Book Review: The Sage Encyclopedia of Theory in Counseling and Psychotherapy

Abstract

In its introduction, the Sage Encyclopedia of Theory in Counseling and Psychotherapy (ETCP) is offered as “the first encyclopedia of its kind.” The introduction notes that the ETCP’s goal is to provide “descriptions of most of the major theories of counseling and therapy” to give users a “quick grasp” of theories. As for what theories are, the editor states that theories are critical “drivers” for a clinician’s understanding of personality as well as for their approach to therapy. He sees this crucial role of theories as based on their heuristic function. That is, for clinicians theories can support hypotheses about theories, as well as research on, changes to, and development of better theories (xxxix). The editor goes on to recognize that even when psychotherapists or counselors are operating with the same theory, their actual delivery of service may very well differ (xl).