Contents of this OLC

Learning Resources

• Using research to inform practice
• The process of therapy Professional and ethical issues
• Approaches to therapy
• Socio-political, cultural and historical aspects of practice
• Conceptual issues in therapy  

Further Questions for Reflection and Discussion 

• Chapters 1-3

Extended Chapter Reference Lists 

• History
• Research
• Decolonising and anti-racism
• Suicide
• Climate crisis and ecological collapse
• Cultural perspectives on therapy
• Ethics
• Gender

Table of Contents

• How to use this book
• Introduction 
• Part 1. The common ground
  • Chapter 1. What its like to be a client
  • Chapter 2. What its like to be a therapist
  • Chapter 3. Working together: the relationship between the client and therapist
  • Chapter 4. Therapy as a process
  • Chapter 5. The beginning
  • Chapter 6. Leaving therapy
• Part 2. Conceptualising the practice of therapy
  • Chapter 7. The psychodynamic tradition
  • Chapter 8. The cognitive-behavioural perspective
  • Chapter 9. Interpersonal therapies
  • Chapter 10. Person-centred, humanistic and experiential approaches
  • Chapter 11. Transaction Analysis: a comprehensive theoretical system
  • Chapter 12. Gestalt Therapy
  • Chapter 13. Existential therapies
  • Chapter 14. Narrative Therapy
  • Chapter 15. Working with families
  • Chapter 16. The use of art in therapy
  • Chapter 17. Therapy in nature: using the outdoor environment
  • Chapter 18. The use of technology in therapy
  • Chapter 19. Religion and spirituality
  • Chapter 20. Embodied conversations
  • Chapter 21. Integrative therapies
  • Chapter 22. Pluralistic therapy
• Part 3. How therapy can contribute to building a better world
  • Chapter 23. The historical context of contemporary practice
  • Chapter 24. A cultural perspective on therapy
  • Chapter 25. A social adversity perspective
  • Chapter 26. A social justice approach to therapy
  • Chapter 27. Decolonising therapy
  • Chapter 28. Racialisation and antiracism 
  • Chapter 29. Supporting clients to overcome gender-based oppression
  • Chapter 30. Climate change and ecological collapse
• Part 4. Being a therapist
  • Chapter 31. Qualities of effective therapists
  • Chapter 32. Professional structures for developing and maintaining therapist competence
  • Chapter 33. Working within an ethical and moral framework
  • Chapter 34. Using research to inform practice
  • Chapter 35. A life worth living: suicide and the social purpose of counselling and psychotherapy
• References
• Index

Praise for the Book

“I urge you to buy this book… One of the best overviews of the philosophy, principles, theories, research and practices of therapy that I have ever read... This book should be read by both beginning and fully qualified therapists – and importantly, by all those involved in designing and delivering training programmes for counsellors and psychotherapists.” 

Professor Charlotte Sills, Ashridge Business School, Metanoia Institute, UK

“If you have been searching for a contemporary book that offers a comprehensive overview of counselling and psychotherapy in straightforward manner whilst also engaging with underlying debates and research evidence, then you have just found it! I highly recommend this book for every counselling and psychotherapy trainee and for seasoned practitioners alike.” 

Dr Divine Charura, Professor of Counselling Psychology, York St John University, UK

“The brilliance of a book such as this one, a uniqueness which sits alongside its longevity and numerous editions, is that McLeod’s work recognises that counselling and psychotherapy, that the work we do with the wide range of clients we meet, is a constantly growing field…A brilliantly worthy addition to this ever-expanding universe which is our profession.” 

Dr Dwight Turner, Course Leader, Humanistic Counselling and Psychotherapy, University of Brighton, UK