Social skills training and the professional helper - John W. Collins

This is a book about how people interact and about the ways in which they can improve that interaction so that it serves them better. It explores ways in which professional helpers may tackle some of the interpersonal difficulties which they may encounter, as well as describing social skills training methods for use with clients. These methods are essentially the same, though they will have to be adapted in detail to suit the particular characteristics of different client groups. As with other methods of helping, such as psychotherapy and counselling, the progress which we make in developing our understanding of ourselves and our skills in interaction is closely linked to our effectiveness in helping others.;The authors' background is mainly in social work practice and education. It will be found, however, that this background has a very wide application to professional practice: probation officers, psychologists, community psychiatric nurses, occupational therapists, youth and community workers, counsellors, teachers, and especially staff working in residential and day care settings.