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Synopsis This book is written for practitioners such as teachers, doctors, community workers, nurses and social workers, whose counseling role is embedded within other work functions. A framework is introduced, that allows the reader to draw on knowledge and competencies from their own personal and professional experience, as well as from a range of approaches to counseling, that will help them to help others.

The majority of people who seek help for personal issues do not consult specialist counselors or psychotherapists, but instead look for support from people who are close to hand. In many instances, the counseling conversations that they have may last for no more than a few minutes. This book equips readers with methods and strategies for working effectively in such circumstances.

Counseling Skill outlines the abilities needed for counseling others – listening carefully, self-awareness, instillation of hope, being reliable and trustworthy, a capacity to engage with emotion n – and suggests how these everyday skills may be used to help others to help themselves. In order to help those new to the ideas in the book, each chapter is supported by examples, as well as evidence from research studies.

This book is key reading for people working in helping, managing or supervisory roles: it provides efficient and ethical strategies that will improve their ability to assist or advise others. It is also of use to counselors and counseling students who wish to develop a better understanding of their craft.