Based in a deeply held belief that theory does matter in effective helper-client interactions, this text examines with clarity and wit theories of counseling and psychotherapy. For each theory discussed in the book the author presents the theory's basic philosophical assumptions, its beliefs about what motivates human behavior, its central constructs, its picture of how humans develop, its ideas about what constitutes mental and emotional health and dysfunction, its perspective on how our relationships with those around us impact our functioning, and its view of how our behavior, thoughts, and emotion impact our functioning. The author then goes on to present the approach the theory takes to counseling, the counseling techniques it employs, and its views of the counselor's and client's roles in therapy. Lastly, each theory is evaluated along a number of criteria, included in this discussion is a presentation of the research done on the efficacy of the theory.