Reflexivity in Therapeutic Practice
Published on 11. March 2010
Book
Paperback/Softback
184 pages
978-0-230-55308-8 (ISBN)
Description
Why do some therapeutic conversations go well but not others?
We all have prejudices and assumptions which influence how we describe the world and how we conduct our conversations with others. Therapists' own narratives can sometimes impede, rather than facilitate, effective therapeutic processes, with far-reaching effects on clients' lives. This unique and important book describes how self-reflexive practices can lead to more ethically responsible, collaborative and life-enhancing conversations.
Drawing on her many years' clinical experience, Fran Hedges explores self-reflexive practice in action, offering the reader a set of skills for assessing their own personal resources and stories and unpacking their professional belief systems. Each chapter:
- describes a single extended case study in psychotherapy as a source of analysis and illumination
- focuses on a particular theme, from the importance of language and emotion to the often-neglected significance of bodily responses.
- interweaves theory with self-reflection to offer a compelling blend of critical, conceptual and personal material.
This stimulating, innovative and practical book will appeal to trainee counsellors, psychotherapists and psychologists as well as experienced mental health practitioners and supervisors who are looking for ways to invigorate and enhance their practice.
We all have prejudices and assumptions which influence how we describe the world and how we conduct our conversations with others. Therapists' own narratives can sometimes impede, rather than facilitate, effective therapeutic processes, with far-reaching effects on clients' lives. This unique and important book describes how self-reflexive practices can lead to more ethically responsible, collaborative and life-enhancing conversations.
Drawing on her many years' clinical experience, Fran Hedges explores self-reflexive practice in action, offering the reader a set of skills for assessing their own personal resources and stories and unpacking their professional belief systems. Each chapter:
- describes a single extended case study in psychotherapy as a source of analysis and illumination
- focuses on a particular theme, from the importance of language and emotion to the often-neglected significance of bodily responses.
- interweaves theory with self-reflection to offer a compelling blend of critical, conceptual and personal material.
This stimulating, innovative and practical book will appeal to trainee counsellors, psychotherapists and psychologists as well as experienced mental health practitioners and supervisors who are looking for ways to invigorate and enhance their practice.
Reviews / Votes
'The book has an engagingly non-mystifying readibility' Therapy todayMore details
Series
Edition
2010
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 140 mm
Thickness: 10 mm
Weight
245 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-230-55308-8 (9780230553088)
DOI
10.1007/978-1-137-12293-3
Schweitzer Classification
Person
FRAN HEDGES is author of Introduction to Systemic Therapy with Individuals (2005). She was Head of Counselling at Roehampton University and, before that, Director at Kensington Consultation Centre (now KCC International) where she set up and taught on the Diploma in Individual Systemic Counselling and Psychotherapy.
Content
Foreword by Vernon Cronen .- Introduction .- How our Stories Influence Therapeutic Conversations.- The Power of Emotions.- How Language Reveals Our Assumptions and Prejudices.- How Stories of Time Affect Our Conversations.- Transparency and Self Disclosure.- Listening to our Bodily Responses.- Putting it into Practice: Further Ideas and Resources.- Further Ideas and Resources for Supervisors .- Bibliography.