Counseling the Involuntary and Resistant Client

From Foreword: "It is relatively easy to work with people who wish to make some substantive changes in their lives. In fact, many therapists believe that time shouldn't be wasted on people who are reluctant to look at themselves. Well, that may govern the world of voluntary counseling, but it certainly doesn't apply where clients are ordered to receive therapy; when the client does not want to be helped but only shows up to see the 'shrink' because the court or other authority requires it. With today's increasing use of correctional resources, working with more and more resistant clients or inmates is a given. There are more than 3 million people in the US under some form of correctional supervision, and the communities from which they come expect them to change from a life of crime to one of decent, hard-working citizenry. It is a very difficult situation to change and our level of expectation tends to be much higher than reality. The world of counseling the involuntary or resistant client, probationer, parolee, or inmate is not any easy one and never will be. Thousands of mental health professionals and counselors go to work every day wondering 'why bother?' Many counselors are in distress over their role in dealing with these people. If the client shows up, something should happen but if the client won't participate, how can it? There are few other books that attempt to address this subject. For correctional professionals who must work with people sent or released to them, this book will be invaluable. But meeting the resistant client is not only reserved for those working in the correctional programs. The techniques outlined in this book can be used by counselors in public schools, hospitals and mental health clinics. This soon-to-be classic should be required reading for all counselors, therapists and students of counseling techniques."--Anthony P. Travasono