Counselling Skills For Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors

"This book is compact and easy to read, and could make a significant contribution to practitioners' ability to communicate effectively and make their practice patient centred."_x000d_
Journal fo Clinical Nursing_x000d_
"This is a delightful book which is well written, easy to read and suitable for students, qualified nurses and those who are specialist nurses."_x000d_
Journal of Community Nursing_x000d_
Counselling is a diverse activity and there are an increasing number of people who find themselves using counselling skills, not least those in the caring professions. There is a great deal of scope in using counselling skills to promote health in the everyday encounters that nurses have with their patients. The emphasis on care in the community and empowerment of patients through consumer involvement means that nurses are engaged in providing support and help to people to change behaviours._x000d_
Community nurses often find themselves in situations which require in-depth listening and responding skills: for example, in helping people come to terms with chronic illness, disability and bereavement. Midwives are usually the first port of call for those parents who have experienced miscarriages, bereavements, or are coping with decisions involving the potential for genetic abnormalities. Similarly, health visitors are in a valuable position to provide counselling regarding the immunization and health of the young infant. These practitioners are having to cope not only with new and diverse illnesses, for example HIV and AIDS, but also with such policy initiatives as the National Service Framework for Mental Health and their implications .