Main description:

'Talking it Better' is a practical book about the everyday practice of counselling and psychotherapy, written by a practitioner for fellow practitioners. Using case studies based on his own clients, Elton carefully examines what helps - and what hinders - the process of change in the therapy room. At the heart of therapeutic work, he argues, is the development of effective mind skills. He explains how counsellors and therapists can borrow valuable ideas from the teachers of skills such as swimming, reading music or learning to drive. And he shows us that, when it comes to developing our mind skills, practice is often far more important than insight or theory. Marie-Anne wants to manage the sergeant major in her head who keeps telling her what to do. Calum wants to learn to hear what his partner is really saying, rather than what he fears she is. Isobel wants to stop rushing to help people and then resenting them because they take her for granted. These, and the many other characters in this book, were profoundly stuck until, through 'talking it better', each found a unique path taking them closer to the self they would prefer to be.

Contents:

Introduction. Part One - Starting to talk. 1. Marie-Anne and her sergeant major, 2. Calum gets prickly, 3. Isobel is a helpful person, 4. Meeting the help-seeker, 5. Responding to the practitioner. Part Two - Pausing to reflect. 6. Issues with insight, 7. Plausible pessimism, 8. Transforming perception, 9. Fear of doing things differently, 10. Learning in relationship. Part Three - Talking it better. 11. Rhona can't quite begin, 12. Morven struggles with confidence, 13. Calum breaks out of old patterns, 14. Isobel's ping, 15. Martyn and his hope-protector, 16. Jana and Lucy find each other impossible, 17. Isla is held back by shame. Part four - Enough talk. 18. How much is enough? 19. Enough to get by, 20. Finishing models, 21. Enough already. Postscript: Marie-Anne. Appendix: Counselling and psychotherapy approaches. Endnotes. References. Index.