Time-Limited Therapy

Time-Limited Therapy in a general practice setting

Time-Limited Therapy provides a specific set of skills, which enable a counsellor to cope successfully with the large number and wide range of referrals they can receive in primary care.

This book covers a range of difficulties commonly presented in primary care – such as anxiety, stress, bereavement and depression – and explains how problems not usually considered appropriate within a time-limited framework – such as eating disorders, medical complaints and abuse – can also be helped effectively.

Integrating counselling skills with psychological knowledge, the author provides an outline of the psychological and physical aspects of each presentation followed by clear and concise guidelines about how time-limited therapy can be used efficiently and realistically in each case. Carefully chosen case studies illustrate the skills in action, while further chapters discuss the management and administration of a counselling service within primary care, as well as how a time-limited service can be evaluated.

As general practitioners are increasingly capping the number of counselling sessions they can provide, time-limited skills are becoming ever-more important for counsellors working alongside GPs and with the clients/patients they refer. This book will therefore be invaluable to all those who are working or who intend to work in a primary care setting.

Published by Sage Publications Ltd, 1997, ISBN 0-7619-5657-3

Chapters:

Part 1:

1. The management of a counselling service in general practice.
2. Evaluation of the service
3. Time-Limited therapy

Part 2:

4. Counselling for anxiety and depression.
5. Counselling people under stress.
6. Counselling people with post-traumatic stress disorder.
7. Counselling for bereavement and loss.
8. Counselling individuals or couples with relationship difficulties.
9. Counselling people with eating disorders.
10. Counselling adults abused as children.
11. Counselling individuals with dysfunctional families.
12. Counselling people with medical conditions.
13. Counselling people with mental health difficulties.

“[An] excellent book on counselling in primary care…..an important source of learning, bringing clarity and insight into often isolated areas.” Counselling in Medical Settings (CMS) Journal.

“…is very well researched and clearly written… time-limited therapy is an effective and professional means of offering help and the book is highly recommended reading for all counsellors wishing to work this way.” Family Practice.