Counselling Children, Adolescents and Families
A Strengths-Based Approach
- John Sharry - Mater Hospital & Brief Therapy Group, Dublin
`This is a valuable book, worth attention in every child and family service. My own agency has ordered a copy!' - Robert Cumming, Nurturing Potential
`John Sharry's book is a jewel in the solution-focused literature. It is clearly and engagingly written, draws on a host of ideas from different therapeutic approaches and is packed with practical examples. There is no better book on strengths-based therapy with children and adolescents. Every team should have one' - Chris Iveson, Brief Therapy Practice
Counselling Children, Adolescents and Families describes an innovative approach to therapeutic work which builds on the strengths of children and their parents. As the author's experience shows, helping clients to focus on potential solutions rather than problems can be a powerful means of engaging them in the therapeutic process, even in the most conflicting family circumstances. Harnessing the client's personal, family and community resources in this way also helps counteract their feelings of powerlessness and the possibility of increasing reliance on professional services.
Part One outlines the basic principles of a solution-focused and strengths-based approach, tackling such thorny issues as how and when to use diagnosis. Part two describes creative applications of the approach, using groupwork, play-based activities and video feedback. Part Three, examines practical issues which arise in more 'difficult' cases, such as child abuse and suicidal teenagers and children.
This book is aimed at professionals and trainees in fields including social work, mental health, childcare, education, psychotherapy and counselling.
`This is a valuable book, worth attention in every child and family service. My own agency has ordered a copy!' - Robert Cumming, Nurturing Potential
`This book is highly recommended for counsellors, social workers and students. It is also an excellent resource for therapists who are interested in exploring alternative approaches to intervention. The simple language and expression makes the book a joy to read and the information easy to digest` - Journal of Family Studies
`John Sharry's book is a jewel in the solution focused literature. It is clearly and engagingly written, draws on a host of ideas from different therapeutic approaches and is packed with practical examples. There is no better book on strengths-based therapy with children and adolescents. Every team should have one' - Chris Iveson, Brief Therapy Practice
"It took me a long time to read this book. It is just that I found the pages so rich in ideas to engage clients and to focus on possible solutions that I deeded to stop and reflect and absorb what I had read. By his practical approach to the work, illustrated throughout the text by an array of real case examples, Sharry has produced a rich resource from which the reader can consider the ideas, reflect upon them and integrate them into his/her own practice. Taking a long time to read it is the only way to do this properly."
This book is an excellent resource for teaching my module on counselling children and families, it is very readable and informative.
A new perspective on the world of the child and the adolescent and the families in therapy from a strengths based approach. To give hope is what this book is all about! It gives invaluable practical examples of how this approach can be used in everyday and challenging situations. The step-by step lay-out gives the beginner counsellor or therapist a solid structure for therapy.
I felt it was a good addition to the coursework, the students found the book easy to digest and demonstrated good examples of principles. Will use for future classes
Thank you for this great book. It is one that is being picked up alot by my students in my lectures. A few have said they will be purchasing it
Ideal as a supportive text or for those students who want to extend their learning beyond that which is required.
This is useful book, adpoting a "strengths based" approach to working with children and families. The theoretical roots are in solution-focussed therapy, and the book begins with several chapters setting the scene of the approach, and describing its adaptations to children and families. There are good sections on groupwork. A useful book to recommend as a supplementary text both to trainees in mental health professions and to others whose work brings them into regular contact with children and families.
An excellent strengths based resource which is very accessibley written for students
