Person-Centred Therapy with Children and Young People
The book further develops child-centred therapy theory and practice, applying the model to real-life practice with children and young people, whether in play, school, organisations or with special needs groups. It also explores the complex professional issues so critical with this age group, including challenging boundaries, establishing an effective relationship with parents and other primary carers, legal and ethical considerations, and multi-professional practice.
The author's warm, accessible style conveys his passionate conviction that the person-centred approach can provide a strong foundation for child therapy practice. His book introduces humanistic counselling and psychotherapy trainees - as well as adult-trained therapists - to the particular requirements of working with children and young people, and also illustrates the value of using a 'child-centred' approach for those who might already be working with children in mental health settings. Equally, this volume can be used for professional development in many disciplines including adult trained therapists who want to extend their knowledge of people prior to reaching adulthood.
'This accessible and engaging book presents a child-centred model of therapy, one that is firmly entrenched within the person-centred tradition yet it is simultaneously shaped by developmental theory. Overall, if you are wanting a book to provide a base from which to begin work with children or young people, this could well be it. This is an engaging and informative read that it is written in a manner that epitomises the approach from which it hails: warm, non-expert in tone, and congruent, and the personal nature of some of the content is a welcome change to other texts in this area'
There is a delightful lack of jargon, to say the book is "user friendly" is inadequate, it is a delight to read. This excellent text is an invaluable tool for students and therapists of counselling and psychotherapy, as well as people involved in supporting the development of young people. It is therefore highly recommended.
Fabulous book enabling those that are sure that PCT is where their philosophical counselling heart lays to continue being with child and adolescent clients
Highly accessible, this book is very relevant to our person centred training programme and address a much needed lack of similar literature specific to working with C&YP. Our library has ordered 7 copies plus online access.
a fantastic read, very detailed
It is lovely to have a text that looks at working with young people solely from a PC perspective
Although at the beginning David Smyth seemed to give very simple examples, the book was able to address very specific issues which I found very useful.
Some of the tips were very thoughtful and thought provoking.
I found the exercises too simple for me. I personally would have liked some suggestions or aims for the exercises.
Never the less, the book is a "must" read for any Person-Centred counsellor wishing to start working with children and young people.
A good introduction to person centred therapy with children.
An interesting text, giving students a person-centred approach created by the author out of his own experience. I didn't like what the author did to Roger's six necessary and sufficient conditions; I think Carl would have turned in his grave at Smyth's use of 'equal' for congruence. However I did find the authors' research into Rogers' own work with children fascinating and helpful. I think this book will be useful for those students wanting a description of how the person-centred approach can be used with children and young people.
A great deal of information from other good sources is included in this book, for example on the different kinds of play.
On a first read I found the author's gentle approach rather slow, but on returning to the book I have found it an easy and useful resource into which to dip.
