Using Counselling Skills in Social Work
- Sally Riggall - University of Lincoln, UK
Used as sound basis for theories in communications skills. Good easy text to read and understand. activity and case studies useful not only for full course dirction but also for use during placement supervision.
There are lots of good competitors for this book (e.g. Koprowska, Trevithick) but it offers a useful and wide ranging overview. Chapter on working with conflict is particularly welcome.
A good underpinning to skills for social workers.
Good references and points for discussion around professionalism and making challenges/dealing with conflicts in line with the PCF.
Useful introduction
This text enables students to understand the use if counselling skills in social work and the clear difference between social work practice and counselling.
This text will be listed as supplementary reading to support students within the practice contact.
This is an excellent book I will recommend for all students regardless of their placement type. It draws on the cores skills and values of social work, but in an accessible and readily translatable manner.
I really liked this book. Whilst SW students are unlikely to be called on to provide counselling, the skills that this book encourages students to develop are invaluable, backed up with clear explanations and a sound knowledge/value base. I will encourage students from yr 1 undergraduates through to Master's level students to read this book.
With the pressures on the social work curriculum to include vast amounts of material on law, policy, needs and practice settings it is very welcome to see a book on a method of intervention. This book is practical, clearly written and useful. I particularly liked the chapter divisions and the inclusion of challenging as well as empathic skills.
