A BOOK REVIEW

Submitted by
Althea Alabanzas

To

Dr. Liwayway Dapito

Advance Guidance and Counselling
Philippine Women’s University

January 18, 2020

Title of the Book: Counselling Children 9th Edition

Authors: Donna A. Henderson

Charles L. Thompson

Publisher: Cengage

Date Published: 2016

Place of Publication: United States of America

Overview of the Book

This book is written by Donna Henderson and Charles Thompson. Donna A. Henderson
is a professor and chair of the Department of Counseling at Wake Forest University in
Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Charles L. Thompson was a professor of Counselor
Education and Educational Psychology at the University of Tennessee for 39 years. Each
has published articles in several journals. Each chapter has been updated and many have
been expanded with video clips, illustrating concepts from several chapters on theory.
The book has 19 Chapters that are divided into 2 parts. Part 1 thinks through the obstacles
that children’s through, healthy development as well as the resiliency that most children
exhibit. This is from Chapter 1 to 4. Chapter I: Introduction to a Child’s World is about
how different society across different period is explained. In Part 2, we review counseling
theories. This section of the book begins with Chapter 5 on psychoanalytic counseling
theory, the stimulus for many other approaches to counseling. Two following chapters
cover theories that focus on the emotions. Chapter 6 provides an overview of person-
centered counseling and the listening skills necessary for most helping approaches. Part
III: Counselling with Children Special Topics. This part of the book begins with the
concepts of play therapy that have not been covered in the other theories chapters. The
topic of the following chapter is working with children in groups. Finally, the particular
needs of children with disabilities rounds out the topics covered in Part 3.

Summary:
Chapter I: Introduction to the Childs World

This recalls how society see children. It discusses how through the years society has
changed in their beliefs about children. The society view of children are changing and are
paying more attention to the needs of the children. It also explains how counselling came
into existence. Counselling is then to help individuals face and to overcome obstacles in
life. It also includes descriptions of four professions who help children and the different
approaches to support mental needs of children.

Chapter 2: Developmental and Cultural Consideration

This chapter discusses ways to understand the needs of children, provides outline of
theories and other explanations of physical, cognitive, and social development of children,
defines culture and explains ways of working with children of color. Theories from Maslow,
Erikson, Vygotsky, Selman and many more theories has been cited. The chapter says
that children are not small adults and that they go through changes and processes of
development. Some of the awareness, knowledge, and skills needed to be a culturally
competent counselor are included in this chapter. Liu and Clay (2002) suggest a decision-
making model to use when working with children from diverse backgrounds.

Chapter 3: The Counselling Process

This chapter talks about counselling “children with colors”. Although, colors is not a
derogatory term, I would prefer the authors to use the term “UNIVERSAL”. It also
evaluates techniques on counseling such as affective, cognitive, behavioral, or systemic
categories and provides sample of scripts on how counselling is conducted.

Chapter 4: Legal Ethical Considerations for Counsellor

This chapter encompasses issues that often arise in counseling children and contains a
survey of some of the writers in this area of counseling also, some legal, ethical, moral,
and professional guidelines for the counsellors, the parents, and the children/minors as
well. It includes some responses and answers that counsellors may use in case of
situations that are difficult to handle. It provides possible responses or solutions to
unexpected scenarios during counselling.
Part II of the book is about counselling theories and techniques in- depth.

Chapter 5: Psychoanalytic Theories and Techniques

This chapter is concerned about theories of treating of people with mental illness by
talking to them reasonably. It also points out that Sigmund Freud was the origin of
psychoanalysis during the 19th century. From these beginnings, psychoanalysis has
branched into a way to understand the human being as well as a system of treatment.
Freud believed behavior is determined and always has a cause again based on those
unconscious, instinctual drives. The three parts of the personality, the id, ego, and
superego, form the unconscious mind. The id and superego conflict constantly with the
ego. That creates anxiety which humans mediate with the use of defense mechanisms.
Other theories, that support psychoanalysis has also been recognized in this chapter.
Moreover, instead of and iceberg, Freud’s psychoanalytic model is represented by a
house.

Chapter 6: Person – Centered Counselling

Carl Rogers and his book Client- Centered therapy discussed and emphasized in this
chapter. People are capable to think about the solutions to solve their problems. This
counseling approach focuses on the emotional experiences of the client and the
conditions counselors demonstrate that allow people to discover their intrinsic strengths
to solve their difficulties and problems.

Chapter 7: Gestalt Therapy

This chapter points out that clients being more aware of themselves and their
surroundings would help in treating them. Thus, being more aware and conscious is the
key. This idea is based from Gestalt Theory and its core concepts by Fritz Perls. Gestalt
therapy focuses on the here-and-now experience and on personal responsibility. It also
warns counsellor that the misuse of popular Gestalt techniques to be cautious with fragile
children, and adolescents because they may cannot handle the emotional intensity some
of the methods generate.

Chapter 8: Behavioral Counselling

This chapter deals with behavior theory and its techniques. Watson is featured as the
father of behaviorism, a form of counseling that has evolved since about 1900. Along with
Watson, are B.F Skinner and Ivan Pavlov? Generally, this kind of counseling begins with
the behavior that is easiest to change, with accurate records maintained throughout the
counseling experience.

