Counsellors and Counselling

For students training to be counsellors, students undertaking practicum placements, counsellor educators and professional practitioners.   This text explores and examines some of the critical issues, topics and theories in contemporary counselling. Students are encouraged to develop a greater self-awareness through the study of what counselling involves – the forming and development of therapeutic relationships. This understanding is considered a necessary step for students to master before they develop the practical skills and techniques of counselling. The three themes which run throughout the text are: the importance of non-reductive understandings of the human person and the counselling relationship; the application of critical realism to counselling; and the centrality of practice and practice wisdom as a valid means to an evidence base in counselling.