Product Description

When searching for someone to help them reflect upon and improve their lives, people tend to be drawn towards those who are compassionate, committed and wise. This book is aimed at those who recognise these qualities in themselves and wish to develop their capacity to engage with and help others.The authors argue for ways of approaching helping and counselling that are rooted in empathy and commitment, drawing upon the experiences and practice wisdom of youth workers, housing support and hostel workers, the clergy and those working in a religious setting, educators and settlement and community workers. They explore the key characteristics of those who counsel and teach and examine aspects of the helping process, focusing on living life well, knowing and being oneself, relating to others and working to make change possible.This book will be essential reading for students on professional training programmes in youth work, community education, ministry, social care and counselling.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #651340 in Books
• Published on: 2008-04-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 175 pages

About the Author
Heather Smith has worked in youth projects, a special school, a residential centre working with families where a child has a very serious or terminal illness, and in a housing scheme for younger people. She is currently a lecturer at a further education college, and works in local projects with people who have, or had, difficulties with independent living and housing. Mark Smith has worked as a careers officer, youth and community worker and project worker. He is now the Rank Research Fellow and Tutor at the YMCA George Williams College. Amongst his publications are Developing Youth Work, Local Education and Informal Education.

Customer Reviews

Good research... impersonal approach
I really wanted to like this book, and I really wanted to get into it and be moved by it... I really hoped that it would get me to think deeper about myself and how I relate to my patients (I am an acupuncturist). I tried to read it 3 or 4 times and every time was faced with an immense amount of well-researched material that is presented in a terrible way. This is obviously just one opinion, but I found that the authors don't speak to the reader, but are simply stating their findings, dryly and in a way that's so detached that I had to struggle to keep reading. The book isn't personal and it doesn't practice the very thing it talks about. I am a fairly well educated adult, with a master's degree, and working in a helping profession. I was hoping to get some more insight into improving my helping skills and bedside manner. I'll keep looking for more personal and in-touch material.