Book excerpt: Tina says she is pregnant and considering a termination. Marcus wonders whether he should tell his friends he is gay. You worry whether Gulshan has some form of eating disorder. Stephen's father is very angry with you about the school's treatment of his son. Jane boasts to you that she and her friends were drunk and smoked cannabis at a party last night. How would counselling skills help a teacher in these situations? Gail King explores the counselling skills which teachers need in their pastoral role, and examines them using examples from teachers' typical experience. Counselling Skills for Teachers is a practical book written for both new entrant and experienced teachers who work with school students aged 11 to 18 in mainstream education. It describes the basic listening and responding skills, and how to conduct a helping interview. It covers issues such as professional boundaries, role conflict, self-disclosure, referring on, self-awareness, and cross-cultural awareness. It also includes teachers' legal responsibilities with respect to confidentiality, sex education and the Children Act; and an invaluable section listing relevant organizations. Counselling Skills for Teachers tackles the pitfalls and the dilemmas faced by teachers in pastoral roles, and provides invaluable guidance as to how counselling skills can be successfully deployed.