The Dynamics of Power in Counselling and Psychotherapy: Ethics, Politics and Practice

The foundation of this book rests on the values and ethics of justice and responsibility, to resist domination and totalising discourses and to deconstruct the discourses behind models of therapy. Given that people who are distressed often choose to go for help in therapy, it is our duty and responsibility, as therapists, to deconstruct our practices and to be clear about the ethics, values and effects of the discourses and practices we use.

Table of Contents:
Why does power in counselling matter?; Isn't therapy always dangerous and abusive?; What is power? Structural theories; How does power work?; Post-structural theories; Cognitive Behaviour Therapy: The obscuring of power in the name of science; Person-Centred Therapy: Equality in the therapy relationship?; The Psychodynamic Approach: Isn't the power all in the transference?; Conclusions: So what can we do about power?

About the Author :
Dr. Gillian Proctor is an independent Clinical psychologist and person-centred psychotherapist, offering individual therapy and supervision. She is an assistant professor in counselling at the University of Nottingham, providing Counselling for Depression courses to NHS counsellors. She is also an associate lecturer at Huddersfield university and a research supervisor at several other institutions. She has a particular interest in ethics, politics and power and the importance for counselling of the insights from sociology and philosophy to broaden and deepen our understandings of relationships and ethics. Her latest book is 'Values and ethics in counselling and psychotherapy' (2013) published by Sage.

Review :
Given that people who are distressed often choose to go for help in therapy, it is therapists' duty and responsibility to deconstruct practices and to be clear about the ethics, values and effects of the practices they use. This book is based on the values and ethics of justice and responsibility, to resist domination and totalising discourses. The foundation of this book rests on the values and ethics of justice and responsibility, to resist domination and totalising discourses and to deconstruct the discourses behind models of therapy. Given that people who are distressed often choose to go for help in therapy, it is our duty and responsibility, as therapists, to deconstruct our practices and to be clear about the ethics, values and effects of the discourses and practices we use. Why does power in counselling matter?; Isn't therapy always dangerous and abusive?; What is power? Structural theories; How does power work?; Post-structural theories; Cognitive Behaviour Therapy: The obscuring of power in the name of science; Person-Centred Therapy: Equality in the therapy relationship?; The Psychodynamic Approach: Isn't the power all in the transference?; Conclusions: So what can we do about power? Dr. Gillian Proctor is an independent Clinical psychologist and person-centred psychotherapist, offering individual therapy and supervision. She is an assistant professor in counselling at the University of Nottingham, providing Counselling for Depression courses to NHS counsellors. She is also an associate lecturer at Huddersfield university and a research supervisor at several other institutions. She has a particular interest in ethics, politics and power and the importance for counselling of the insights from sociology and philosophy to broaden and deepen our understandings of relationships and ethics. Her latest book is 'Values and ethics in counselling and psychotherapy' (2013) published by Sage. It is a useful rejoinder to those who, in their naivety claim that the therapeutic relationship is one of equality in which power does not exist, and as a useful reminder to those who acknowledge its presence yet need to be constantly ensuring that power in the therapist and in the therapeutic relationship does not become abusive. - I enjoyed reading this book and being challenged by it and I recommend it to experienced practitioners as a reminder, and to new therapists and trainees as an essential aid, to developing ethical practice. Roger Casemore, HCPJ, October 2002. When we enter into therapy we give enormous power to the therapist because we want to see that person as someone who can take our pain away. Such power can be abused. Gillian Proctor's timely, thoughtful book is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand what goes on in that most dangerous of arenas, therapy. Dorothy Rowe, Clinical Psychologist and author. Gillian Proctor's book makes a significant contribution in bringing to the fore issues of power that have been grossly neglected in psychotherapy up to now. David Smail, Clinical Psychologist and author.