Most of us find ourselves listening to other people's problems at some time or another - either our friends' or, in the course of our work, patients, pupils, clients, colleagues. This book, written clearly in user friendly language, takes the reader step by step through a range of skills to help them become a better listener, communicator and helper in their everyday lives, progressing from inviting the person to talk to ending a helping conversation. Using plenty of examples, tips, exercises and sample conversations, the authors show how the skills described can be easily learned and can fit comfortably into everyday life. This book is essential reading for everyone interested in improving their communication and helping skills as well as those students taking introductory courses in counselling and counselling skills. Katheryn Geldard is a Child and Family Therapist and a visiting lecturer at the Queensland University of Technology, Australia. David Geldard is a Counselling Psychologist. Together they are the authors of several books on counselling. They jointly manage a counselling practice where they specialise in working with children, adolescents, and their families. They also run training programmes for helping professionals who wish to enhance their counselling skills.

This book is a comprehensive, easy-to-read introduction to personal counseling written for professional and volunteer counselors and those who train them. The chapters describing basic and more advanced counseling skills are arranged in a sequence that is particularly suitable when teaching student counselors to learn and practice using these skills for the first time. The authors adopt an integrative approach that allows the reader to learn, understand, and use skills taken from major counseling approaches, and to integrate these into a sequential process that maximizes the possibility of facilitating change in the client. Of considerable value for new counselors are those sections of the book that describe the fundamental principles of the counseling relationship, and explain the theories of change applicable to the various approaches to counseling. Unique features include: a highly practical integrative approach to counseling; discussion of the specific skills required for success; practical suggestions on ways to learn and develop new skills; ways of managing particular situations involving angry, depressed, grieving, and suicidal clients; an understanding of the role of a counselorOCOs supervisor; information on practical issues such as keeping records, arrangement of the counseling room, and ways to look after yourself as a counselor; plus practical information on issues of confidentiality and professional ethics. Additionally, there are numerous examples of useful dialogue to illustrate real experiences of and for use in counseling situations, including key statements that are highlighted throughout the book for ease of reference. This text will serve as a valuable resource for workers in a wide variety of helping professions where counseling skills are useful such as psychology, social work, welfare work, medicine, nursing, education, and human services."

`As a course book or an aide to individual learning this book contains a wealth of information and guidance based on years of study and practice. It is easy to use because it is clearly signposted. I particularly like the way the author addresses the range of issues a student needs to consider before embarking on a counselling course. The structure of building block by block, skill by skill simplifies assessment′ - Counselling and Psychotherapy Journal Good counselling skills are the key to effective helping relationships. Introduction to Counselling Skills, Second Edition is designed to help readers′ acquire and develop these skills, using an easy-to-follow, three-stage model. Drawing on many years experience as a counsellor, trainer and writer, Richard Nelson-Jones describes in detail each stage in the helping process and gives examples to show how the skills work in practice. The examples also demonstrate the variety of contexts in which counselling skills are commonly used, as well as the diversity of issues and problems they can help to address. The book covers: } what counselling skills are } how to conduct sessions } ways to clarify and expand your understanding } how to improve your listening skills } ethical skills. Introduction to Counselling Skills, Second Edition is full of practical features designed to aid learning, including activities related to the particular skill being described, learning outcomes, examples, summaries and a glossary of key terms. For this, the Second Edition, the book has been fully up-dated and new material has been added on the diversity of helpers and clients, the use of training groups and supervision. Combining a clear explanation of skills, with a host of practical activities, Introduction to Counselling Skills, Second Edition is the ideal text for introductory courses in counselling skills, counselling and many other professional areas including health care, management, education and social work.

