The Counsellor's Workbook: Developing a Personal Approach

Contents......Page 7
Acknowledgements......Page 10
How to use this Workbook......Page 13
Introduction......Page 14
I. Building on life experience: the foundations of apersonal approach......Page 25
Introduction......Page 27
Writing your autobiography: getting started......Page 29
The story of a helping relationship......Page 30
The origins and development of your interest in therapy......Page 31
Your favourite story......Page 32
The self puzzle......Page 34
Thickening your autobiography:  early memories......Page 35
An inquiry into sexuality......Page 37
What you bring to counselling......Page 38
Exploring cultural identity......Page 41
Feeling really understood......Page 43
Mapping your relationship patterns......Page 45
Engaging with difference......Page 46
How do you cope with crisis in your own life?......Page 48
The experience of changing your own behaviour......Page 49
The role of therapy in your life story......Page 50
Knowing how your emotions are organized......Page 51
What is your psychopathology?......Page 54
How do you cope under pressure?......Page 55
Do you have a preferred learning style?......Page 57
What motivates you?......Page 58
Reflecting on the experience of writing about yourself......Page 59
II. Being a member of a learning group: working together to develop self-awareness......Page 63
Introduction......Page 65
Using the group to experiment with new ways of relating to others......Page 67
Making connections and being responsive to others......Page 69
First impressions of group members......Page 71
Talking about yourself in the group......Page 73
Reflecting on significant events in the group......Page 74
Endings: reflecting on the life of the group......Page 75
A brief introduction to concepts of group dynamics......Page 78
III. Making sense: constructing a framework for understanding......Page 83
Introduction......Page 85
What are the key theoretical ideas that you use?......Page 86
What is your relationship with theory?......Page 87
Identifying different levels of theorizing......Page 88
Meta-theories: how do they shape the way you think about counselling?......Page 90
Applying theory: making sense of personal experience......Page 93
Empathy: a key concept in counselling......Page 94
Making sense of self......Page 97
How theory is applied in practice: key cases......Page 98
Applying cognitive–behavioural concepts......Page 100
Irrational beliefs and dysfunctional self-talk......Page 101
Developing a cognitive–behavioural case formulation......Page 103
Congruence: the use of self in counselling......Page 104
Experiencing authenticity......Page 106
The balance between problems and solutions......Page 107
Specific techniques or common factors......Page 110
Positioning your practice in relation to social and political factors......Page 111
The idea of the unconscious......Page 113
What brings about change? The relative importance of cognition and emotion......Page 114
Behind the theory: the life of the theorist......Page 117
The cultural context of understanding......Page 119
What kind of therapeutic relationship?......Page 120
Dialogue between theorists......Page 121
Are you postmodern?......Page 123
The concept of transference......Page 126
IV. Putting theory touse: thinkingabout cases......Page 128
Student counselling: the case of Ms B......Page 131
A client’s opening statement......Page 133
Cynthia: making life choices......Page 135
The case of Glenys – first session......Page 138
The case of Glenys – later sessions......Page 139
‘I hear these voices telling me what to do’......Page 142
A case of work stress......Page 144
Thelma: a victim of therapist boundary violation......Page 145
Geoffrey: deconstructing demons......Page 146
The case of Mrs YMrs......Page 149
Charles: therapy as a ‘last resort\'......Page 151
The case of Ida......Page 153
Anna: moving on in life......Page 155
Case scenarios for working with emotions......Page 157
David: tackling self-blame......Page 158
V. Reflecting on practice: challenges and possibilities within the therapeutic relationship......Page 161
Introduction......Page 163
Exploring moral values......Page 164
The implications of your moral values for your approach as a counsellor......Page 165
What is your personal philosophy?......Page 167
Moral dilemmas presented by clients......Page 168
Ethical decision-making......Page 170
Deconstructing the meaning of confidentiality......Page 172
Expanding your relational responsiveness......Page 174
Touching and being touched......Page 176
Making sense of stories......Page 179
Working therapeutically with metaphors......Page 180
Responding to client interest in dreams......Page 182
The meaning of boundary......Page 183
Writing letters......Page 185
The therapeutic use of reading......Page 187
Using Internet resources to support therapy......Page 189
Counselling in the media......Page 191
Online counselling......Page 192
Indoors or outdoors? Using nature in therapy......Page 193
How to be really ineffective......Page 194
Working with clients who are difficult or challenging......Page 196
VI. Developing a professional identity: putting it all together......Page 198
Introduction......Page 201
Reviewing your skills and qualities as a therapist......Page 202
What are you aiming to achieve as a therapist?: selecting criteria for evaluating your effectiveness......Page 203
What’s in your toolbox?......Page 205
Marketing yourself as a counsellor: your one-minute intro......Page 207
Are you a counsellor or psychotherapist?......Page 208
Your therapy room......Page 211
Building an effective support network......Page 212
Your position in relation to research and inquiry......Page 214
Ten years from now......Page 215
Critical issues for counselling and psychotherapy......Page 216
Internet resources and further reading......Page 218
Appendix A......Page 221
References......Page 227
Index......Page 233