Includes bibliographical references and index.

Print version record and CIP data provided by publisher.

Introduction -- 1. The microskills approach : the skill of learning new skills ; identifying targeted skill areas -- 2. The person of the counselor : self-as-instrument -- TARGET 1: ESTABLISHING RELATIONSHIP AND EXPLORING -- 3. What do you notice? : perceiving -- 4. Your presence in the room : attending -- 5. Identifying the pieces of the story : reflecting content -- 6. Validating emotion : reflecting feeling -- 7. Connecting empathically : empathic reflection -- TARGETS 2 AND 3: DEEPENING AND GROWING -- 8. Zeroing in : clarifying -- 9. Connecting deeply : intuitive empathy -- 10. Expanding therapeutic options : using metaphors -- 11. Reflecting apparent discrepancies : confronting -- 12. Using the here and now : authenticity, self-disclosure and immediacy -- 13. Strategies for growth : implementing change -- 14. Expanding the counseling system : thinking systemically and using the relational system -- 15. Appreciating the sacred : attuning to the Holy Spirit and spiritual themes -- TARGET 4: CONSOLIDATING AND ENDING -- 16. Endings and new beginnings : consolidating and ending -- Appendix A: Answers to chapter exercises -- Appendix B: Additional learning activities -- Appendix C: Small group role-play exercises and transcript analysis assignment -- Appendix D: The relationship between psychology and religion.

Anyone in a helping profession--including professional counselors, spiritual directors, pastoral counselors, chaplains and others--needs to develop effective communication skills. But learning these skills is like learning a new language: it takes time and practice to communicate effectively, and lack of practice can lead to the loss of one's ability to use this new language. Suitable for both beginning students and seasoned practitioners, Skills for Effective Counseling provides a biblically integrated approach to foundational counseling skills that trains the reader to use specific microskills. These skills include perceiving, attending, validating emotion and empathic connection. Chapters include textbook features such as sample session dialogues, role plays and a variety of both in-class and out-of-class exercises and reflection activities that will engage various learning styles. Strategically interwoven throughout the chapters are special topics related to: multicultural counselingbiblical/theological applicationscurrent and seminal research related to microskillsdiagnostic and theoretical implicationsclinical tips for using skills in'real world'counseling settingsthe relevance of specific microskills to interpersonal relationships and broader ministry settings This textbook and the accompanying IVP Instructor Resources include all of the activities and assignments that an instructor might need to execute a graduate, undergraduate or lay course in foundational counseling skills. Professors teaching within CACREP-accredited professional counseling programs will be able to connect specific material in the textbook to the latest CACREP Standards.