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Counselling for stress problems
Book Reviews
553
of women's aging. At times the writing tended to become mired in semantics: the introductory chapter is dense with theories of others. As she tries to present all points of view, Turner's own voice gets a little lost. Society has not changed much since Terman began his study of intellectually gifted children. Why is high intelligence a predictor of depression in young women? it is not any easier for men, I believe, and I would echo Labouvie-Viers plea for the restoration of a full narrative, so that we as h u m a n beings can develop all facets of our personalities. Reading this book was like listening to a symphony where the various melodies blend into a central theme. As the mother of 2 young girls, I felt anguish at the reiteration of the price women pay throughout their lifespan to fulfill the complex aspirations of womanhood. DR. ANNE O. HENNESSY 517 Windermere Ave. Toronto, Ontario 0022-3999(95)00058-Q
Counselling for Stress Problems. S. PALMERand W. DRYDEN. London: Sage Publications, 1995. Price £25. 262 pp., (paper). 7his BOOK, like the others in the series "Counselling in Practice", sets out to provide established and trainee counsellors with a practical, easily read guide to a commonly presenting problem. The broadly stated concept of stress and the assessment and treatment models used here by Palmer and Dryden are clearly seen as lying within the Multimodal Approach to personality and psychotherapy. This approach is elaborated by Arnold Lazarus, who provides a useful, brief introduction to his ideas in his foreword. The essence of this approach assumes that tacit reference to seven specific modalities (cognitions, sensory reactions, images, behaviour, affect, biological interventions and interpersonal relationships) is essential if assessment and therapy are to be complete and adequate. The need to address all seven modalities ensures a broad, eclectic stance, and the authors describe the use of a wide range of techniques (which, they openly acknowledge, may arise from theories to which they do not necessarily subscribe). The assessment procedure is described in detail, rooted in the need to establish a therapeutic alliance through flexibility on the part of the counsellor. The need for negotiation and collaboration is emphasised. Specific multimodal tools (the Multimodal Life History Inventory, Modality Profile and Structural Profile) generate a large a m o u n t of information and practical foci around which sessions can be based. Much of the book is used to provide clear and often detailed introductory accounts of a large array of therapeutic approaches that may be used to tackle problems within each of the seven modalities; these vary from problem solving, thought stopping and graded exposure to hypnosis and interventions aimed at helping clients to reduce alcohol and nicotine use. The authors have provided not only an accessible guide to counselling for stress-related problems, but a useful introductory description of a wide range of psychotherapeutic techniques, as well as an illustration of Multimodal therapy. It will be of value to all counsellors who are involved in stress management. However, the Multimodal therapist clearly needs a significant level of competence and experience before he or she can confidently use the flexibility on which the approach depends, lts invitation to eclecticism necessitates the authors' postscript recommending appropriate training and supervision. DR LILIAN HICKEY Senior Registrar in Psychiatry Warneford Hospital 0022-3999(95 )00558-7
Overcoming Binge Eating. C. FAIRBURN. New York: Guildford Press, 1995. £25:00 hb, £9.95 pb, 246 pp. ALTHOUGH THE COVER of this book is rather austere for a UK market, I f o u n d the preface both sensitive and encouraging. The format of introduction followed by self-help parallels the cognitive behavioral approach of first developing an understanding of the problem then offering treatment using clear cognitivebehavioral strategies.
553
of women's aging. At times the writing tended to become mired in semantics: the introductory chapter is dense with theories of others. As she tries to present all points of view, Turner's own voice gets a little lost. Society has not changed much since Terman began his study of intellectually gifted children. Why is high intelligence a predictor of depression in young women? it is not any easier for men, I believe, and I would echo Labouvie-Viers plea for the restoration of a full narrative, so that we as h u m a n beings can develop all facets of our personalities. Reading this book was like listening to a symphony where the various melodies blend into a central theme. As the mother of 2 young girls, I felt anguish at the reiteration of the price women pay throughout their lifespan to fulfill the complex aspirations of womanhood. DR. ANNE O. HENNESSY 517 Windermere Ave. Toronto, Ontario 0022-3999(95)00058-Q
Counselling for Stress Problems. S. PALMERand W. DRYDEN. London: Sage Publications, 1995. Price £25. 262 pp., (paper). 7his BOOK, like the others in the series "Counselling in Practice", sets out to provide established and trainee counsellors with a practical, easily read guide to a commonly presenting problem. The broadly stated concept of stress and the assessment and treatment models used here by Palmer and Dryden are clearly seen as lying within the Multimodal Approach to personality and psychotherapy. This approach is elaborated by Arnold Lazarus, who provides a useful, brief introduction to his ideas in his foreword. The essence of this approach assumes that tacit reference to seven specific modalities (cognitions, sensory reactions, images, behaviour, affect, biological interventions and interpersonal relationships) is essential if assessment and therapy are to be complete and adequate. The need to address all seven modalities ensures a broad, eclectic stance, and the authors describe the use of a wide range of techniques (which, they openly acknowledge, may arise from theories to which they do not necessarily subscribe). The assessment procedure is described in detail, rooted in the need to establish a therapeutic alliance through flexibility on the part of the counsellor. The need for negotiation and collaboration is emphasised. Specific multimodal tools (the Multimodal Life History Inventory, Modality Profile and Structural Profile) generate a large a m o u n t of information and practical foci around which sessions can be based. Much of the book is used to provide clear and often detailed introductory accounts of a large array of therapeutic approaches that may be used to tackle problems within each of the seven modalities; these vary from problem solving, thought stopping and graded exposure to hypnosis and interventions aimed at helping clients to reduce alcohol and nicotine use. The authors have provided not only an accessible guide to counselling for stress-related problems, but a useful introductory description of a wide range of psychotherapeutic techniques, as well as an illustration of Multimodal therapy. It will be of value to all counsellors who are involved in stress management. However, the Multimodal therapist clearly needs a significant level of competence and experience before he or she can confidently use the flexibility on which the approach depends, lts invitation to eclecticism necessitates the authors' postscript recommending appropriate training and supervision. DR LILIAN HICKEY Senior Registrar in Psychiatry Warneford Hospital 0022-3999(95 )00558-7
Overcoming Binge Eating. C. FAIRBURN. New York: Guildford Press, 1995. £25:00 hb, £9.95 pb, 246 pp. ALTHOUGH THE COVER of this book is rather austere for a UK market, I f o u n d the preface both sensitive and encouraging. The format of introduction followed by self-help parallels the cognitive behavioral approach of first developing an understanding of the problem then offering treatment using clear cognitivebehavioral strategies.