Skilled Helper

by Egan, Gerard

• ISBN13: 9780534367312
• ISBN10: 0534367313
• Edition: 7th
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2001-07-30
• Publisher: Brooks Cole

Summary

Presents the collaborative nature of the helper-client relationship and leads the reader step-by-step through the counseling process. Uses a three-stage model and emphasizes hope and optimism, and a self-healing approach. New information on communication skills is included. Previous edition: c1998.

Table of Contents

Part One Laying the Groundwork	1	(62)
Introduction to Helping	2	(19)
Formal and Informal Helpers: A Very Brief History	3	(1)
What Helping Is About	3	(3)
Positive Psychology and Helping	6	(1)
The Two Principal Goals of Helping	7	(2)
Does Helping Help?	9	(5)
Is Helping for Everyone?	14	(1)
What This Book Is---and What It Is Not	15	(1)
Moving From Smart to Wise: Managing the Shadow Side of Helping	16	(5)
Overview of the Helping Model	21	(19)
Rational Problem Solving and Its Limitations	23	(1)
The Skilled-Helper Model: A Problem-Management and Opportunity-Development Approach to Helping	24	(1)
The Stages and Steps of the Helping Model	25	(1)
``What's Going On?'' Helping Clients Clarify the Key Issues Calling for Change	26	(2)
``What Solutions Make Sense for Me?'' Helping Clients Determine Outcomes	28	(2)
``What Do I Have to Do to Get What I Need or Want?'' Helping Clients Develop Strategies for Accomplishing Goals	30	(1)
Action: ``How Do I Get Results?'' Helping Clients Implement Their Plans	31	(1)
``How Are We Doing?'' Ongoing Evaluation of the Helping Process	32	(1)
Flexibility in Using the Model	33	(2)
Brief Therapy and a Hologram Approach to Helping	35	(1)
Problem Management and Culture: A Human Universal	36	(1)
Using the Model as a ``Browser'': The Search for Best Practice	37	(1)
Understanding and Dealing with the Shadow Side of Helping Models	38	(2)
The Helping Relationship: Values in Action	40	(23)
The Helping Relationship	42	(1)
The Relationship as a Working Alliance	43	(1)
Values in Action	44	(2)
Respect as the Foundation Value	46	(2)
Empathy as a Primary Orientation Value	48	(5)
Genuineness as a Professional Value	53	(2)
Client Empowerment as an Outcome Value	55	(3)
A Working Charter: A Client-Helper Contract	58	(1)
Shadow-Side Realities in the Helping Relationship	59	(4)
Part Two The Therapeutic Dialogue	63	(74)
Introduction to Communication and the Skill of Visibly Tuning in to Clients	64	(9)
The Importance of Dialogue in Helping	65	(1)
Visibly Tuning in to Clients: The Importance of Empathic Presence	66	(4)
The Shadow Side of Communication Skills	70	(3)
Active Listening: The Foundation of Understanding	73	(20)
Inadequate Listening	75	(1)
Empathic Listening	76	(1)
Listening to Words: Clients' Stories, Points of View, Decisions, and Intentions or Proposals	77	(6)
Listening to Clients' Nonverbal Messages and Modifiers	83	(2)
Processing What You Hear: The Thoughtful Search for Meaning	85	(3)
Listening to Oneself: The Helper's Internal Conversation	88	(1)
The Shadow Side of Listening to Clients	89	(4)
Sharing Empathic Highlights: Communicating and Checking Understanding	93	(24)
Responding Skills	95	(1)
The Three Dimensions of Responding Skills: Perceptiveness, Know-How, and Assertiveness	95	(2)
Sharing Empathic Highlights: Communicating Understanding to Clients	97	(1)
The Key Building Blocks of Empathic Highlights	98	(7)
Principles for Sharing Highlights	105	(7)
Tactics for Communicating Highlights	112	(1)
A Caution: The Importance of Empathic Relationships	112	(1)
The Shadow Side of Sharing Empathic Highlights	113	(4)
The Art of Probing and Summarizing	117	(20)
Nonverbal and Verbal Prompts	119	(1)
Different Forms of Probes	120	(1)
Using Questions Effectively	121	(1)
Principles in the Use of Probes	122	(7)
The Relationship Between Sharing Highlights and Using Probes	129	(2)
The Art of Summarizing: Providing Focus and Direction	131	(3)
How to Become Proficient in Using Communication Skills	134	(1)
Shadow Side Realities of Communication Skills	135	(2)
Part Three Stage I of the Helping Model and Advanced Communication Skills	137	(104)
Step I-A: ``What Are My Concerns?'' Helping Clients Tell Their Stories	138	(24)
An Introduction to Stage I: Identifying and Exploring Problems and Opportunities	139	(1)
Step I-A: ``What's Going On?''	139	(2)
Helping Clients Explore Problem Situations and Unexploited Opportunities	141	(12)
Step I-A and Action	153	(4)
Is Step 1-A Enough?	157	(1)
The Shadow Side of Step I-A	158	(3)
Evaluation Questions for Step I-A	161	(1)
Reluctant and Resistant Clients	162	(12)
