Main description:

This book covers the basic skills necessary to serve and help clients in a therapeutic relationship. It takes an experiential, student-centered approach and reflects upon therapy as an art, rather than just a diagnostic tool. This helps students understand that a skilled therapist looks at every situation and person differently and draws on their embedded skills to best serve the client. The skills covered include listening, building and maintaining relationships, establishing trust, assessing and diagnosing client issues, exploring and collecting meaningful information, moving from insight to action, reading verbal and nonverbal behavior, among others.

Contents:

Preface Acknowledgments Part I. Foundations for Skills 1. The Process Revealed Reading Minds and Other Superpowers My Psychic Powers Secrets Revealed How Therapists Enhance Their Powers Power and Influence You Gotta Be Desperate It's All About Leverage Amateurs Versus Professionals A Few Missing Ingredients The Perfect Counseling Student Applications to Self: Incorporating Skills Into Your Daily Life Summary Skills in Action: The Troubled Wife References and Resources 2. Clients in Need: Individual, Social, and Cultural Factors Cultural Context of the Client Experience Cultural Skills and Competencies Becoming Familiar With Cultural Differences Assess Stage of Cultural Identity Overview of a Client Concern Ethical Considerations in the Practice of Helping Skills How to be a Good Client Decisions, Decisions Applications to Self: Who You Are Versus What You Do Summary Skills in Action: Student as Client References and Resources 3. Models of Helping Theories and Their Offspring Theoretical Frameworks and Models of Practice Stages in the Process An Integrated Model Applications to Self: Choosing and Using a Theory Summary Skills in Action: The Phobia References and Resources Part II. Skills to Use With Individuals 4. Skills for Building Collaborative Relationships Your Best Relationships Uses of the Therapeutic Relationship About Empathy Relationship Skills Before You Begin Pitfalls and Common Mistakes Applications to Self: The Effects on All Your Relationships Summary Skills in Action: Ambivalent Intimacy References and Resources 5. Skills of Assessment and Diagnosis The Mental Status Exam The Basics of Conducting an Intake Interview Structured Intake Interviews Special Considerations in Assessing Addiction Special Considerations in Assessing Physical or Sexual Abuse Special Considerations for High Suicide Risk Objective and Subjective Sources of Information Models of Diagnosis Remembering What You See and Hear Making Things Fit Your Style Pitfalls and Common Mistakes Applications to Self: Diagnosing in a Variety of Settings Summary Skills in Action: After the Intake Interview References and Resources 6. Exploration Skills An Overview of the Exploration Stage Structuring the Conversations Opening With a Story Asking Questions Reflecting Skills Putting Reflecting Skills Together Exploring the Past Summarizing Themes Pitfalls and Common Mistakes Applications to Self: Learning to Reflect Will Change You Summary Skills in Action: Infertility References and Resources 7. Promoting Understanding and Insight The Uses of Insight The Limits of Insight Selected Skills for Promoting Understanding What Happens Next? Pitfalls and Common Mistakes Applications to Self: You're Already Doing This Stuff Summary Skills in Action: Unexplained Anxiety References and Resources 8. Facilitating Action Transition From Insight to Action Dealing With Resistance The Miracle Question Setting Goals Generating Alternatives Reinforcing Behavior Using Role-Playing Using the Empty Chair Using the Transference Relaxation Training Using Rehearsal and Imagery Bibliotherapy Pitfalls and Common Mistakes Applications to Self: Sharing Your Client's Issues Summary Skills in Action: Being Too Responsible References and Resources 9. Maintaining Progress and Evaluating Results Some Assessment Challenges Skills of Evaluating Outcomes and Measuring Results: The Client's Efforts Skills of Evaluating Outcomes and Measuring Results: The Therapist's Efforts Ending Therapy Effectively Pitfalls and Common Mistakes Applications to Self: Closure on Closure Summary Skills in Action: Closure References and Resources Part III. Skills to Use With Multiple Clients 10. Skills for Family Therapy and Other Roles for Therapists A Different Way of Looking at Things Structuring a Family Interview Couples Counseling Specialized Skills for Working With Children The Roles You Take as a Therapist Pitfalls and Common Mistakes Applications to Self: Awareness of Your Own Family Dynamics Summary Skills in Action: The Frustrated Couple References and Resources 11. Group Leadership Skills Group Stage Development Group Dynamics Group Leadership Approaches Unique Ethical Challenges Pitfalls and Common Mistakes Applications to Self: You Are Already in a Group Summary Skills in Action: Giving Feedback References and Resources 12. Where to Go Next What If I Don't Know What to Do? What If My Supervisor Finds Out How Little I Know? What If I Hurt Someone? What If I Don't Have What It Takes? Some Advice About Where to Go Next Summary References and Resources References and Resources Index About the Authors