The Skilled Helper: A Problem-management and Opportunity Development Approach to Helping [Import] [Paperback]

Egan (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Thomson Learning; International Ed edition (July 31, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0495127957
• ISBN-13: 978-0495127956
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #762,955 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Still one of the "must reads" for all in the counseling or helping field, September 26, 2010

By 

Rusty (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Skilled Helper: A Problem-Management and Opportunity-Development Approach to Helping (Hardcover)

The Skilled Helper was mandatory, foundational reading in my early Clinical Psychology training. It is the book that I've recommended most often to young and/or developing clinicians.
1) It provides a straight forward explanation that counseling or helping is done "with", not "to" another person.
2) It clearly explains the need to meet your client/patient/consumer where they are instead of demanding that they fit a program or treatment model (individualized treatment at it's most basic).
3) It acknowledges and defines the term "interaction" - both clinician and client are influenced by the exchange.
4) It starts with the core concept of respect and regard for the person (vs. seeing them as a collection of symptoms or problems)
5) It addresses the goal of the client "outgrowing" the therapy relationship (without a lot of heady jargon, this really addresses the boundary, ethics and counter-transference issues that can derail therapy and professional careers)

Excellent resource for training new clinicians and for refocusing more experienced "helpers".

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Overall a great introduction, September 30, 2010

By 

MomToBe (Charleston, SC United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Skilled Helper: A Problem-Management and Opportunity-Development Approach to Helping (Hardcover)

Overall a great introduction to counseling. It is not really a theory but a framework approach to helping through which each counselor can work in their own way to help clients.

From what I can see, there isn't a whole lot of change to the theory itself from edition to edition. What seems to change is the examples that are used (to make them more relevant to the age) and the use of technology.

Overall, very easy read with great general information.

8 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Future Editions, February 9, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Skilled Helper: A Systematic Approach to Effective Helping, Fourth Edition (Hardcover)

Egan has made several books from one therory which he appeared to constantly develop! although this may lead us to thinking that this is organic it has remained a model of helping or counselling that never reaches new depths or broadens its client group. Its strength is that its simplicity makes it a very easy model to teach which which gives students easy to follow pathways to counselling skills - probably this is why it was so popular on counselling courses in the UK for so long. Does anyone know if Egan has written a later than the 5th Edition or what he is currently publishing.