Skills for Helping Professionals

Anne M. Geroski, Ed.D., is Associate Professor in the Counseling Program at the University of Vermont. In addition to professional journal publications, Dr. Geroski is the author of Sage publication, Skills for Helping Relationship Professionals, as well as Helping Skills for Counselors and Groups in Schools: Preparing, Leading, and Responding (co-author, currently in its second [in press] edition). She has been preparing counselors at the University of Vermont for over 20 years, with a special focus on skill development, work with youth, narrative practice, and a recent study of parenting intentions and practices. Dr. Geroski also has worked as a school and mental health counselor and consultant in a variety of settings in the U.S. and overseas. She currently lives with her partner, Kevin, in Burlington Vermont and they have four young adult children.

• Chapter 1: Helping ProcessesHelping Terms: Helping, Counseling, Psychotherapy, Therapy, & AdvocacyHelping RelationshipsWhat we Know about Being HelpfulChapter 2: Understanding Development: Theories, Social Context, and NeuroscienceThe Purpose of a TheoryTheories of DevelopmentCultural and Social Factors in DevelopmentContributions from NeuroscienceChapter 3: Helping Theories for Working with OthersCase StudiesTheories of HelpingPsychodynamic Approaches to HelpingEthological Approaches to HelpingHumanistic Approaches to HelpingBehavioral and Learning Approaches to HelpingContemporary Approaches to HelpingChapter 4: Ethical Principles for Helping RelationshipsDefinitionsEthics and Professional PracticeMoral Principles for HelpersKey Ethical Concepts for Helping ProfessionalsEthical Decision-MakingChapter 5: Self-Awareness, Cultural Awareness, and Helper CompetenceHelper Self-AwarenessPersonalization Issues, Vicarious Trauma and BurnoutEmotional Self-RegulationAssumptions, Values and BeliefsCultural CompetenceChapter 6: Setting the Stage for HelpingGetting StartedThe Helping “Contract”AssessmentDetermining the Helpee’s Investment in ChangeGoal SettingAction Plans & ExpectationsHelper PositioningChapter 7: Listening and Basic Responding Skills in Helping ConversationsListening and Basic Responding SkillsEmpathyReflectionsParaphrasesThe Purpose of Reflections and ParaphrasesQuestionsBroaching ConversationsChapter 8: Skills for Promoting ChangeInforming/Psycho-educationDecision-Making and Problem SolvingConfrontationFeedbackImmediacyDeconstructing ConversationsMotivating ChangeAdvocacyChapter 9: Helping People in CrisisNatural or Human-Made Disasters or CrisesCrisis Response Strategies for HelpersHarm to Self or OtherHarm to SelfHarm to OthersChapter 10: Helping in GroupsGroup TypesBasic Concepts in Group WorkTheories and Models of Group WorkGroup Leader PrinciplesIntervention Skills and Group Stage

"Skills for Helping Professionals is an important addition to the material for teaching helper skills. The inclusion of current theories and issues in helper education is a major contribution to this important area of study."