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Counselling Couples and Families
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Counselling Couples and Families
A Person-Centred Approach



August 1999 | 176 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
Reader's comments:

`Then along comes your book - lands on my desk like a gift, which I have barely put down since. It stopped me searching for external answers, helped me to dig into the knowledge, philosophy and way of working which already existed in me. I draw on it all the time for inspiration and a way of grounding me in the tentative moments of working towards a delicate connection with the families I encounter. I have a lot to be thankful to you for - I have now developed a way of working which seems helpful and which enables those around me to find a way forward, but perhaps most of all I finally feel comfortable and free to be the same counsellor I am with individuals - Hurrah!' - Kim Barber, Counsellor

Lecturers' comments:

'A fascinating book which combines couple counselling with person-centred counselling. Will be recommended reading for social work students working with couple relationships'

'Very readible. Useful for students of counselling beyomd the 'title' focus of couples and families'

`The only book on couple and family counselling from the person-centred approach'

`This book is unique in its articulation of family therapy and the person-centred approach. It is also engaging in the way couples and the families come to life through Charlie O'Leary's acute and sensitive observation. It is an essential text in any person-centred therapy library'- Dave Mearns, University of Strathclyde

`Compelling reading... I liked this book. It is intelligent, thought-provoking, occasionally funny and a delight to read. I warmed to the author's passion for the work of Carl Rogers.... All Relate counsellors will find something of value - even the strict psychodynamic practitioners' - Relate News

`The author deserves congratulations on his easy, readable style. This will ensure that the book will be read, rather than simply browsed by many' - Sexual and Relationship Therapy

`Provides a very good introduction for counsellors in working with families.' - British Journal of Guidance & Counselling

`In this highly readable text, the theory and practice of counselling couples and families are successfully integrated with principles from the Rogerian/person-centred approach. In this sense the book is unique: although a lot of counsellors in fact practice relational therapy from a person-centred perspective, until now, no basic text was available in this field' - Alfons Vansteenwegen, INTAMS Review

In this unique book, the theory and practice of counselling couples and families are integrated with principles from the person-centred approach. With numerous examples from actual sessions, the book clearly illustrates the key issues that couples and families face, and the ways in which the counsellor can help them to resolve these to their own satisfaction.

Written primarily from the viewpoint of working with couples and families, issues specific to relational counselling are contrasted to those that arise when counselling individuals or non-related groups. The author then explores the process of relational counselling using the person-centred principles of empathy, congruence, unconditional positive regard and non-interference with the clients' actualizing tendency.

 
Relational Counselling and the Person-Centred Approach
 
Why Do Counsellors Stay Away from Relational Counselling?
 
Themes in Family Therapy
 
Relational Counselling and the Six Core Conditions of the Person-Centred Approach
 
Preparation for Relational Therapy
 
Getting Started
 
In the Middle of Relational Counselling
 
Ending Relational Counselling
 
Couples Counselling
 
One Family's Experience

Adopter's comment

'A fascinating book which combines couple counselling with person-centred counselling. Will be recommended reading for social work students working with couple relationships'

'Very readible. Useful for students of counselling beyomd the 'title' focus of couples and families'

`Compelling reading... I liked this book. It is intelligent, thought-provoking, occasionally funny and a delight to read. I warmed to the author's passion for the work of Carl Rogers.... All Relate counsellors will find something of value - even the strict psychodynamic practitioners' - Relate News

`This is a highly readable text, which incorporates the theory and practice of counselling couples and families, integrated with principles from the person-centred approach....This text is most valuable to the beginner counsellor, however it can be considered a refresher to the more established practitioner' - Eisteach

`Provides a very good introduction for counsellors in working with families' - British Journal of Guidance & Counselling'

`This book is unique in its articulation of family therapy and the person-centred approach. It is also engaging in the way couples and the families come to life through Charlie O'Leary's acute and sensitive observation. It is an essential text in any person-centred therapy library'- Dave Mearns, University of Strathclyde

`In this highly readable text, the theory and practice of counselling couples and families are successfully integrated with principles from the Rogerian/person-centred approach. In this sense the book is unique: although a lot of counsellors in fact practice relational therapy from a person-centred perspective, until now, no basic text was available in this field' - Alfons Vansteenwegen, INTAMS Review


This is an informative text that provides a good insight into working with couples from a person-centred approach.

Ms Rosie Byrom
Health , Riverside College Halton
February 1, 2016

a basic guide to begin with

Mr Gerry O'Riordan
faculty of counselling, Chichester University
September 2, 2015

An invaluable resource with excellent highlights on counselling couples and families.

Mr Zephaniah Ncube
School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social work, Manchester University
May 18, 2015

a brilliant read

Miss Nicola Lord
department of health, preston collage
March 31, 2015

Although our students do not specifically study couples and family counselling they will benefit from learning about working with relational aspects in the therapy room

Mrs Jan Tatham
Bristol Ctr for Care, Health & Educ St, City of Bristol College
September 29, 2011

A very well written text that was interesting and thought provoking. The book will be of some interest to only some of our students. However, those that are persuing the person-centred approach to practice should read this book.

Dr David Murphy
School of Sociology and Social Policy, Nottingham University
January 12, 2011

Although this is a year course the book is recommended for a three year cycle - 2010 - 2012. We shall then revisit the requirement for being prescribed or to keep it as a recommended book.

Professor Desiree De Kock
Social Work , University of South Africa - UNISA
March 5, 2010

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