Egan's manual is excellent and really helps clarify and execute his model presented in "The Skilled Helper." This book is a definite read for the developing counselor!

Egan "Skilled Helper" - Provides readers with the basics of being a counsellor/therapist. It is not the laymen's term of "basics" - But I refer to as the real fundamental & technicalities (basics) of being a counsellor/therapist. This book is very detailed, informative, easy to understand and very well structured in organised. The book begins with the chapter of defining 'helping' - such as what is helping all about, goals of helping, the 'downside' (messiness) & 'upside' of helping.

Subsequent chapters of the book are really 'stimulating' (very detailed & fruitful) - what I meant is that it provides readers what is required to be an efficient counsellor/therapist - the basics ingredients for an effective relationship between the client and the therapist. Very detailed information is provided writing in the book - topics relating counselling skills such as 'attendance', 'listening skills, basic & advanced empathy, summarising, paraphrasing, probing, reflection of feelings, the skiller helper model - reflecting counselling process etc..,

This book is divided into 6 major parts - each comprising of about 3 chapters: [Part 1] features introduction, overview of the skiller-helping model (decision making process practiced by counsellors/therapist in counselling), the helping relationship - i.e the counselling relationship between client and therapist - how counselling relationship is influenced by norms, multi-cultural + helping clients develop empowerment - responsibility for themselves. [Part 2] features on topics related to basic microskills for helping - communication skills of attending, listening, understanding, basic empathy, using the art of 'probing' and 'summarising' to assist the client in achieving concreteness and clarity ~ some clients may have problems in expressing themselves - use of probe enhances clarity of what client is expressing. [Part 3] features on topics related back to part 1 'Egan Skiller-Helper Model' and the use of advanced communication skills - empathy, direct mutual self talk, encouraging self-challenge, dealing w/ reluctant and resistant clients, helping clients challenge themselves, clients working on rational decision making - setting goals etc., [Part 4] features on helping clients determine what they need and want - using skills of divergent thinking, creativity, brainstorming, establishing & formulating goals that are realistic, clear & specific - commitment building issues relating to the client etc... [Part 5] featuring on 'strategies' topics for assisting the client in getting what they want, choosing and implementing a 'best-fit' strategy for the particular client, plan-implementation process for the client (assisting client in making plans to achieve their desired goals) Lastly [Part 6] features on topics on assisting clients to be effective tacticians, such as topics on dealing with procrastination, obstacles in plan-implementation, etc..,

Egan 'Skiller-Helper' is an excellent resource for students who wishes to focus or specialised in counselling, it is also beneficial for existing counsellors who wish to refine their skills. I have been reading the book a couple of times and still feel that the book is an excellent resource for guiding the counsellor in developing "WIN-WIN" relationships with their clients!

The Skilled Helper is a comprehensive manual for counsellors in helping clients. It highlights the collaborative relationship between the counsellor and client that enables successful counselling. The book intricately works through step by step through Egan's three-stage model. The introduction takes the reader through the history of the model and then addresses whether helping is needed and the problems helpers may come across. It puts to rest what the book is about and what the book is not about, i.e. it is a manual, yet not the total curriculum. It is good in highlighting the need for sensitivity in the cultural sense as well as the flexibility of the model. It goes to great lengths to state that each case is individual and must be treated so. 'The helping model, while providing guidance, must remain flexible to the needs of the client. One form of rigidity is to drag clients mechanically through the stages and steps of the model.' The book demonstrates how to achieve respect, genuineness and empathy to make the client feel valued, accepted and prepared to trust the counsellor. That environment will enable the client to explore, understand and take action, the main components within Egan's model. I like the way that Egan highlights all the components of the model in the chapters, explains them in detail, if necessary offering definitions, and then with the aid of case studies, shows how they can be applied, and what results they could produce. For example: 'Do not be surprised when clients react strongly to being challenged. In the following example, the helper has just delivered a brief summary of the problem situation to the client and has gently pointed out the self-destructive nature of some of his behaviours. Helper: I'm not sure how all this sounds to you. Client: I thought you were on my side. Now you sound like all the others. And I'm paying you to talk like this to me! Even though the helper was tentative in his challenge, the client still reacts defensively. Here are two different approaches to the client's defensiveness. Helper A: All I've done is summarise what you have been saying about yourself. Let's look at each point and see if this isn't the case. Helper B: So it sounds harsh and unfair to you.... Maybe dumping all this on you is unfair.... Let's back up.' Egan shows us both outcomes Helper A confronts the client and may well lead to an argument, where as Helper B backs up and allows the client space. These sorts of scenarios appear throughout the book. He also offers personal evaluation strategies as well as boxes that highlight questions that need to be asked or addressed in order to help the client. I think that this an excellent book for those in the helping profession. It proves to be a good informative read, and can easily be followed. It is a valuable resource that can easily be referred to.

I have had to read Egan's "The Skilled Helper" for a B. Counseling I am doing, and someone lent me a well worn ancient version of "You and Me". Having read a bit on listening skills and having been counselling (two "ll" for Australian spelling), I thought I knew it all, but I found Egan's You and me" so concisely helpful. I wish I could give it to all my clients. I guess there are other books around, but for a generic listening skills book, I don't think you can beat You and Me.

Egan has made several books from one therory which he appeared to constantly develop! although this may lead us to thinking that this is organic it has remained a model of helping or counselling that never reaches new depths or broadens its client group. Its strength is that its simplicity makes it a very easy model to teach which which gives students easy to follow pathways to counselling skills - probably this is why it was so popular on counselling courses in the UK for so long. Does anyone know if Egan has written a later than the 5th Edition or what he is currently publishing.