Contemporary Theory and Practice in Counseling and Psychotherapy

This comprehensive, topically arranged text provides a contemporary account of counseling theories as practiced by internationally acclaimed experts in the field. Each chapter covers the way mindfulness, strengths-based positive psychology, and the common factors model is integrated into the theory. A special emphasis on evidence-based practice helps readers prepare for their work in the field.

Key Features

• The text focuses on how each theory presents a useful and effective basis for contemporary practice, providing students with the most up-to-date scholarship on current theories and how these theories guide the practice of today’s counselors and psychotherapists.
• Chapters are written by internationally acclaimed experts offering a truly global and complete perspective of the field.
• Discussion of the pros and cons of each theoretical approach allows students to explore all sides of an approach, offering an opportunity for balanced, critical analysis of the material. 
• Brief therapies or "manualized" approaches, developed in response to the limits imposed by insurance companies on the number of reimbursable therapy sessions per client, are addressed, as many theoretical approaches offer strategies for providing these therapies.
• Careful discussion in every chapter of the applicability of theories to a diverse client population allows readers to address the specific needs of a broader clientele while acknowledging gender, race, age, sexual orientation, religion, etc.
• Integrated coverage of and a separate chapter on evidence-based practice introduce students to what is becoming the expected standard for effectively working with clients.
• Lists of additional resources from expert contributors allow students to further explore the concepts presented.

Howard E. A. Tinsley is professor emeritus of psychology at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale (where he was director of the doctoral training program in counseling psychology) and a research associate in psychology at Western Washington University. Formerly, he was a professor at the University of Oregon and University of Florida, and a visiting scholar at the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, the University of Washington, and Wageningen University in the Netherlands. He is a licensed psychologist in Illinois (now inactive) and prior to his retirement was a diplomate of the American Board of Vocational Experts. Tinsley is the lead editor of the Handbook of Applied Multivariate Statistics and Mathematical Modeling, the senior editor of Volume 2 (Personal Counseling and Mental Health Problems) of the Encyclopedia of Counseling and the author of more than 150 publications dealing with counseling and psychotherapy, leisure, vocational psychology and psychological measurement. He served as the editor of the Journal of Vocational Behavior and Passages, a guest editor of the Journal of Counseling Psychology and Leisure Sciences, an advisory editor of Contemporary Psychology, and an associate editor of the Encyclopedia of Career Decisions and Work Issues and the Journal of Leisure Research. Tinsley has also served on the editorial boards of nine prominent psychology journals and the editorial advisory board of the Test Corporation of America. Tinsley is a recipient of numerous honors, including the research award of the American Rehabilitation Counseling Association and the Allen V. Sapora Research Award for excellence in leisure psychology research. He is listed in Who′s Who in America, Who′s Who in The World, and various reference works focusing on specific professions. He is a fellow of the American Psychological Association, Western Psychological Association, and American Psychological Society, a former chair of the Commission on Assessment of the American College Personnel Association, a former member of the Board of the Council of Counseling Psychology Training Programs, and a former president and secretary-treasurer of the Academy of Leisure Sciences. Tinsley is the webmaster of the Society for Vocational Psychology, the former webmaster for the Academy of Leisure Sciences, and he served two terms as a member of the Mukilteo, Washington City Council.

Suzanne H. Lease, PhD, is an associate professor and training director of the APA accredited counseling psychology doctoral training program in the department of counseling, educational psychology and research at the University of Memphis in Memphis, TN. She also taught at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. She is co-editor of Volume 2 (Personal Counseling and Mental Health Problems) of the Encyclopedia of Counseling. She has taught graduate courses in counseling theory for 23 years. Lease received her PhD in psychology (counseling) from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and is a licensed psychologist (health service provider) in the state of Tennessee. In addition to theories of counseling, her teaching interests include professional issues in counseling psychology, vocational psychology, practicum supervision, and multicultural counseling. Her research topics address health promotion; masculinity; career development; and gay, lesbian, and bisexual (GLB) issues. Her current research focuses on masculinity and interpersonal competency in relationships with male and female co-workers; masculinity and health promoting/health risk behaviors; stress, work meaning, and health; and career adaptability in student athletes. She received the Dean’s Excellence in Research and Scholarship award from the college of education, the University of Memphis (2006); the Dean’s Excellence in Service award (2013); and the Society of Counseling Psychology Lifetime Mentoring Award (2013). She serves on the editorial board for the Journal of Career Development, Psychology of Men and Masculinity, and is an ad-hoc reviewer for several other journals. She has held leadership positions in the Council of Counseling Psychology Training Programs (CCPTP) and the Society of Counseling Psychology (Division 17 of the American Psychological Association).

Noelle S. Giffin Wiersma, PhD, is a professor of psychology and dean of the college of arts and sciences at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington, where she has been employed for 15 years. In addition to serving as chair of the department of psychology, Dr. Wiersma regularly teaches upper-division undergraduate and master’s-level courses on theories of counseling as well as other clinical courses, including theories of personality, psychopathology, and senior practicum.  She is the two-time recipient of the Most Influential Professor award at Whitworth University. Dr. Wiersma received her PhD in counseling psychology from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and a master’s degree in clinical psychology from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Her undergraduate degree in psychology and French was awarded by Whitworth College in 1990. Her research interests include secondary trauma, particularly the effects of childhood sexual abuse on adult relationship partners, and factors affecting professional quality of life for various mental health and social service providers. Based on these interests, Dr. Wiersma has established community partnerships with local non-profit social service and law enforcement agencies, providing consultation, support, and in-service training and conducting collaborative survey research. As dean of the college of arts and sciences, Dr. Wiersma has concentrated her efforts on the development of interdisciplinary studies programs and advocacy for liberal arts education. Most recently she has begun teaching a required general education course addressing the social, political, and legal implications of treatment of the mentally ill. As part of her upcoming sabbatical, she will be developing a course entailing off-campus study of serial crime in the Pacific Northwest, focusing on themes of psychopathology, evil, and justice.