Counseling and Social Support: Perspectives and Practice

By Richard E. Pearson

Combining social support theory with actual counseling practice, this practical volume is the ideal resource for counselors and other mental health professionals. Beginning with a broad, comprehensive overview of social support theory, Pearson then considers the manner in which major trends and findings can be applied to various stages of counseling practice. Screening and intake, assessment, interventions with individuals, group interventions, system-focused interventions, follow-up, and primary prevention are thoroughly examined. Counseling and Social Support is a practice-oriented volume, designed to provide counselors with concrete procedures while offering a conceptual background that will contribute to informed, flexible practice. Advanced students and professionals in counseling, social work, clinical psychology, school psychology, and community mental health will find Counseling and Social Support invaluable in their day-to-day work. "A nudge in the direction of acting on behalf of rather than on our clients. Pearson′s basic tenet, that the loss, withdrawal, or absence of social support is a critical factor in the distress people experience is hard to refute. A guide to what to do about it is timely. . . . Shows ways of charting unfamiliar waters." --Clinical Psychology Forum "There is an excellent presentation of both client and systemic barriers to social support that need to be understood and addressed by counselors. . . . This readable volume will be of interest to counselors and other clinicians." --Readings: A Journal of Reviews and Commentary in Mental Health "The book is extremely well organized with each chapter being structured similarly. . . . It] will be of use to the novice or experienced counselor for its presentation of current theoretical models, relevant empirical data, and demonstration of counseling strategies. For similar reasons, it will contribute to the education of clinicians and graduate students in social and behavioral sciences. . . . Pearson has greatly contributed to filling this gap." --The Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling "The book culminates in a well-chosen case study, replete with formal assessment results and examples of the counseling interaction. It aptly shows how the social support perspective can be used as a major conceptual framework for designing counseling interventions." --Contemporary Psychology "A valuable contribution for helping professionals applying this field of research and theory in clinical practice." --Review and Expositor, Inc.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0803932111
• ISBN13: 9780803932111
• Release Date: March 1990
• Publisher: Sage Publications, Inc
• Length: 271 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.2" x 8.4"