Sources: The Sage Encyclopedia of Theory in Counseling and Psychotherapy
The Sage Encyclopedia of Theory in Counseling and Psychotherapy. Ed. by Edward S. Neukrug. Los Angeles: Sage Reference, 2015. 2 vols. acid free $340 (ISBN: 978-1-4522-7412-6). E-book available (1483346501), call for pricing.
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).
To discover and choose ETCP content, the editor searched the web, examined books on counseling theory, and reviewed theory-related journals. The editorial board also recommended content and helped to identify experts for entries. Most of the 327 expert contributors are listed as holding positions in academia, private practice, or centers or institutes for therapy.
The two-volume work includes entries for three hundred therapies or approaches that are used in counseling. There also are select biographical entries for forty-five theorists that provide two or three pages discussing the theories of widely recognized leaders in counseling and therapy. These biographical sketches contrast to the brief discussion of most of those in the “List of Theorists” noted below.
Each entry about a therapy or counseling approach begins with a general description of the approach, followed by brief sections covering the approach’s historical context, theoretical underpinnings, and major concepts. Each also has sections for techniques, see also references, and further reading. Perhaps consistent with the large number of expert backgrounds, the style of information delivery within entry sections varies across the entries. Even so, in each of these entries the sections on theoretical underpinnings and major concepts generally provide a focused discussion on or related to theory for a given counseling approach.
The ETCP Reader’s Guide has twenty general categories. Three expected categories are “Cognitive Behavioral Therapies,” “Classic Psychoanalytic Approaches,” and “Existential-Humanistic Therapies.” Others include “Body Oriented Therapies” and a broad category for “Foundational Therapies.” The latter includes, for example, “Behavior Therapy” and “Gestalt Therapy.” Also included is an unusual category called “Cautious, Dangerous, and/or Illegal Practices.” That category includes “Psychedelic Therapy,” “Rebirthing,” and “Sexual Orientation Change Efforts.” Under each of the general categories there are lists of related therapies or counseling approaches. Readers will also find ETCP entries that are overviews for each of the general categories; for example, there is a four-page overview on “Cognitive Behavioral Therapies.”
As noted above the ETCP also has a “List of Theorists” (xvii–xxv). This actually is a list of therapy approaches with names of individuals that are seen as associated with the approaches. ETCP entries are not found for some of the 300 “Theory/Approaches” (or associated theorists) in that list, but the encyclopedia’s 53 page index might be used to find relevant related information. For example, that approach locates information for the “Body movement structural patterns approach” (and Judith Aston) in the entry on Hellerwork Structural Integration (499).
It is possible to find discussions of theory for some of ETCP’s topics in other reference sources. For example, theory is briefly discussed in entries for the “Biopsychosocial model” in the Encyclopedia of Clinical Psychology edited by Cautin and Lilienfeld (John Wiley and Sons, 2015), for “Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies” in the Encyclopedia of Counseling edited by Leong (Sage Publications, 2008), and for “Biofeedback” in the Hersen and Sledge Encyclopedia of Psychotherapy (Academic Press, 2002). Additionally, a related 26 page chapter “The Evolution of Theory in Counseling Psychology,” is found in the APA Handbook of Counseling Psychology (American Psychological Association, 2012), edited by Fouad. That said, the ETCP does seem to have the most encyclopedic entries in a single reference work, and it seems to meet the goal of being a quick reference for theory in counseling and psychotherapy. That quick reference service can lead to additional searches if needed for more thorough or extended discussions of theory related to counseling approaches. A bibliography is also included in this work along with a listing of journals and professional organizations.
Even if academic or public libraries have the other sources just noted, they might choose the ETCP as an additional current reference resource or beginning place for further research. If funds are available, the online version could also provide helpful 24/7 access to therapy theory information, along with quick online connections to related cross-referenced material within the ETCP.—Paul Fehrmann, Subject Librarian for Philosophy, Religion, and Social Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio