Are you thinking of embarking on professional counselling training and in need of a clear overview of the therapy profession? Well look no further! This down-to-earth guide will provide you with the ideal 'way-in' by explaining what it really means to become a professional counsellor - what is involved in training and real-life practice. Sally Aldridge, Director of Registers at BACP, will take you step-by-step though what 'counselling' actually is; introducing its basic concepts, historical development, research base and structure of the profession. Demonstrating the far-reaching influence of counselling, the book will show you how its concepts have been applied beyond the consulting room and examine the recent place of counselling in the NHS and wider mental health care.
Dr Sally Aldridge has been actively involved in counselling since qualifying as a counsellor at the University of Keele. Like many counsellors, this was a second career; the first was a teacher of African History in Zambia. Sally worked as a student counsellor, supervisor and trainer before joining BACP as a full time member of staff responsible for the accreditation schemes in 1999. Sally had previously been involved with BACP as a volunteer in the accreditation schemes and an elected member of the Management Committee. She is a Fellow of BACP. Sally sees her own career developing in parallel with the development of BACP and counselling in the United Kingdom. This led her to a doctorate in the development of counselling in 2011 titled Counselling - an insecure profession? A historical and sociological analysis. Previous publications include, Counselling Skills in Context (Hodder & Stoughton, 2001) and The Peoples of Zambia (Heinemann Educational Books, 1978). Sally has been a member of many national projects related to counselling and psychotherapy: the development of National Occupational Standards for the Psychological Therapies, the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Workforce and Education and Training Groups, New Ways of Working for Psychological Therapists, the Health Professions Council's Professional Liaison Group for the statutory regulation of psychotherapy and counselling and the Quality Assurance Agency Benchmark Development Group for Counselling and Psychotherapy. She is currently a member of the Steering Group for the expansion of psychological therapy in Northern Ireland. In order to stay calm Sally runs and in 2012 became a "Compleat Runner" in her local league by completing all 22 races in 10 months.
What is Counselling? Counselling Skills and Their Application in Wider Settings Training in Counselling Theoretical Approaches to Counselling Personal Development and Surviving as a Counsellor Ethics in Counselling Understanding Research in Counselling The Structure of the Profession and Careers in Counselling
It takes considerable skill and years of experience to write such a detailed, yet accessible introduction to the exciting, complex and dynamic profession of counselling and psychotherapy. -- Dr Hadyn Williams Sally Aldridge has produced something remarkable here; this is a text which delivers insightful discussion on the development, nature and scope of counselling in a clear, compelling and accessible fashion. -- Graham Bright This book gives an impressive, comprehensive introduction to the world of counselling [...] Aldridge's passion for counselling - 'the best job there is' - enthuses new practitioners, as well as giving a compact overview of the field for those in practice. Trainers could adopt some of the ideas for activities. Additionally research findings are skilfully intertwined, making this a useful starting point for therapists undertaking research. Overall the book will appeal to those with professional curiosity, as there is a wealth of authoritative information within its pages, gained from Aldridge's varied career and her years working for BACP. -- Rosie Dansey, counsellor and supervisor in private practice The topics of training, research, ethics and career development, in particular, are handled in an in-depth, comprehensive and insightful manner. The exercises provided at the end of each chapter can serve to challenge students of counselling and help them develop critical thinking skills. The research studies presented in every chapter enhance the credibility of what has been written. The examples presented throughout the book not only make reading interesting, but can help the student identify with and understand more clearly what has been presented. -- Nirmala Almeida
