Books / Humanistic, existential & experiential
Pluralistic Counselling and Psychotherapy
Mick Cooper and John McLeod present a pluralistic framework for counselling and psychotherapy, emphasising collaboration about the client’s goals, tasks and methods.
Book details
Author of listed edition: Mick Cooper and John McLeod
Edition: First edition, paperback (catalogued as 2011; publisher lists December 2010)
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Edition year: 2011
Language and origin: English (United Kingdom)
ISBN: 9781847873453
Form and genre: Clinical & Theoretical Monograph
Level: Intermediate
Historical era: 2010–Present · Contextual, Pluralistic & Liberation Era
Covers: The rationale for a pluralistic approach; Collaboration and the therapeutic relationship; Client goals, therapeutic tasks and methods; Research, training and service delivery
APA 7th reference: Cooper, M., & McLeod, J. (2011). Pluralistic counselling and psychotherapy. SAGE Publications.
What it is
Pluralistic Counselling and Psychotherapy presents a framework developed by Mick Cooper and John McLeod. The publisher lists the book in December 2010, while the University of Strathclyde catalogue records it as a 2011 publication. The first chapter discusses the limits of allegiance to a single therapeutic school and considers integrative approaches.
What it covers
The authors argue that different approaches can be helpful to different people, and that therapists and clients should discuss what may be useful. The book’s contents include the therapeutic relationship, client goals, tasks, methods, research and training. These are ideas in a clinical framework, not proof that a particular method will help every person.
Later developments
A later book by Norcross and Cooper discusses assessing and accommodating patient preferences, including use of the Cooper–Norcross Inventory of Preferences. That 2021 book is a separate publication; the inventory should not be attributed to the earlier book.
Limits of this entry
This entry draws on the first chapter and publisher and library records. The complete 2011 book and the later book were not reviewed; their descriptions do not establish outcomes for an individual client.
Paired academic and clinical scholarship
Paired work: Personalizing Psychotherapy: Assessing and Accommodating Patient Preferences (John C. Norcross and Mick Cooper, 2021)
Reference: Norcross, J. C., & Cooper, M. (2021). Personalizing psychotherapy: Assessing and accommodating patient preferences. American Psychological Association.
A later book discusses assessing and accommodating patient preferences, including the Cooper–Norcross Inventory of Preferences. Its publisher describes research, clinical examples and limits; the complete book was not reviewed.
Source-mapped claims and evidence notes
Claim 1: Cooper and McLeod propose that different approaches may help different clients, and that clients and practitioners can collaborate on what may be helpful. (The first chapter excerpt was read; the complete book was not reviewed.) [Source 2: Cooper, M., & McLeod, J. Introducing the pluralistic approach. In Pluralistic counselling and psychotherapy. SAGE Publications. Chapter excerpt.]
Claim 2: The book has separate chapters on client goals, therapeutic tasks and methods. (The table of contents was checked; it does not establish the effectiveness of any particular method.) [Source 1: Cooper, M., & McLeod, J. Pluralistic counselling and psychotherapy. SAGE Publications. Publisher record.]
Sources and inspection notes
Supports: Lists the authors, contents, paperback ISBN and December 2010 publication date. The complete book was not read.
Supports: First chapter discusses schoolism, integrative approaches and the rationale for a pluralistic framework; the rest of the book was not read.
University of Strathclyde. Pluralistic counselling and psychotherapy. Bibliographic record.
Supports: Lists the authors, paperback ISBN 9781847873453 and 2011 publication year.
Supports: Publisher identifies the 2021 book, its authors and its discussion of the Cooper–Norcross Inventory of Preferences and limits of personalisation. The complete book was not read.