Clinical Counselling in Context: An Introduction

Professional counselling practice is full of complexities and subtleties, yet the richness of clinical counselling still receives insufficient recognition in the literature and in public opinion. In the light of the current professionalization of counselling,Clinical Counselling in Context: An Introductionbrings together diverse viewpoints reflecting a wide range of theoretical approaches, assumptions and beliefs regarding clinical practice and counselling research. It examines the hypothesis that counselling theory and practice is altered by the specific organizational context in which it takes place -- the consequence of which is that context is an important force for therapeutic change. It also argues that, with careful professionalization and a well-thought-out academic base, counselling can be a sophisticated activity which is not just the poor neighbor of psychotherapy. Contributors: Pat Grant, Adrian Hemmings, Gordon Lynch, June Roberts, Mike Scott, Alison Vaspe, Kitty Warburton, and AndrewSamuels.