Practice Matters

General

Clark, J., ed. (2002) Freelance Counselling and Psychotherapy. New York: Taylor & Francis.

This collection of papers from a conference at the University of East Anglia in Summer 1999 offers an up-to-date look at the pressures, obligations and benefits facing those who elect to practice counselling or psychotherapy independently.

Syme, G. (1994) Counselling in Independent Practice. Buckingham: Open University.

Already beginning to show its age in terms of topics like law and taxation, most of the book's attention is occupied with much less time-sensitive topics such as specific issues related to professional relationships and the mechanics of working with clients without the support of a parent organization. It remains one of the best introductions to the area.

Temperley, J. (1984) 'Settings for Psychotherapy', British Journal of Psychotherapy 1: 101-12.

This article contains interesting observations on "prudery" about the exchange of money in the private provision of counselling services and the tendency of some counsellors to to idealise both their clients' needs and their own meeting of those needs. She also comments on the "omnipotence and masochism" which may underlie some counsellors' undue identification with the underprivileged.

Thistle, R. (1998) Counselling and Psychotherapy in Private Practice. London: Sage.

As a book about operating a counselling business in private practice, this volume is very basic. However, given the nearly universal neglect of business issues in counselling and psychotherapy training courses, starting at a very basic level is probably appropriate.