This book is a brief primer of essential helping skills for students and professionals in the helping professions. The book contains a brief chapter on theory that provides an overview of the language used in therapy as well as the various approaches used by helping professionals. It then covers the core skills, standard interventions, nature of relationships, developing rapport, as well as important issues regarding assessment and formulating a diagnosis.

Jeffrey A. Kottler, Ph.D. is one of the most prominent authors in the fields of psychology, health, and education, having written over 100 books across a broad range of topics. He is professor emeritus at California State University, Fullerton and resident scholar at the Alliance for Multicultural Community Service in Houston, Texas, where he works on issues related to refugee mental health and wellness.

Preface
Ch 1: Learning Helping Skills
Why be a Helper?
Changes in the Field
A Daunting Journey
Making a Difference
Personal Qualities
Take Some Advice
For Review
For Reflection and Practice
Further Reading
Ch 2: Theories of Helping
Internalizing Theories
What Theories Can Do For You
Theories You Should Know About
Conclusions About Theory
For Review
For Reflection and Practice
For Further Reading
Ch 3: Processes and Stages
Stages of Helping
Stage I: Pretreatment
Stage II: Exploration
Stage III: Insight
Stage IV: Action
Stave V: Evaluation
Closure Issues
For Review
For Reflection and Practice
For Further Reading
Ch 4: Helping Relationships
Reflect Back
Uses of the Helping Relationship
Customized Relationships
Basically Speaking
Practical Issues
Getting the Relationship Started
For Review
For Reflection and Practice
For Further Reading
Ch 5: Exploration Skills
Internal Attitudes
Attending Behaviors
Practice Makes Perfect
Presenting Yourself
Listening
Time to Practice
Eliciting Information
Asking Questions
Assessing Strengths and Resources
Formulating Diagnoses
Assessing Risk
Responding to Content
Responding to Feelings
Try It Out
Facing Silence
Establishing Goals
Making the Transition to Action
For Review
For Reflection and Practice
For Further Reading
Ch 6: Action Skills
A Check-off List
Ways of Taking Action
Planning an Intervention
Contracting for Change
Confrontation
Teaching People to Think Differently
Constructing Alternative Stories
Role-playing and Rehearsal
Behavioral Interventions
Giving Feedback
Using Imagery
Dealing With Resistance
Employing Adjuncts
When You Don¿t Have Enough Time
For Review
For Reflection and Practice
For Further Reading
Ch 7: Brief Interventions
Some Cautionary Advice
Principles of Brief Intervention
A Different Way of Thinking About Change
An Abbreviated Process
Reframing Problems
Look for Exceptions
Find Out What Works
Miracle Question
A Single Session
Crisis Intervention
Choose Your Method Carefully
For Review
For Reflection and Practice
For Further Reading
Ch 8: Leading Groups
Differences Between Group and Individual Sessions
Some Advantages and Disadvantages
Work With a Co-leader
When to Intervene in Groups
Practical Considerations in Running a Group
For Review
For Reflection and Practice
For Further Reading
Ch 9: Looking at Yourself
Practicing What You Preach
Making Helping a Lifestyle
Ethical Issues
Getting the Most From Supervision
Joys of Helping
For Review
For Reflection and Practice
For Further Reading
Index