Introduction to Counselling

Reviews of the second edition:
"It is impossible to do justice to such an exhaustive, broadbased and very readable work in a short review. Professor McLeod has been meticulous, and with true scientific impartiality has looked at, studied and described the many strands and different schools of thought and methods that can lead towards successful counselling."
- Therapy Weekly

"This is a fascinating, informative, comprehensive and very readable book...McLeod has produced a text that offers a great deal no matter what your level of competence or knowledge."
- Journal of Interprofessional Care

"...one of the book's strengths is McLeod's willingness to go beyond a history of the development of counselling or a beginner's technical manual...{and to} consider the political dimensions of counselling and the relevance of power to counselling relationships. A worthwhile acquisition for therapeutic community members, whatever their discipline or background."
- Therapeutic Communities

This thoroughly revised and expanded version of the bestselling text, An Introduction to Counselling, provides a comprehensive introduction to the theory and practice of counselling and therapy. It is written in a clear, accessible style, covers all the core approaches to counselling, and takes a critical, questioning approach to issues of professional practise. Placing each counselling approach in its social and historical context, the book also introduces a wide range of contemporary approaches, including narrative therapy, systemic, feminist and multicultural.

This third edition includes a new chapter on the important emerging approach of philosophical counselling, and a chapter on the counselling relationship, as well as expanded coverage of attachment theory, counselling on the internet, and solution-focused therapy. The text has been updated throughout, with additional illustrative vignettes and case studies.

Current, comprehensive and readable, with exhaustive references, An Introduction to Counselling is a classic introduction to its subject.

Fully revised and updated, clear and comprehensive.

Preface
An introduction to counselling
The cultural and historical origins of counselling
Counselling theories: diversity and convergence
Themes and issues in the psychodynamic approach to counselling
From behaviourism to constructivism: the cognitive-behavioural approach to counselling
Theory and practice of the person-centred approach
Working with systems
Feminist approaches: the radicalization of counselling
Narrative approaches to counselling:working with stories
Multiculturalism as an approach to counselling
Philosophical counselling
The counselling relationship
The process of counselling
The politics of counselling: empowerment, control and difference
Morals, values and ethics in counselling practice
The organizational context of counselling
Alternative modes of delivery
The role of research in counselling and therapy
The skills and qualities of the effective counsellor
Training and supervision in counselling
Beyond an introduction: continuing the conversation
References
Index.