Product Review

David Martin's more than three decades as an educator and counselor greatly enrich the latest edition of this practical guide for beginning and experienced counselors. He unravels the complexities of the therapeutic process without condescension or intimidation, teaching helping professionals how to invest themselves to make clients feel deeply known and accepted. As in previous editions, Martin describes and encourages the use of evocative empathy an active process in which therapists listen to their clients intended message so they feel understood and gain the ability to be their own problem solver.

Classic and contemporary research findings reinforce discussions of the skills and applications involved in becoming a competent therapist. Coverage of different therapy approaches, relationship building, the mind-body connection, ways that therapy can cause damage, the therapeutic alliance, mindfulness, cross-cultural counseling, and the need for therapists to take care of themselves is either new or thoroughly revised and updated. A completely new feature is a brief narrative, written by a client, relating her experiences during counseling.

Full of innovative techniques and approaches to generate insight and achieve positive therapeutic outcomes, Counseling and Therapy Skills, 3/E guides counselors toward being intuitive, experiential, and full of presence as they build relationships with their clients.

The Third Edition is accompanied by Observing Therapy--a five-hour-long DVD comprised of a brief introduction and videotaped excerpts of the author conducting actual therapy sessions with three clients. This provocative learning tool demonstrates evocative empathy and can be used by viewers to practice their own responses to clients.