Microskills and Theoretical Foundations for Professional Helpers (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Microskills and Theoretical Foundations for Professional Helpers offers an exploration of both the art and the science of professional helping. This unique book addresses both the microskills of professional helping in-depth to facilitate actual skill development and the theories of helping in enough depth to foster development of "personal theories" of helping. Readers can easily integrate theory with practice by using a book that cuts across the disciplines of psychology, counseling, marriage and family counseling, human services, and social work with the theories that form the foundation for professional helping. For anyone involved in family counseling, human services, social work, etc.

From the Back Cover

Microskills and Theoretical Foundations for Professional Helpers offers an exploration of both the art and the science of professional helping. This unique book addresses both the microskills of professional helping indepth to facilitate actual skill development and the theories of helping in enough depth to foster development of "personal theories" of helping. Readers can easily integrate theory with practice by using a book that cuts across the disciplines of psychology, counseling, marriage and family counseling, human services, and social work with the theories that form the foundation for professional helping. For anyone involved in family counseling, human services, social work, etc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Allyn & Bacon; 1 edition (January 24, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0205328156
• ISBN-13: 978-0205328154
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #690,578 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars response to NY reader:, October 17, 2007

By	BJP "BJP" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

If the book were focusing on therapist skills to a larger extent, wouldn't it be called "macro-skills?" I think the point of the text is to educate the helper in the 'micro' skills that can make the critical difference between a client feeling unsuited to therapy vs. supported in their endeavor for meaningful change. Those in the helping professions should be made aware of how their behaviors can--even at the micro level--affect client change and the shaping of client behaviors.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Bad philosophy, good coverage., July 17, 2007

By	Jerry "nystarcom zshop" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

I think this book gives a good coverage of helping techniques which correspond with a specific school of thought. With all due respect to the author, I think it is too specific about the helpers behavior. I think the help should just be themselves to a larger extent. While many clients might be reassured by the behavior the book recommends. As a client I would find such behavior very suspect. If someone is masking their own natural behavior, the question arises as to what they are masking and why. I would be most suspicious about whether the helper is exaggerating their ability or interest in helping me. I also think it is important to get clients used to accepting help from those who are clearly different than them.