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Person-Centred Therapy with Children and Young People
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Person-Centred Therapy with Children and Young People



February 2013 | 232 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
This engaging new book presents a 'child-centred' model of therapy that is thoroughly person-centred in its values. Establishing the roots of child-centred therapy in both child development theories and the Rogerian model, David Smyth demonstrates that counselling the person-centred way is exceptionally relevant to young people.

The book further develops child-centred therapy theory and practice, applying the model to real-life practice with children and young people, whether in play, school, organisations or with special needs groups. It also explores the complex professional issues so critical with this age group, including challenging boundaries, establishing an effective relationship with parents and other primary carers, legal and ethical considerations, and multi-professional practice.

The author's warm, accessible style conveys his passionate conviction that the person-centred approach can provide a strong foundation for child therapy practice. His book introduces humanistic counselling and psychotherapy trainees - as well as adult-trained therapists - to the particular requirements of working with children and young people, and also illustrates the value of using a 'child-centred' approach for those who might already be working with children in mental health settings. Equally, this volume can be used for professional development in many disciplines including adult trained therapists who want to extend their knowledge of people prior to reaching adulthood.

 
Foreword - Professor Michael Behr
 
PART ONE: THEORY AND PRACTICE
 
The Person-Centred Approach/Introduction to the Book
 
Child-Centred Therapy: An Introduction
 
Associated Child-Related Theories and Culture
 
The Emerging Child-Centred Practitioner
 
Child-Centred Therapy: Developing Practice
 
Child-Centred Therapy for Children with Special Needs
 
Practical Play Therapy
 
Childhood Experience and Adult Lives
 
PART TWO: PROFESSIONAL ISSUES
 
Receiving Referrals and Communications
 
Challenges of Boundaries in Counselling
 
Multiprofessional Practice
 
Legal and Ethical Considerations

'This accessible and engaging book presents a child-centred model of therapy, one that is firmly entrenched within the person-centred tradition yet it is simultaneously shaped by developmental theory. Overall, if you are wanting a book to provide a base from which to begin work with children or young people, this could well be it. This is an engaging and informative read that it is written in a manner that epitomises the approach from which it hails: warm, non-expert in tone, and congruent, and the personal nature of some of the content is a welcome change to other texts in this area'

Alison Smyth
MBACP (Accred) youth counsellor
BACP Children and Young People

There is a delightful lack of jargon, to say the book is "user friendly" is inadequate, it is a delight to read. This excellent text is an invaluable tool for students and therapists of counselling and psychotherapy, as well as people involved in supporting the development of young people. It is therefore highly recommended.

Dr Margot Lindsay
European Journal for Person Centered Healthcare

Fabulous book enabling those that are sure that PCT is where their philosophical counselling heart lays to continue being with child and adolescent clients

Ms Catherine J Drewer
Learning for Life, Southend Adult Community College
May 11, 2016

Highly accessible, this book is very relevant to our person centred training programme and address a much needed lack of similar literature specific to working with C&YP. Our library has ordered 7 copies plus online access.

Dr Alan Priest
School of Nursing Midwifery & Social W, Salford University
December 8, 2015

a fantastic read, very detailed

Miss nicola lord
department of health, preston collage
October 20, 2015

It is lovely to have a text that looks at working with young people solely from a PC perspective

Mrs Julie K Wyman
Book Reviews, Devon Counselling College
May 17, 2016

a good supporting text for students

Dr Leo Mayers
Nursing , Worcester University
June 23, 2015

Although at the beginning David Smyth seemed to give very simple examples, the book was able to address very specific issues which I found very useful.

Some of the tips were very thoughtful and thought provoking.
I found the exercises too simple for me. I personally would have liked some suggestions or aims for the exercises.

Never the less, the book is a "must" read for any Person-Centred counsellor wishing to start working with children and young people.

Ms Patricia Gagni
Counselling and Psychology, City Lit
June 19, 2014

A good introduction to person centred therapy with children.

Mr John Marsden
Law, Justice and Community Studies, University Centre at Blackburn College
February 27, 2014

An interesting text, giving students a person-centred approach created by the author out of his own experience. I didn't like what the author did to Roger's six necessary and sufficient conditions; I think Carl would have turned in his grave at Smyth's use of 'equal' for congruence. However I did find the authors' research into Rogers' own work with children fascinating and helpful. I think this book will be useful for those students wanting a description of how the person-centred approach can be used with children and young people.
A great deal of information from other good sources is included in this book, for example on the different kinds of play.
On a first read I found the author's gentle approach rather slow, but on returning to the book I have found it an easy and useful resource into which to dip.

Mr Jonathan Harris
no depts, Terapia Training in Child Psychotherapy and Counselling
January 24, 2014

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