Chapter 9: Reality Therapy: Counselling with Choice Theory

This chapter focuses on the action – oriented theory. It also outlines the involvement and
contribution of William Glasser. This form of Therapy stresses the importance of the
present. It is also based on the idea that the only behavior we can control is our own, and
thus, people have the personal responsibility to change depending on what he/she wills.

Chapter 10: Brief Counselling

This chapter focuses on solution – based brief counselling. It says that to actually look for
the source of distress rather solving the symptoms alone. This type of counselling,
according to the book, should be practiced under experts’ management.

Chapter 11: Individual Psychology

This chapter is about counselling that tries to oppose Sigmund Freud’s ideas. The person
behind this Alfred Adler. He is one of those psychologists that believes individuals has
the capacity to make choices. This kind of therapy strives to promote growth and also to
educate.

Chapter 12: Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy

This therapy believes that thoughts turns into emotions, and emotions can turn into
behavior. People’s lives can be affected of how they will change the way they think. Albert
Ellis, is the father of Emotive Behavior Therapy, and he studied how people can discover
their thoughts. Moreover, it believes that a person is more than a set of behavior. Like
behaviorism is has its own ABC.

Chapter 13: Cognitive – Behavioral Therapy

This chapter focuses on the set of techniques, and system of strategies that focuses on
people’s way of thinking to change. The proponent of this theory is Aaron Beck. Changes
in thoughts will lead to changes in feeling and acting. Treatment requires a strong
collaborative relationship between client and counselor. Treatment is usually short,
problem-focused, and goal oriented.

Chapter 14: Transactional Analysis

Eric Bern/Eric Bernstein and associates devised an analysis of communication that would
help people in their daily lives. He also developed developmental stages of personality.
Counsellors would say that TA is a “self – help psychology “because of its concepts are
understandable.

Chapter 15: Family Counselling

This approach to counselling think through the identified the client who in this theory is
person in the family that is exhibiting or is considered to be the problem is having trouble
as a result of the transactions within the family or community. Shadish and Baldwin
(2003), reviewed this treatment and found out that family interventions are more effective
than no treatment and that improvement rates are similar to improvement rates in
individual counseling.

Chapter 16: Consultation and Collaboration

This chapter focuses opportunities that counsellors explore to improve children’s lives by
encouraging cooperative relationships with other adults. The practice of consultation and
collaboration create means to form those types of working relationships. Consultation and
collaboration are indirect methods to support children in need.

Part III: Counselling with Children Special Topics

Chapter 17: Play Therapy

Kaduson, Cangelosi, and Schaefer (1997) proposed “playing cure” as more appropriate
to describe therapy with children. Hence, this chapter talks about the importance of play.
Play therapy is a helping interaction between a skilled adult and a child in order to relieve
the child’s distress. It is a structured, theoretically based approach to therapy.
Chapter 18: Counselling with Children

Group counseling can be effective method to change children’s lives or, prevent excess
stress and conflict in their lives. Group counselling will provide a venue for children to talk
over concerns, creäte goals and strategize to attain the goals, and also practicing new
behaviors.

Chapter 19: Counselling Children with Special Concern

This chapter suggests ways of dealing with children with some of these special needs
and problems. This chapter has highlighted some of the common difficulties of children.
Counselors begin by developing a knowledge base of relevant information and then
listening to children to learn about their world and their needs. It is also emphasized that
working with parents, teachers, and other people who are significant in the child’s life.

Chapter 20: Counselling Children with Disabilities

This chapter describes the counselling strategies for children with disabilities. Educators,
parents, and other professionals give emphasis to meeting these children’s physical,
psychological, and educational needs in the least restrictive environment (LRE) and
providing family support.

Critical Analysis

Counselling Children 9th Edition is lengthy but, a stimulating book. Once you start reading
it, your desire to know more about the different approaches and strategies of counselling
will grow. I am not a counsellor myself, but I believe this book will open up every reader’s
awareness of many possibilities of helping children with the stresses they encounter. The
book will guide readers to understand the approaches and to actually apply it. It is detailed
and understandable. It is straight forward and step by step. From theories it will assist
readers into practice. Every chapter provides an overview and a short history of the
theory. It will show you how assessment is done and a sample of transcription from the
sessions of the therapist. What I love the most about this book is that, counsellors in
practice contributed. I mean these approaches are practiced and tested. These
counsellors as they evaluate explained the advantages and disadvantages of the
theories. They also provide precautionary measures, as some of the approaches may
have detrimental effects. Instead of helping, it may have unfavorable outcomes. In
addition, as I read the book, my mind starts to ask questions, and as continue reading
the, to my surprise the answers are just right there. The book can actually anticipate the
readers’ questions. And if, readers craves for more detailed information the books
provides supplemental resources. Video clips are also very useful as it models the
process of counselling for the difference approaches. Hence, beginners can has lesser
ambiguity in trying to differentiate the approaches and will have a clearer view of how the
therapy is done. Overall, I would recommend this book as textbook for beginners in
counselling.