A concise but thorough look at invaluable applied counseling skills, this book provides detailed information on 35 counseling techniques from varied theoretical approaches to help clients from all backgrounds create changes in their lives and meet their counseling goals.

While most introductory counseling skills classes in counselor education programs use a microskills approach supplemented with a theories text that provides a cursory glance at theory-based techniques, most counseling students enter their field without advanced instruction on the application of theory-based techniques to the counseling process. This first edition text strives to provide that missing piece — it is a succinct text that can be used as a secondary text in a theories, techniques, practicum, internship, or advanced or applied skills course that presents in-depth treatment of the major theory-based techniques that counselors use.

The text informs counselors of the theoretical basis underlying each technique and the common variations for implementation. Each technique is accompanied by research that informs the counselor of which techniques are best with which populations and each theoretical approach includes the multicultural implications for applying the approach to counseling clients from diverse cultures.

The book also gives readers transcripts that illustrate how to use the techniques in sessions as well as outcomes research that informs counselors of the most effective ways to use these counseling techniques in practice with diverse clients.

Unique features:

-Transcripts offer examples of each technique, illustrating step-by-step procedures and possible client responses.

-Relevant research accompanies each technique, and highlights which techniques are most effective in treating presenting issues and goals.

-Multicultural implications are explored relative to each theoretical approach, providing applications for applying the approach to clients from diverse cultures.

Bradley T Erford, Ph.D., LCPC, NCC, is a professor in the school counseling program at Loyola University with primary teaching responsibilities in assessment, research, and lifespan development. He has held numerous professional leadership positions and published numerous books, articles and book chapters.