Contracts in Counselling & Psychotherapy

Book excerpt: Praise for the First Edition: `An excellently edited book... It touches upon the core philosophical bases of psychodynamic/psychoanalytic, cognitive and humanistic counselling, and explores the complicated and sometimes contradictory nature of contracting within these approaches... The book is written in an accessible language and often uses very powerful imagery to underline its message... I found this book to be extremely stimulating, accessible and readable. I recommend it to all people interested in counselling, and particularly to students of counselling at all levels′ - British Journal of Guidance and Counselling Contracts in Counselling and Psychotherapy, Second Edition is a practical guide to an essential area of professional knowledge and skills. Any kind of therapeutic relationship requires an agreement between practitioner and client at the outset. When contracting with clients, practitioners need to consider a whole range of factors including: " goals of counselling " theoretical orientation " brief or open-ended counselling " different personality types " ethical and legal issues. This book provides a unique guide to the nature of counselling contracts, why they are needed and how they are made. For the second edition, the book has been thoroughly updated to take account of the BACP ethical framework. Two new chapters have been added covering the legal aspects of contracting, and how to make contracts with trainees. Contracts in Counselling and Psychotherapy, Second Edition is an authoritative source of information and practical guidance for trainees and practitioners in counselling and psychotherapy. Charlotte Sills is Visiting Professor at Middlesex University, and Head of Transactional Analysis Department at Metanoia Institute, London