Introduction to Counselling Skills: Text and Activities

′This book is a superb reference for counselling skills trainers and students. It presents practical key skills that are described and discussed clearly and concisely′ - Dr Margaret E Smith, Programme Leader, University of Derby ′This Third Edition interestingly adds two relevant sub-themes to its impressive range of subject matter. The text offers a sound, practical and accessible introduction that serves to ground the purpose, application and practice of counselling skills′ - Gerry Skelton, Social Work and Counselling educator, trainer and practitioner Introduction to Counselling Skills, Third Edition is designed to help readers acquire and develop the counselling skills key to effective helping relationships, using an easy-to-follow, three-stage model. Richard Nelson-Jones details each stage in the helping process, using examples to demonstrate counselling skills in a variety of contexts. Showing how skills work in practice and the diversity of issues they can help to address, this book covers: " what counselling skills are " improving listening skills " assessing feelings, thinking and communication " improving thinking skills and communication skills " conducting sessions " ethical issues. For the Third Edition, Introduction to Counselling Skills has been fully updated, adding new material on relaxation techniques and managing crises. Combining a clear explanation of skills with a host of practical activities, this is the ideal text for introductory courses in counselling skills, counselling and other professional areas including health care, management, education and social work. Richard Nelson-Jones is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society and of the BACP. He divides his time between London and Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Table of Contents:
PART ONE: INTRODUCTION Who Are Counsellors And Helpers? Creating Communication Skills and Feelings Creating Mind Skills The Counselling and Helping Process The Counselling and Helping Relationship PART TWO: THE RELATING STAGE Understanding the Internal Frame of Reference Showing Attention and Interest Reflecting Feelings Starting the Counselling and Helping Process Managing Resistances and Making Referrals PART THREE: THE UNDERSTANDING STAGE Asessing Feelings and Physical Reactions Assessing Thinking Assessing Communication and Actions Challenges, Feedback and Self-Disclosing Monitoring, Summarizing and Identifying Skills PART FOUR: THE CHANGING STAGE Helping to Solve Problems Coaching Skills: Speaking, Demonstrating and Rehearsing Improving Communication and Actions Improving Thinking Negotiating Homework Conducting Middle Sessions Terminating Counselling and Helping PART FIVE: FURTHER CONSIDERATIONS Relaxation Interventions Managing Crises Diversity in Counselling and Helping Ethical Issues and Dilemmas Training Groups and Supervision Counselling Theory and Research Becoming More Skilled and Human

About the Author :
Richard Nelson-Jones was born in London in 1936. Having spent five years in California as a Second World War refugee, he returned in the 1960s to obtain a Masters and Ph.D from Stanford University. In 1970, he was appointed a lecturer in the Department of Education at the University of Aston to establish a Diploma in Counselling in Educational Settings, which started enrolling students in 1971. During the 1970s, he was helped by having three Fulbright Professors from the United States, each for a year, who both taught students and improved his skills. During this period he broadened out from a predominantly client-centred orientation to becoming much more cognitive-behavioural. He also wrote numerous articles and the first edition of what is now The Theory and Practice of Counselling and Therapy, which was published in 1982. In addition, he chaired the British Psychological Society′s Working Party on Counselling and, in1982, became the first chairperson of the BPS Counselling Psychology Section. In 1984, he took up a position as a counselling and later counselling psychology trainer at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, where he became an Associate Professor. He continued writing research articles, articles on professional issues and books, which were published in London and Sydney. As when he worked at Aston University, he also counselled clients to keep up his skills. In 1997, he retired from RMIT and moved to Chiang Mai in Thailand. There, as well as doing some counselling and teaching, he has continued as an author of counselling and counselling psychology textbooks. A British and Australian citizen, he now divides his time between Chiang Mai and London and regularly visits Australia.

Review :
Praise for previous edition: `An excellent introductory book′ - lecturer, Worcester College `Useful introduction to counselling skills for social work students′ - lecturer, School of Health & Social Sciences `Well presented, clear and accessible′ - lecturer, University of Wolverhampton `Very good concise text for students and management trainees. Well established text′ - lecturer, Westminster Business School `As a course book or an aide to individual learning this book contains a wealth of information and guidance based on years of study and practice. It is easy to use because it is clearly signposted. I particularly like the way the author addresses the range of issues a student needs to consider before embarking on a counselling course. The structure of building block by block, skill by skill simplifies assessment′ - Counselling and Psychotherapy Journal