Open University Press Counselling Skills for Complimentary Therapists

Which skills should a complementary therapist develop? How might the skills be used more effectively? What are the ethical issues that a complementary therapist must consider? When and how should a complementary therapist seek help? As the demand for tighter professionalism grows in the complementary healing world, and government regulation increases, a more skilled approach to counselling patients has become priority. Surprisingly, few practitioners over the past thirty years have used more than basic listening skills as part of their clinical work, largely because they were not taught counselling techniques. Most continue to rely instead upon sympathy and intuition to help their patients face emotional problems. Yet advice, however well-meant, could prove dangerous or, at the least, inappropriate. This pioneering book seeks to change this. Counselling skills help prevent making mistakes, they tell therapists what they can and cannot do. In turn, they then guide the patient towards taking more responsibility for their life and to discover their own 'healer within' to speed recovery. In using talking treatment as well as their primary discipline, practitioners may now offer a truly holistic mind-body-spirit dimension to their work. Theoretical consideration of topics such as transference and counter-transference are woven together with case studies, practical tips, personal anecdotes and observations, to make this an accessible and informative book for professionals, graduates and students. About the Author Rosie March-Smith is a registered psychotherapist with the UK Council for Psychotherpay, and currently runs a private practice in the West Country. Rosie was formerly a regular contributor on education and mental health matters, to The Times, The Daily Telegraph and The Guardian, before training in humanistic psychology and psychotherapy. She has also lectured on Holistic Living at Denman College, Abingdon, Oxon.