Overview

This handbook is a companion for all counselling psychology, psychotherapy and counselling trainees. It will support and guide you as you embark upon your own professional training journey, be that at a foundational or advanced academic level. You are invited to dip in, explore and travel at your own pace throughout the chapters, in an order that supports your own personal, professional, programme or developmental journey. The handbook simplifies, demystifies and explains complex concepts and language, and addresses issues commonly faced by many trainees. Chapters are organised in three sections covering 'the firm foundations', 'the trainee journey', and 'becoming a practitioner and beyond'. Each chapter follows a common structure: an introduction, scope of chapter, exercises or case studies, top takeaways, questions for reflection, recommended reading and key resources for your own further exploration. The exercises and reflective questions are tailored throughout the book to be used independently by trainees, or collectively in the classroom. They can also be used as teaching aids, or as tools to facilitate dialogue and best practice in the therapeutic professions. Chapters are written by educators, therapeutic practitioners, researchers, academic writers, trainees and supervisors, whose diverse and yet collective voices bring many insights and provocations. The handbook focuses on what unites us as practitioners, while acknowledging the different therapeutic professions of counselling, psychotherapy and counselling psychology. At the heart is recognition that all psychotherapeutic practice is based on a core of relational ethics, love, humanity and a commitment to therapeutic relationships that aim to facilitate transformation, healing, wellbeing or equilibrium. Collectively, the authors encourage all practitioners, whatever their training pathway, to adopt a firm commitment to social justice, inclusive practice, use of a decolonised curriculum, ethical relationships and anti-oppressive leadership in action. These themes run throughout the chapters to set a firm foundation for this book.

Full Product Details

Author:   Charlotte O'Brien ,  Divine Charura
Publisher:   PCCS Books
Imprint:   PCCS Books
ISBN:  

9781915220745

ISBN 10:   1915220742
Pages:   322
Publication Date:   26 March 2026
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  College/higher education ,  Professional & Vocational ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Forthcoming
Availability:   Not yet available  
This item is yet to be released. You can pre-order this item and we will dispatch it to you upon its release.

Table of Contents

Introduction - Charlotte O'Brien and Divine Charura Section 1: Firm foundations 1 Historical context and development of psychological therapies - Terry Hanley and Laura Anne Winter 2 The relevance of philosophy to therapy practice and research - Byron Al-Murri, Divine Charura, Charlotte O'Brien and John McLeod 3 Developing theoretical fluency - John McLeod, Divine Charura and Charlotte O'Brien 4 Developing an integrative therapeutic practice - Charlotte O'Brien and Divine Charura 5 Developing relational ethics competencies for counselling psychologist and psychotherapist training - Lynne Gabriel and Andrew Reeves Section 2: The trainee journey 6 Navigating difference, diversity and anti-oppressive practice - Nahid Nasrat and Colin Lago 7 Assessment, formulation and therapeutic engagement - David A. Lane and Sarah Corrie 8 Reading, writing, speaking and finding your voice in therapeutic training - John McLeod 9 Undertaking impactful psychotherapeutic research - Sofie Bager-Charleson, Alistair McBeath, Mary Atito and Alan McPherson 10 Clinical placements, supervision and safeguarding - Ariana Jordan 11 Becoming a reflective practitioner - Charlotte O'Brien and Divine Charura 12 Self-care, personal therapy and practical survival tips - Gerrie Hughes Section 3: Becoming a practitioner and beyond 13 Professional practice and developing identity as a therapeutic practitioner - Peter Pearce 14 Career pathways and working in different contexts and systems - Emma Bradshaw 15 Navigating accreditation and governance in psychological therapies - Sarah Niblock 16 Personal and professional reflective journeys - Robin Shohet and John Wilson 17 Moving beyond decolonisation of the curriculum in research and practice - Amira-Deka Dirie, Roy Moodley and Keisha Greene Conclusion - Charlotte O'Brien and Divine Charura

