Main description:

This book is designed to help students in the mental health professions, as well as clinicians, to bridge the gap between theory and practice and to develop competence in the conceptual skills of their profession. Written by a well-known author who is an educator as well as a practicing clinician, this book teaches the conceptual skills that mental health professionals need to understand their clients; to develop sound ideas about the cause, nature, and purpose of their clients' difficulties; and to craft a treatment plan that is likely to be effective. Skills are organized into a readily comprehensible structure and are grouped by their primary focus (background, emotions, thoughts, or actions), thus clearly linking theory and practice. Important skills presented in this book include developing a sound therapeutic alliance, case conceptualization, assessment, becoming competent in diagnosis and treatment planning, and addressing transference and countertransference. Written exercises, discussion questions, group role-plays, personal journal questions, and many examples facilitate learning and application.
Highlights of this First Edition: * The structure of BETA (background, emotions, thoughts, actions) format-enables readers to link theory and practice and readily understand the primary purpose of each skill. * Consistent use of four types of learning opportunities at the end of each chapter (written exercises, discussion questions, role-play exercises, personal journal questions)-affords readers diverse approaches to learning, designed to promote skill development regardless of the learner's preferred learning style. Gives structure and consistency to the book. * The teaching of advanced conceptual skills-until recently, skill development in the training programs in counseling, psychology, and social work focused almost exclusively on teaching the basic or fundamental skills. Recent research has affirmed the importance of both fundamental and conceptual skills. This is one of the few books that teaches readers how to understand and think about their clients and potentially moves the treatment process to a deeper and more meaningful level.
* New and revised examples and case studies, including a new intake interview in the concluding chapter of the book-new and revised case studies reflect typical clients and concerns currently encountered by mental health professionals. Clients and concerns reflect multicultural diversity as well as a range of problems. * This book presents a variety of models for conceptualizing clients and their difficulties. Models include a modified version of Bloom's Taxonomy, Concept Mapping, Clinical Factor Analysis, the Inverted Pyramid Heuristic, and others-this variety of models affords readers experience in various ways to approach the conceptualization process and enables them to identify a model that seems most useful to them.

Contents:

1. Establishing the Foundation for Developing Conceptual Skills Overview of Fundamental and Conceptual Skills Companion Books on Fundamental and Conceptual Skills The Beta Format Organization of This Book Learning Opportunities 2. Using Conceptual Skills to Understand, Assess, and Address Background: Bloom's Taxonomy, Context, Multiculturalism, and Interpretation Clarifying Conceptual Skills Using Bloom's Taxonomy Interpretation and Insight Applying Conceptual Skills to Context Multicultural Context and Competencies Learning Opportunities 3. Using Conceptual Skills to Understand, Assess, and Address Background: Eliciting Information, Intake Interviews, Transference and Countertransference Effective Information Gathering Collecting Background Information/Intake Interviews Transference and Countertransference Learning Opportunities 4. Using Conceptual Skills to Make Positive Use of and Modify Emotions: TherapeuticAlliance, Role Induction, Clinician Self-Disclosure, Clinicians' Reactions to Clients The Therapeutic Alliance Client Characteristics that Enhance Treatment Role Induction Clinician Self-Disclosure and Immediacy Understanding Clinicians' Own Feelings Learning Opportunities 5. Using Conceptual Skills to Make Positive Use of and Modify Emotions: AddressingStrong Client Emotions, Variations in Client Readiness for Treatment Dealing with Strong Negative Client Emotions Suicidal Ideation Crisis Intervention Understanding and Addressing Client Rage, Anger, and Violent Impulses Variations in Client Readiness for Treatment Stages of Change Client Reluctance Learning Opportunities 6. Using Conceptual Skills to Enhance Thoughts: Assessment, Mental Status Examination, Defining Memories, Case Conceptualization Assessment Mental Status Examination Using Tests and Inventories as Part of the Assessment Process Conceptualizing the Meaning of Defining Memories Case Conceptualization Learning Opportunities 7. Using Conceptual Skills to Facilitate Diagnosis and Treatment Planning Diagnosis Treatment Planning Examples of Treatment Plans Learning Opportunities 8. Applying Conceptual Skills to Actions for Positive Change: Generating Solutions, Referral and Collaboration, Structuring Treatment, Writing Progress Notes Generating Solutions to Clients' Problems Referral and Collaboration Structuring Interventions, Sessions, and the Overall Treatment Process Progress Notes Learning Opportunities 9. Applying Conceptual Skills to Actions for Positive Change: Assessing and Terminating Sessions and Treatment, Using Research to Enhance Practice Assessing and Terminating Sessions and Treatment Using Research to Enhance Your Practice and Your Professional Development Learning Opportunities 10. Solidifying Conceptual Skills: Reviewing, Integrating, and Reinforcing Learning Intake Interview with Summer Harris Learning Opportunities Comprehensive Self-Evaluation Personal Journal Questions References Index