Practitioners in health and social care are often required to work with clients who do not want to work with them, and these 'reluctant' clients can often be the most challenging, but most rewarding, to work with. This practical, jargon-free book covers all the issues that practitioners are likely to encounter in the course of working with reluctant clients. The emphasis is on making theory easy to use, and the book is written in an easily digestible and lively style. Topics covered include staying safe, verbal and non-verbal communication, making initial contact with a client, crisis situations, recording, and how to end work with a client. Activities to work through are included at the end of each topic and illustrations feature throughout. This is an essential book for students, practitioners, voluntary sector workers and trainers in the fields of health, social care and social work.

'Working with Involuntary Clients' aims to be a practical guide to working with both clients and their families. The book offers a new problem-solving model which places emphasis on clarifying roles, promoting pro-social values, and more.

Professional boundaries between worker and client underpin all areas of practice in social work and social care, and the mismanagement of these boundaries can lead to unprofessional conduct and negative consequences for both worker and client. This book is a no-nonsense guide to boundaries – what they are, why they are there and how to maintain them, from legal boundaries and policies governing behaviour to rules surrounding confidentiality. Presenting a flexible framework of rules and guidelines which can be applied to any client relationship, the book offers practical advice and suggestions on how to judge boundaries and how to manage a situation when they have been crossed. It also explores the benefit to both worker and client of establishing a good rapport whilst maintaining a professional, emotional distance. Throughout the book, and in the self-assessment test provided, the reader is invited to examine his or her personal responses to working with clients and their effect on maintaining professional boundaries. This simple and practical reference guide will be of essential use to professionals in social work and social care working with or managing support for clients.

Many social workers are employed in positions where they deal with involuntary clients. These positions are demanding, and require a specific set of skills. The new edition of this successful book provides an accessible and practical guide for managing difficult and sensitive relationships and communicating with reluctant clients. The author directly links theory to real-life by adopting a jargon-free and accessible guide to working in partnership with involuntary clients. Written in a lively and engaging style, the book is relevant across the curriculum and richly illustrated with case examples drawn from a variety of service-user groups, such as work with people with addictions, young people who refuse to go to school and mental health patients who refuse treatment, as well as examples from criminal justice and child protection. The author's integrated and systematic approach promotes prosocial values; emphasizes clarifying roles; and deals with issues of authority and goal-setting. Fully revised and updated throughout to reflect contemporary research and practice, the book includes increased emphasis on risk assessment, cognitive behavioural approaches, including manualised intervention programs, and reflective practice. The result is an invaluable practical guide for social work and social care students and professionals to working with both clients and their families.

Communication skills are fundamental to effective social work practice. Accessible and easy-to-read, Mastering Communication in Social Work is designed to help you develop these essential skills. It explores the basics of how communication works, the factors that influence how effectively you attend to and convey information, and how you can improve your communication. Particular attention is given to the challenges posed by difficult clients and the cultural dimensions of communication. Gast and Bailey put forward a reflective model for practice designed help you break bad habits and develop a wider repertoire of communication behaviours. Practice vignettes and exercises for the reader are included throughout. This book is essential reading for social work students, practitioners, managers, practice teachers and assessors, and trainers, as well as those in allied professions.

Stress, fatigue and burnout are serious problems in the social work profession. High case loads, staff shortages, budget cuts and the challenging nature of the job contribute to high levels of stress, and social workers can crack under the pressure. This accessible book demonstrates how managers and practitioners can overcome workplace distress, fatigue and burnout by understanding the causes and implementing practical strategies. Part 1 outlines how stress, fatigue, burnout and trauma can be identified, how they impact upon social workers, and what strategies can help. Part 2 explores stress in particular settings, covering frontline practice, working with trauma, working with aggressive service users, bullying and violence in the workplace, and making mistakes. The book is rooted in the reality of everyday social work, incorporating the views and experiences of practising social workers. This book is full of techniques and tips that will be invaluable to all social work managers and practitioners seeking to beat workplace stress overload and burnout.

This book is an authoritative introduction to everything you need to know to become a professional therapist. It takes you through the entire therapeutic process, introducing the theory and applying it to real-life practice. Drawing on years of experience as a counselling practitioner and researcher, Andrew Reeves links counselling and psychotherapy theory to the development of appropriate skills, and locates it within the context of therapeutic practice today. Engagingly and accessibly written, the book is packed with learning features including Chapter Overviews, Summaries and a Glossary -helping you navigate the book and get the most out of it. Discussion Points, 'Skills Practice' and 'Pause for Reflection' sections, helping you critically engage with and reflect on what you have learned. Case Studies and scenarios, helping you apply key ideas in practice across settings and modalities. Indicated Further Reading and Important Websites - supporting your continued learning. This groundbreaking textbook represents a benchmark in understanding - and applying - the principles and practice of counselling and psychotherapy. It's accompanied by a companion website featuring a wealth of chapter-by-chapter resources for both students and lecturers to use alongside the book. From extended case studies through to web resources, links and PowerPoint presentations, these extra resources will help aid and enhance your learning and understanding. Andrew Reeves is a counsellor at the University of Liverpool and Editor of Counselling and Psychotherapy Research journal.