Reviews

'This handbook stands out for its relatable, inclusive and integrated approach.  It focuses on being directly and practically relevant to trainees and bridges the gap between complex psychological theory and compassionate clinical practice. Editors Charlotte O’Brien and Divine Charura have assembled a diverse range of voices that match the academic rigour required for professional training with the deeply human element of the therapeutic encounter.' Professor Emmy van Deurzen, Director, Existential Academy 'Training as a therapist is life-changing, and this book provides an essential companion for all those undertaking the journey of becoming through immersion in the complex world of therapy.  By recognising that being a therapist is a personal experience, built on our own perspectives and life-worlds, this book encourages and supports the reflexive incorporation of knowledge and understandings which will serve throughout a therapist’s career. Starting from an understanding of where approaches to therapy come from, the work highlights the vital importance of philosophical, theoretical, practice and research groundings in our approach to working, but also shows the reader how these manifest in our ways of knowing, everyday thinking, and application in the room.  From these firm foundations the authors show us how this influences our ways of meeting and knowing our clients relationally, how we can navigate our work with them, and how we can recognise and collectively resist epistemic and societal injustice.  Alongside covering key considerations of being a practitioner, it introduces thinking points and reflections to translate complexities in to personal perspectives in a way which counters concerns that arise for students and early stage-practitioners in making sense of their learning. This remarkable book provides a unique growth-oriented perspective on the process of becoming a contemporary therapist.  I highly recommend it to all those undertaking training, and also to practitioners who wish to remind themselves of the richness and meaning of our work in the modern world.' Kate Smith, Professor and Head of Department of Mental Health and Well-being, University of Aberdeen 'The Handbook of Counselling Psychology and Psychotherapy is a perfect companion for those embarking on their counselling psychology journey, as well as those around them.  The format of the book makes sure the core parts of who we are is foregrounded, as well as recommendations for core reading around this. I remember in my own training that some of my peers seemed to have read things that were new to me, and I felt ‘out of the club’ initially.  A resource like this ensures that the foundational aspects to the training are made explicit, and as well as the parts we need to nurture throughout our journey into qualifying.  The content is accessible and would be a worthwhile purchase for trainees, as well as those who supervise them, especially if you are a non-counselling psychologist.  There are exercises for reflection which allows for this to be part of a shared journey with fellow trainee (and supervisors).  I recommend this fantastic resource to those thinking about counselling psychology, and those who support them. Welcome to the club!' Dr Brian Murray, Chair, BPS Division of Counselling Psychology 'In this rich compendium, Charlotte O’Brien and Divine Charura bring together an impressive group of leaders in our field to provide insights into the forms of support needed by those training to be counselling psychologists and psychotherapists. Throughout, the contributors encourage trainees to immerse themselves compassionately and reflexively in their learning, towards the goal of becoming truly reflective practitioners. Trainees are encouraged to focus on the philosophical and theoretical scaffolding that, in tandem with practice, underpins their journey, and to identify their own specific voice and values through wider dialogue, research and writing. I love the underlying spirit of this book, which is to identify the ‘companions’ - the supportive relationships - which provide us practitioners with sources of ‘wisdom, comfort, knowledge and encouragement’. I also applaud the diverse exercises and inclusive questions offered throughout, all geared to stimulating deeper reflection and enhanced social and cultural sensitivity.' Dr Linda Finlay, Integrative Psychotherapist and Academic Consultant 'The handbook will be an invaluable resource for trainees, supporting them to critically reflect on their own development as practitioners, and how they are metabolising the learning from modules, placements and supervision. With its central commitment to anti-oppressive practice, the Handbook encourages trainees to develop both cultural humility and their own identity and voice as practitioners. Through content often not formally included in therapy training - such as tips for how to survive training through self-care and how to navigate accreditation – the Handbook offers practical support. With suggested activities, further readings and reflexive questions that prompt active engagement with the material, the Handbook offers an engaging and helpful companion on the often long and stressful journey of training to be a therapist.' Naomi Moller, Professor of Psychology and Psychotherapy, The Open University 'As a counselling psychologist, academic and practitioner, I am deeply appreciative of how this Handbook positions counselling psychology and psychotherapy as relational, ethical and socially situated practices. It offers far more than a technical guide to training: it is a thoughtful companion that recognises becoming a practitioner as an ongoing, reflexive and value-laden process. With a sustained commitment to anti-oppressive practice and decolonisation, the editors and contributors locate power, difference and social justice as central to therapeutic work, training and research. The chapters invite readers to critically examine the historical, cultural and political foundations of the psychological therapies, while also offering grounded ways of practising with greater humility, accountability and care. This feels both necessary and timely. As someone teaching on a Doctorate in Counselling Psychology and Psychotherapy, I see this handbook as addressing a significant pedagogical need. It speaks directly to trainees’ experiences, normalising uncertainty and encouraging reflexivity, while also providing educators and supervisors with accessible frameworks, exercises and language to support ethically informed learning. The emphasis on relational ethics, positionality and the therapist’s use of self, aligns closely with contemporary professional values and regulatory expectations. In my independent practice, I am reminded daily that therapy unfolds within wider systems of inequality and privilege. This handbook reflects that reality, encouraging practitioners to hold individual distress alongside social context, and to work in ways that resist reductionism and exclusion. Overall, this is a generous, courageous and ethically grounded contribution to the field, and one that I expect will become a valued resource for trainees, practitioners and educators alike.' Dr Sue Whitcombe BSc MA DCPsych CPsychol, Counselling Psychologist and Senior Lecturer, Metanoia Institute 'The Handbook of Counselling Psychology and Psychotherapy uses a warm, accessible, and conversational tone, inviting readers to engage closely with the insights of Drs. Charura, O’Brien, and their contributors. They guide readers from foundational philosophical, theoretical, and relational concepts to the attitudes, values, competencies, and skills essential during training and professional practice in counselling psychology and psychotherapy. With contributions from internationally recognized and seasoned practitioners, clinical supervisors, and academics, it provides one of the most comprehensive introductions to psychotherapeutic practice grounded in relational ethics and a deep commitment to social justice. This book champions a global and decolonial perspective on psychological therapies, encouraging readers to embrace anti-oppressive and just practices as central to their professional identity. Students, instructors, and supervisors alike will find value in the research-informed perspectives on timely issues such as telepsychology and AI, practical guidance on developing a professional voice, and thought-provoking questions to foster reflexivity, skill development, and a successful transition into professional roles.' Sophie Yohani, PhD., R Psych. Professor & Counselling Psychology Programs Coordinator, University of Alberta, Canada

Author Information

Charlotte O'Brien is Editor-in-Chief for Psychology at Wiley. She is an HCPC registered Counselling Psychologist, BACP registered psychotherapist and Associate Fellow of the BPS. She is a passionate and creative clinician, supervisor, author, educator and researcher, having worked as Programme Director for the Doctorate in Counselling Psychology programme at the University of Manchester, UK and as Training and Education Lead for the BPS Division of Counselling Psychology. Charlotte has a special interest in social justice and the use of anti-discriminatory approaches in psychotherapeutic leadership, training and practice. Divine Charura MBE is Professor of Counselling Psychology at York St John. University, UK. He is also a counselling psychologist and a coaching psychologist, registered and licenced as a practitioner psychologist with the HCPC. Divine is also an Honorary Fellow of the UKCP and an adult psychotherapist. Divine has co-authored and edited numerous books, including Love and Therapy; Black Identities + White Therapies; The Handbook of Social Justice in Psychological Therapies and Trauma Demystified.

Tab Content 6

Author Website:  

Countries Available

All regions