"If you need one book that′s crammed with clinically excellent, genuinely well informed and useful ideas for working with family relationships in all their permutations, this is undoubtedly it" - Professor Colin Feltham, Sheffield Hallam University "This is easy to read and has a clear layout. Counselling MSc students may find it an interesting introduction to the topic" - Times Higher Education Magazine, May 2009 This book is a practical skills-based introduction to relationship counselling. It covers couple counselling for parents, whole-family counselling and counselling for children and young people with regard to their relationships with siblings, peers and parents. The text also includes: o an introduction to relationship counselling theory and concepts o discussion of the importance of relying on a clearly defined theory of change o ways to address parenting issues o an exploration of confidentiality, disclosing inappropriate behaviour and personal safety. Kathryn Geldard and David Geldard present an integrative model of relationship counselling which combines skills and strategies from a number of approaches. Their practical guide integrates individual and subgroup counselling with whole-family counselling, providing much-needed material on methods and approaches for communicating with children and young people. The book will be invaluable to new relationship counsellors learning the skills required in order to bring about change, and will be a useful reference book for experienced counsellors.

"Filled with practical and effective approaches, this book is an asset to anyone wanting to develop their skills in working with adolescents." Samantha Best, CAMHS Manager and Clinical Nurse Specialist "This publication is a further invaluable resource to counsellors wanting to work with young people. It offers a 'one stop shop' for any practitioner who wants to understand adolescent development and the need for a counselling approach that parallels this, with helpful strategies for enhancing the counselling conversation and the relationship between counsellor and the young person." Barbara Rayment, Director of Youth Access, London "Providing an excellent introduction to counselling young people that is theoretically sound and rich in delivering practical techniques, this book is an important addition to the personal library of counselling students and counsellors" Associate Professor Sylvia Rodger, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia In this third edition of their bestselling text, Kathryn and David Geldard provide a practical introduction to the principles and practices required for successful counselling, to show that working with young people can be both challenging and effective. The book is divided into three main parts, covering: - how to understand the young client as a person - the pro-active approach of working with young people - the counselling skills and strategies needed. This Third Edition has been completely revised and updated, and includes two new chapters. The first, Maintaining a Collaborative Relationship, identifies ways to engage a young person collaboratively throughout a proactive counselling process. The other, Professional and Ethical Issues, deals with these issues as they relate to working with young people. Additional practical case studies and examples show how counsellors can work pro-actively with this age group. The book will be of particular interest as a textbook and resource to all professionals who work with emotionally disturbed young people, and will provide an excellent resource for trainees in courses on counselling, social work, psychology, occupational therapy, mental health and psychiatry, nursing, and education.

Embedding Counselling and Communication Skills provides step-by-step learning for those looking to gain theoretical and practical understanding of using counselling and communication skills within the helper role and explores how to apply these skills in the context of professional practice. Becky Midwinter and Janie Dickson introduce the reader to a new Relational Skills model which demonstrates the phases of relationship development. The authors show what happens within each phase and identify how and when to use skills appropriately. Learning is brought alive through the use of online unscripted video clip sessions of a real helper/client relationship giving the reader opportunities and encouragement to reflect and evaluate their learning. Written in a clear and accessible teaching style, Embedding Counselling and Communication Skills progresses through the ‘initial helper’ communication skills that are used in every day life, to the more complex and in-depth counselling skills required in a helper relationship. Knowledge of reflective practice, aspects of the relationship and how to manage change ensures the text considers the full range of general and specific skills and abilities required in a helper role situation, whilst the supporting online material is an invaluable tool to deepen and embed the theoretical understanding; practical application and self-reflection. This book will be an essential resource for students taking an introductory counselling skills course and qualified professionals who wish to enhance their knowledge of embedding counselling skills into their work and practice.

With its practical, experiential approach, the Second Edition of Applied Helping Skills: Transforming Lives covers the basic skills and core interventions needed to begin seeing clients. By approaching therapy as an art rather than from a prescriptive diagnostic position, this text encourages readers to look at every situation differently and draw from their embedded knowledge to best serve the individuals in their care. Authors Leah Brew and Jeffrey A. Kottler weave humor and passion into their engaging prose, effectively conveying their excitement and satisfaction for doing helping work.