'This handbook stands out for its relatable, inclusive andintegrated approach. It focuses on being directly and practicallyrelevant to trainees and bridges the gap between complex psychological theoryand compassionate clinical practice. Editors Charlotte O’Brien and DivineCharura have assembled a diverse range of voices that match the academic rigourrequired for professional training with the deeply human element of thetherapeutic encounter.'Professor Emmy van Deurzen, Director, ExistentialAcademy'Training as a therapist is life-changing, and this bookprovides an essential companion for all those undertaking the journey ofbecoming through immersion in the complex world of therapy. By recognising that being a therapist is apersonal experience, built on our own perspectives and life-worlds, this bookencourages and supports the reflexive incorporation of knowledge andunderstandings which will serve throughout a therapist’s career.Starting from an understanding of where approaches totherapy come from, the work highlights the vital importance of philosophical,theoretical, practice and research groundings in our approach to working, butalso shows the reader how these manifest in our ways of knowing, everydaythinking, and application in the room. From these firm foundations the authors show us how this influences ourways of meeting and knowing our clients relationally, how we can navigate ourwork with them, and how we can recognise and collectively resist epistemic andsocietal injustice. Alongside coveringkey considerations of being a practitioner, it introduces thinking points andreflections to translate complexities in to personal perspectives in a way whichcounters concerns that arise for students and early stage-practitioners inmaking sense of their learning.This remarkable book provides a unique growth-orientedperspective on the process of becoming a contemporary therapist. I highly recommend it to all thoseundertaking training, and also to practitioners who wish to remind themselvesof the richness and meaning of our work in the modern world.'Kate Smith, Professorand Head of Department of Mental Health and Well-being, University of Aberdeen'The Handbook of Counselling Psychology andPsychotherapy is a perfect companion for those embarking on their counsellingpsychology journey, as well as those around them. The format of the book makes sure the coreparts of who we are is foregrounded, as well as recommendations for corereading around this. I remember in my own training that some of my peers seemedto have read things that were new to me, and I felt ‘out of the club’initially. A resource like this ensuresthat the foundational aspects to the training are made explicit, and as well asthe parts we need to nurture throughout our journey into qualifying. The content is accessible and would be a worthwhilepurchase for trainees, as well as those who supervise them, especially if youare a non-counselling psychologist. There are exercises for reflection which allows for this to be part of ashared journey with fellow trainee (and supervisors). I recommend this fantastic resource to thosethinking about counselling psychology, and those who support them. Welcome tothe club!'Dr Brian Murray, Chair, BPS Division of Counselling Psychology'In this rich compendium, Charlotte O’Brien and DivineCharura bring together an impressive group of leaders in our field to provideinsights into the forms of support needed by those training to be counsellingpsychologists and psychotherapists. Throughout, the contributors encouragetrainees to immerse themselves compassionately and reflexively in theirlearning, towards the goal of becoming truly reflective practitioners. Traineesare encouraged to focus on the philosophical and theoretical scaffolding that,in tandem with practice, underpins their journey, and to identify their ownspecific voice and values through wider dialogue, research and writing.I love the underlying spirit of this book, which is toidentify the ‘companions’ - the supportive relationships - which provide uspractitioners with sources of ‘wisdom, comfort, knowledge and encouragement’. Ialso applaud the diverse exercises and inclusive questions offered throughout,all geared to stimulating deeper reflection and enhanced social and culturalsensitivity.'Dr Linda Finlay, Integrative Psychotherapist and AcademicConsultant'The handbook will be an invaluable resource for trainees,supporting them to critically reflect on their own development aspractitioners, and how they are metabolising the learning from modules,placements and supervision. With its central commitment to anti-oppressivepractice, the Handbook encourages trainees to develop both cultural humilityand their own identity and voice as practitioners. Through content often notformally included in therapy training - such as tips for how to survivetraining through self-care and how to navigate accreditation – the Handbookoffers practical support. With suggested activities, further readings andreflexive questions that prompt active engagement with the material, theHandbook offers an engaging and helpful companion on the often long andstressful journey of training to be a therapist.'Naomi Moller, Professor ofPsychology and Psychotherapy, The Open University'As a counselling psychologist, academic and practitioner,I am deeply appreciative of how this Handbook positions counselling psychologyand psychotherapy as relational, ethical and socially situated practices. Itoffers far more than a technical guide to training: it is a thoughtfulcompanion that recognises becoming a practitioner as an ongoing, reflexive andvalue-laden process.With a sustained commitment to anti-oppressive practiceand decolonisation, the editors and contributors locate power, difference andsocial justice as central to therapeutic work, training and research. Thechapters invite readers to critically examine the historical, cultural andpolitical foundations of the psychological therapies, while also offeringgrounded ways of practising with greater humility, accountability and care.This feels both necessary and timely.As someone teaching on a Doctorate in CounsellingPsychology and Psychotherapy, I see this handbook as addressing a significantpedagogical need. It speaks directly to trainees’ experiences, normalisinguncertainty and encouraging reflexivity, while also providing educators andsupervisors with accessible frameworks, exercises and language to supportethically informed learning. The emphasis on relational ethics, positionalityand the therapist’s use of self, aligns closely with contemporary professionalvalues and regulatory expectations.In my independent practice, I am reminded daily thattherapy unfolds within wider systems of inequality and privilege. This handbookreflects that reality, encouraging practitioners to hold individual distressalongside social context, and to work in ways that resist reductionism andexclusion.Overall, this is a generous, courageous and ethicallygrounded contribution to the field, and one that I expect will become a valuedresource for trainees, practitioners and educators alike.'Dr Sue WhitcombeBSc MA DCPsych CPsychol, Counselling Psychologist and Senior Lecturer, MetanoiaInstitute'The Handbook of Counselling Psychology andPsychotherapy uses a warm, accessible, and conversational tone, invitingreaders to engage closely with the insights of Drs. Charura, O’Brien, and theircontributors. They guide readers from foundational philosophical, theoretical,and relational concepts to the attitudes, values, competencies, and skillsessential during training and professional practice in counselling psychologyand psychotherapy. With contributions from internationally recognized andseasoned practitioners, clinical supervisors, and academics, it provides one ofthe most comprehensive introductions to psychotherapeutic practice grounded inrelational ethics and a deep commitment to social justice. This book championsa global and decolonial perspective on psychological therapies, encouragingreaders to embrace anti-oppressive and just practices as central to theirprofessional identity. Students, instructors, and supervisors alike will findvalue in the research-informed perspectives on timely issues such astelepsychology and AI, practical guidance on developing a professional voice,and thought-provoking questions to foster reflexivity, skill development, and asuccessful transition into professional roles.'Sophie Yohani, PhD., R Psych.Professor & Counselling Psychology Programs Coordinator, University ofAlberta, Canada
