First Steps in Counselling

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Good little introduction - Rated
Aimed primarily at those interested in becoming counsellors or using counselling in their work, this book may equally appeal to anyone considering using a counsellor, therapist, or life coach. It is, of course, only an introduction - anyone interested in a career in counselling will want more sophisticated fare.

O'Farrell makes it clear that life is a process of change and that we all face different demands and crises in the course of our lives - becoming an adult, coping with work and career problems, entering and leaving relationships, coping with parenthood … coping with teenagers, bereavement, loneliness, addiction, pain, uncertainty, illness, ageing, watching the children leave home, etc., etc., etc. There is no stigma to using a counsellor - when faced with personal trauma or doubt, it makes sense to talk to a professional.

The role of the counsellor is to empower the individual with coping skills and the confidence to face the future. O'Farrell describes the theoretical bases of the leading counselling schools and explores the sorts of skills and aptitudes that make a good counsellor. She also asks why does the counsellor do the job - because s/he enjoys working with people, enjoys helping, and can demonstrates skills in this area? She warns that some people become counsellors because it gives them a sense of power and control over others, or acts as therapy for their own needs. So check out your counsellor before you use him/her.

An accessible, very readable little book which will give you a solid grounding in the basics of counselling … and pose a few caveats as well. This is a basic introduction. Anyone wanting to study the theory or practices of counselling will require a much more extensive volume. But O'Farrell's aim is to offer an effective introduction to the profession, and she succeeds in this admirably. A fine little work which will answer your immediate questions and give you the baseline knowledge to enquire further.