Product reviews for Advanced Skills and Interventions in Therapeutic Counseling

What an interesting book to read. It is not for the beginner or newly qualified, but for the more experienced therapist.

Nevertheless, Dr Emmerson still begins at the beginning by re-examining the basics. The book starts with the foundations of counselling and therapy covering ethics, listening skills and duty of care, amongst other issues. And whilst this may seem like teaching Grandma to suck eggs, it is useful and worthwhile for all of us to be reminded of these issues from time to time.

The book then moves into an introduction of Ego States and the theory and origins of Ego State Therapy, which is certainly worthy of note. There are several chapters covering the basic and advanced counselling skills and techniques involved in Ego State Therapy before moving on to applying the skills with various specific disorders and problems.

I liked the fact that the book also contained examples of the therapeutic techniques and how to use them with specific problems so that anyone not familiar with this theoretical framework could get a better understanding of the best ways to use what is covered in the book.

As with all therapy disciplines, it will probably not suit all clients. But as an added string to the therapists bow, it is a very useful tool.

All in all this is a significant work and well worth a read for any serious therapist who really wants to understand and use multiple ways of working with their clients to facilitate change.