Reluctance: Misgivings About Change	163	(2)
Resistance: Reacting to Coercion	165	(2)
Principles for Managing Reluctance and Resistance	167	(4)
Psychological Defenses: The Shadow Side of Reluctance and Resistance	171	(3)
Step I-B: I. The Nature of Challenging	174	(25)
Challenging: The Basic Concept	176	(1)
Blind Spots: The Targets of Challenging	177	(4)
From Blind Spots to New Perspectives	181	(3)
The Goals of Challenging	184	(1)
Applications: From Blind Spots to New Perspectives to Action	184	(15)
Step I-B: II. Specific Challenging Skills	199	(19)
Advanced Empathic Highlights: The Message Behind the Message	200	(5)
Information Sharing: From New Perspectives to Action	205	(2)
Helper Self-Disclosure	207	(2)
Immediacy: Direct, Mutual Talk	209	(5)
Using Suggestions and Recommendations	214	(1)
Confrontation	215	(1)
Encouragement	216	(1)
Evaluation Questions for Step I-B: The Use of Specific Challenging Skills	217	(1)
Step I-B: III. The Wisdom of Challenging	218	(12)
Guidelines for Effective Challenging	219	(5)
Linking Challenge to Action	224	(1)
The Shadow Side of Challenging	224	(4)
Evaluation Questions for Step I-B: The Process and Wisdom of Challenging	228	(2)
Step I-C: Leverage---Helping Clients Work on the Right Things	230	(11)
The Economics of Helping	231	(1)
Screening: The Initial Search for Leverage	231	(2)
Leverage: Working on Issues That Make a Difference	233	(1)
Some Principles of Leverage	233	(5)
Focus and Leverage: The Lazarus Technique	238	(1)
Step I-C and Action	239	(1)
The Shadow Side of Step I-C	240	(1)
Evaluation Questions for Step I-C	240	(1)
Part Four Stage II: Helping Clients Determine What They Need and Want	241	(68)
Introduction to Stage II: ``What Solutions Make Sense for Me?'' Helping Clients Identify, Choose, and Shape Goals	242	(18)
The Three Steps of Stage II	243	(1)
Solution-Focused Helping	243	(6)
Helping Clients Discover and Use Their Power Through Goal Setting	249	(2)
Helping Clients Become More Effective Decision Makers	251	(9)
Step II-A: ``What Do I Need and Want?'' Possibilities for a Better Future	260	(15)
Possibilities for a Better Future	261	(2)
Skills for Identifying Possibilities for a Better Future	263	(7)
Cases Featuring Possibilities for a Better Future	270	(4)
Evaluation Questions for Step II-A	274	(1)
Step II-B: ``What Do I Really Want?'' Moving from Possibilities to Choices	275	(19)
From Possibilities to Choices	276	(1)
Helping Clients Shape Their Goals	276	(10)
Needs Versus Wants	286	(2)
Emerging Goals	288	(1)
Adaptive Goals	288	(4)
The ``Real-Options'' Approach	292	(1)
A Bias for Action as a Metagoal	292	(1)
Evaluation Questions for Step II-B	293	(1)
Step II-C: ``What Am I Willing to Pay for What I Want?'' Commitment	294	(15)
Helping Clients Commit Themselves to a Better Future	295	(6)
Great Expectations: Client Self-Efficacy	301	(3)
Stage II and Action	304	(1)
The Shadow Side of Goal Setting	305	(2)
Evaluation Questions for Step II-C	307	(2)
Part Five Stage III: Helping Clients Develop Strategies to Accomplish Their Goals	309	(38)
Step III-A: ``How Many Ways Are There to Get What I Need and Want?'' Action Strategies	310	(13)
Introduction to Stage III	311	(2)
Many Different Paths to Goals	313	(4)
``What Support Do I Need to Work for What I Want?''	317	(2)
``What Working Knowledge and Skills Will Help Me Get What I Need and Want?''	319	(1)
Linking Strategies to Action	320	(2)
Evaluation Questions for Step III-A	322	(1)
Step III-B: ``What Strategies Are Best for Me?'' Best-Fit Strategies	323	(11)
``What's Best for Me?'' The Case of Bud	324	(1)
Helping Clients Choose Best-Fit Strategies	325	(2)
Strategy Sampling	327	(1)
A Balance-Sheet Method for Choosing Strategies	328	(3)
Linking Step III-B to Action	331	(1)
The Shadow Side of Selecting Strategies	331	(2)
Evaluation Questions for Step III-B	333	(1)
Step III-C: ``What Kind of Plan Will Help Me Get What I Need and Want?'' Helping Clients Make Plans	334	(13)
No Plan of Action: The Case of Frank	335	(1)
How Plans add Value to Clients' Change Programs	336	(2)
Shaping the Plan: Three Cases	338	(3)
Humanizing the Technology of Constructive Change	341	(3)
Tailoring Ready-Made Programs to Clients' Needs	344	(2)
Evaluation Questions for Step III-C	346	(1)
Part six The action arrow: making it all happen	347	(22)
``How Do I Make It All Happen?'' Helping Clients Get What They Want and Need	348	(21)
Helping Clients Become Effective Tacticians	351	(8)
Getting Along Without a Helper: Developing Social Networks for Supportive Challenge	359	(4)
The Shadow Side of Implementing Change	363	(6)
References	369	(28)
Name Index	397	(6)
Subject Index	403