This book will be an invaluable resource for GPs, counsellors, managers and others in primary care who seek to understand the debates about counselling and play a part in its future as part of health care. Its authors discuss the nature of counselling in this setting and the contribution it can make in improving the care of patients with a variety of health problems. The authors include practitioners and academics, service providers and counselling clients, supporters and sceptics. Overall they offer a comprehensive and thought provoking guide to those responsible for commissioning, working with and providing counselling services in a health service that seeks to be increasingly primary care led and evidence based.

This book discusses the establishment and evaluation of counselling services in primary care and the need to consider the most appropriate forms of service for different groups. It describes the specialist counselling services that are available to back up what can be provided as part of primary care and the variety of organisations that can be approached for information and advice, and assesses the research evidence on the efficacy and cost effectiveness of counselling.

A GP writes:

'If ever there was a subject guaranteed to generate debate, often heated, it's counselling. Does it work? Who's it for? What does it cost? How can we set up a service? Well, this book has the answers. And not just the positive ones - in the spirit of true balance, it even gives the sceptical view. A bit like turkeys voting for Christmas you might think? Nothing of the kind. The chapters cover just about everything GPs or Primary Care Organisations (PCO) might want to know about counselling in a primary care setting. In amongst the practical pointers on how to deal with thorny clinical counselling problems in specific situations, it even covers cost-effectiveness. Even the most sceptic, hard-hearted PCO clinical director will find the arguments in this book persuasive. The chapters on managed counselling, services for young people, substance misuse, trauma and sexual abuse could easily stand alone. But they don't. They are all in this little gem of a book. If not one for your doctor's bag, it's definitely one for your shelf!'