The Future of Counselling and Psychotherapy

Book excerpt: A thought-provoking volume, and one that brings an expanded perspective... Some aspects are unsettling, some frightening, some so distasteful that my reaction is to find another gig should the future be thus. But I did find myself rethinking at idle moments and rereading most of the volume. The works therein contributed to my own perspective. Well worth buying' -"American Journal of Pastoral Counseling "I was admiring of those chapters which took a wide view... This book can be seen as a read-out of a number of attitudes within the profession and within society. Some are partisan or competitive, occupied with the self-justification and proselytizing that is likely to lead to in-fighting. Others see the larger task, the aware repositioning that needs to happen when the world is moving on... this is a book worth reading for the depth and the width of much that is written in it, and not just as a hologram of the present state of the profession. Many contributors give evidence of the self-examination, the awareness of the environment, the largeness of vision and the strictness with self that are prerequisites for humility and learning. They look cautiously forward, both to what might be reached through the profession's best work, and to the reductionist, production-line future that might be a worst outcome of regulation, of confluence and complacent self-interest' - "Self & Society "Many authors discuss some common themes for the future... that include increased use of short-term, problem-specific, cost-efficient forms of therapy... all [chapters] were compelling... interesting and readable' - "Contemporary Psychology "From the plethora of counselling books to be found in any reputable bookstore these days, this is one I recommend you to buy. The ten chapters give us a flavour of differing philosophical approaches to counselling and psychotherapy. At the same time they provide a medium where leading exponents in the field can share their experience of practice and give their hunches as to where we may be heading as a profession. It makes for a fascinating read: it describes exciting developments already underway and gives a critique of where some developments have been less than helpful... For anyone training, practising, tutoring or designing training courses I would recommend this as a thought-provoking, timely book' - "Dialogue " A book with many benefits... on reading this book, the reader is made very aware that the psychotherapeutic professions are embedded in a social and political world. Illustrations are plenty and exceptionally well chosen. For example, Holmes highlights how historical events such as the World Wars or the study of communication systems affected the development of psychotherapeutic systems... examples are clear and thoughtfully put' - "British Psychological Society Counselling Psychology Review "The book is enriched by a number of American contributions... I would certainly recommend Palmer and Varma's book as one containing a good cross-section of views about what the millennium holds for counselling' - "Counselling, The Journal of The British Association for Counselling "The contributors are... an eminent and eclectic line-up. Each chapter focuses in one way or another on professional, clinical and philosophical issues and on predictions for the field... this is a stimulating collection of views by experienced therapists. It is thoughtful, often contentious and avoids rose-tinted self-satisfaction... This book contains well-written and important polemical and prophetic material, and all trainees and reflective practitioners would benefit from engaging with the diversity of themes presented by the editors. Arguably, none of us involved in the field can practise with integrity unless we are prepared to question the basis, purpose and future of our work' -"British Journal of Guidance & Counselling "[An] interesting book... Admirably, the authors have completed a difficult task, for predicting the future is not easy, particularly within counselling and psychotherapy where changes are frequent. The ten chapters are well written with insight... Nurses with limited knowledge of the field will find this an easily accessible book, competitively priced and worth the outlay for insights into the possible directions counselling and psychotherapy make take' -"Journal of Community Nursing "Provides vivid and challenging foresight into the different hypothetical paths counselling and psychotherapy may follow' -"Indian Journal of Social Work " In this challenging volume, leading British and American practitioners discuss different aspects of the future for counselling and psychotherapy as they approach the new millennium and establish themselves as professions in their own right. The volume provides a vivid foresight into the different hypothetical paths counselling and psychotherapy may follow. Covering a range of professional, practical and philosophical issues, the predictions are realistic, although not always optimistic. The future of the different and varied counselling approaches is also assessed in terms of which are developing further, and how, and which are likely to become less popular, and why.