Clear agreements between counsellors and clients are essential before entering into a therapeutic relationship, yet until now very little has been written on this most important subject. This book describes in an accessible way what counselling contracts are, why they are needed, how they are made, and what legal and ethical ramifications they hold.

Discussing different types of contract such as the business contract, the treatment contract and the supervisor's contract, Contracts in Counselling looks at both the benefits and limitations of contracting. Practitioners from different therapeutic fields present their own orientation on the subject, and other contributors describe the most appropriate contracts for different client groups and different settings.

Synopsis
'An excellently edited book...It touches upon the core philosophical bases of psychodynamic/psychoanalytic, cognitive and humanistic counselling, and explores the complicated and sometimes contradictory nature of contracting within these approaches...The book is written in an accessible language and often uses very powerful imagery to underline its message...I found this book to be extremely stimulating, accessible and readable. I recommend it to all people interested in counselling, and particularly to students of counselling at all levels' - British Journal of Guidance and Counselling Clear agreements between counsellors and clients are essential before entering into a therapeutic relationship, yet until now very little has been written on this most important subject. This book describes in an accessible way what counselling contracts are, why they are needed, how they are made, and what legal and ethical ramifications they hold. Discussing different types of contract such as the business contract, the treatment contract and the supervisor's contract, Contracts in Counselling looks at both the benefits and limitations of contracting.Practitioners from different therapeutic fields present their own orientation on the subject, and other contributors describe the most appropriate contracts for different client groups and different settings.