Effective Helping: Interviewing and Counseling Techniques

In this Fourth Edition, Okun sustains her reputation for helping readers develop the communication skills they need to become compassionate helpers and counselors. Her overview of helping theory, skills, and issues for the beginning human services worker provides a solid foundation for individuals in helping roles. The integra-tion of major counseling theories with practical skill application affords readers the opportunity to learn basic human relations concepts experientially as well as didactically. The book helps readers develop communication skills in order to increase their own and others self-awareness, understanding of contemporary social forces, and capacities for problem solving. The integration of theory, case examples, and written and verbal individual and group exercises allows students and professionals to assess and reassess their assumptions about human behavior in todays sociocultural and political contexts and to reconsider helping relationships and roles.