Skills in Gestalt Counselling & Psychotherapy (Skills in Counselling & Psychotherapy Series) [Paperback]

Phil Joyce (Author), Charlotte Sills (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 10, 2001 | ISBN-10: 0761956999 | ISBN-13: 978-0761956990 | Edition: 1

Skills in Gestalt Counselling and Psychotherapy is a practical introduction to the different techniques used at each stage of the counselling process. The book takes the reader through the process from beginning to termination and focuses on skills, which arise out of Gestalt theory as well as those, invoked by the counselling relationship.

Accessibly written by experienced practitioners, the book gives clear guidelines on: establishing the relationship; assessment and goal setting; developing the client's awareness; maintaining the relationship; bringing the counselling to an end.

The authors also examine the spiritual dimension of counselling and offer guidance on some of the special consideration

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Written in a clear and accessible style, this slim volume will be valued as a wise guide in attaining the necessary skills for a Gestalt flavoured clinical practice... It is in the reference material from Gestalt practitioners across the world that the authors provide a succint integration of Gestalt theory and practice from these last fifty years. This is one of the understated but powerful aspects of the book... I recommend that all Gestalt practitioners get a copy of Skills in Gestalt Counselling and Psychotherapy for their professional library and make sure that it is mandatory reading for their students' - Dorothy E Siminovitch, The Gestalt Institute of Cleveland, USA

'An informative book, well worth the money, that will enrich the practice of any practitioner' - Stress News

`This book was put on our reading list for diploma students in humanistic counselling, and it has been snapped up by the students' - Bee Springwood, Self & Society

Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: Sage Publications Ltd; 1 edition (September 10, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761956999
• ISBN-13: 978-0761956990
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,373,696 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

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for anyone interested in Gestalt therapy, February 17, 2006

By 

Jacek Kotarba - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Skills in Gestalt Counselling & Psychotherapy (Skills in Counselling & Psychotherapy Series) (Paperback)

If Gestalt therapy is for you something hard to understand (mainly because they didn't explain it all at your university), this book is for you. I had a course in Gestalt therapy for a year during my post-graduate studies in clinical psychology and I must admit I was able to FINALLY understand a lot of the concepts I learned there without really knowing what was my teacher talking about. The books offers lots of exercises for you to do so that you can actually perceive, with all your senses, what it is all about. The writers have also discussed a lot of techniques and skills for you to use with your clients. It was an eye opener for me as before I had thought that "bashing the cushion" and "two chairs" were basically the available "tangible" interventions.

The books is very ellegantly written and I only wish I had had it a few years ago... Highly recommended.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth the cost, March 22, 2008

By 

J. Paige "paige me" (Houston, Texas United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Skills in Gestalt Counselling & Psychotherapy (Skills in Counselling & Psychotherapy Series) (Paperback)

I didn't blink at paying $70+ for a textbook in grad school. Now that I'm out and STILL paying student loans, this was a leap of faith - and it didn't come near to university bookstore prices! However, it was worth the cost.

Excellent chapters on the following topics:
Phenomenology and Field Theory; Establishing the Therapeutic Relationship; Treatment Considerations; Experimenting; Unfinished Business; Transference and Counter-Transference; Body Process and Regression. Two chapters are especially helpful: Practice Issues addresses time-limited counseling, group work, dream work, and crisis interventions. Multicultural issues and spirituality (not to be confused with religious/pastoral counseling issues) was addressed in a chapter titled The Wider Field.

Excellent book and highly recommended.