Helping Skills

Helping Skills: Basic Techniques for the Active and Engaged Helper provides readers with an introduction to essential counseling techniques, including active listening, paraphrasing, questioning, and managing complex interactions. Through theory, research, and practice suggestions, the text equips future behavioral health clinicians with the skills necessary to engage with clients, gather data, and intervene effectively. The skills outlined in the book well prepare readers to engage actively and authentically in individual, couple, and family treatment settings.

Chapters explore observational skills, effectively managing a therapy conversation, and how questions can be mindfully posed to encourage exploration, growth, and insight. Readers learn about framing and reframing, self-disclosure, and systemic enactments. The text discusses constructive confrontation, de-escalation techniques, and psychoeducation. Closing chapters underscore the importance of a strong therapeutic alliance between client and therapist, and summarize the flow and goals of an initial counseling session.

Helping Skills is an exemplary resource for undergraduate and graduate courses in counseling skills and helping skills, as well as practicing human services professionals.