Book excerpt: This book is a comprehensive, easy-to-read introduction to personal counseling written for professional and volunteer counselors and those who train them. The chapters describing basic and more advanced counseling skills are arranged in a sequence that is particularly suitable when teaching student counselors to learn and practice using these skills for the first time. The authors adopt an integrative approach that allows the reader to learn, understand, and use skills taken from major counseling approaches, and to integrate these into a sequential process that maximizes the possibility of facilitating change in the client. Of considerable value for new counselors are those sections of the book that describe the fundamental principles of the counseling relationship, and explain the theories of change applicable to the various approaches to counseling. Unique features include: a highly practical integrative approach to counseling; discussion of the specific skills required for success; practical suggestions on ways to learn and develop new skills; ways of managing particular situations involving angry, depressed, grieving, and suicidal clients; an understanding of the role of a counselorOCOs supervisor; information on practical issues such as keeping records, arrangement of the counseling room, and ways to look after yourself as a counselor; plus practical information on issues of confidentiality and professional ethics. Additionally, there are numerous examples of useful dialogue to illustrate real experiences of and for use in counseling situations, including key statements that are highlighted throughout the book for ease of reference. This text will serve as a valuable resource for workers in a wide variety of helping professions where counseling skills are useful such as psychology, social work, welfare work, medicine, nursing, education, and human services."