What's the Good of Counselling & Psychotherapy presents the case for psychological therapy, as seen by those at the leading edge of practice. Psychological therapy is widely criticized by those who question its necessity and effectiveness. While much has been written within the field about the advantages of one form of therapy over another, much less attention has been given to either defending or promoting the practice of psychological therapy in general. In response to the critics Analyzing the nature of human distress and the social and political factors, which give rise to it, the first part examines the extent to which individuals can realistically be helped in areas such as...- relationship difficulties - suicidal thoughts, and - borderline personality disorders - psychological effects of abuse in childhood. While it is often a personal crisis which prompts individuals to seek help from a counsellor or psychotherapist, practitioners themselves see benefits to their clients, which extend beyond crisis intervention to facilitating personal growth and greater emotional intelligence. Part two considers this aspect of the therapist's role and the benefits for clients both as individuals and members of society. This is thought-provoking reading for all that believe in the benefits of counselling and psychotherapy and a challenging response to those who stand on the outside as critics.
Colin Feltham is series editor of Professional Skills for Counsellors and Short Introductions to the Therapy Professions series, co-editor of SAGE Handbook of Counselling and Psychotherapy and author of several SAGE texts, including What is Counselling?
PART ONE: ADDRESSING HUMAN SUFFERING The Epidemiology of Mental Distress - Janis Abernathy and Mick Power Proven Benefits of Psychotherapy Interventions with Children and Adolescents - Helen Cowie and Judith Dawkins Benefits of Therapy with Adults Who Were Abused as Children - Peter Dale Some Issues from Evaluation of Counselling Services Suicide Reduction and Prevention - Robert W Firestone and Lisa Firestone Relationship Difficulties - Douglas Hooper Causes and Cures Therapeutic Benefits for People with Borderline Personality Disorder - Eva Burns-Lundgren PART TWO: ENHANCING PERSONAL EFFECTIVENESS AND SOCIAL COHESION Consumers' Views of the Benefits of Counselling and Psychotherapy - Colin Feltham Visionary Deep Personal Growth - Juliana Brown and Richard Mowbray The Benefits of Psychotherapy to Spirituality - Shahid Najeeb The Couch and Ballot Box - Keith Tudor and Helena Hargaden The Contribution and Potential of Psychotherapy in Enhancing Citizenship Fostering Emotional Intelligence - Hilde Rapp PART THREE: THERAPEUTIC SETTINGS AND ARGUMENTS FOR EFFECTIVENESS Good Money after Bad? - Graham Curtis Jenkins The Justification for the Expansion of Counselling Services in Primary Health Care The Benefits of Counselling and Employee Assistance Programmes to British Industry - Carolyn Marchington-Yeoman and Cary L Cooper Psychotherapy, the Psychology of Trauma and Army Psychiatry since 1904 - Ian Palmer The Clinical Effectiveness of Psychotherapy - Stephen M Saunders The Philosophical and Ethical Basis of Benefit - Digby Tantam
`What this brilliant book does so well is to produce not just the evidence for the research effectiveness of therapies but makes the moral case for bringing together human psychological welfare needs and the expanding number of skilled, ethically sensitive people ready to listen to and respond in the most deeply human and needed way - the counsellors and all who work as psychological therapists. I strongly recommend this book' - Graham Curtis Jenkins, Counselling in Practice `There is much here to stir up the reluctant practitioner to explain themselves and their practice more ably and, better still, to promote and defend our profession' - The Revd John Eatock, Healthcare, Counselling and Psychotherapy Journal
