16. Counselling, disclosure and the press.
17. On advertising courses in counselling and psychothrapy.
Part V On Clients.
18. Bound, but not gagged.
19. Officer, my client won't leave.
20. Oi Windy! Over here.
Part VI Consellor education and training.
21 Counsellor training or counsellor education?
22. Training for the trainers of trainers of trainers...?
23 What does the label stand for? An exercise in applied logic.
24 Personal therapy: mandatory or recommended?
25 A consumer's guide to counselling skills training.
Part VII Personal experience and reflections.
26 Voluntary redundancy and beyond.
27 Keep going, take a break or give up?
28 Specialists, all-rounders and pigeon-holes.
29 Foodcourt for thought.
30 A note on how I used RET to overcome my emotional problems.
Index.