“Yes, I know what the theory says, but what do I do with that client?”  That is a question Dr. Wayne Perry often hears as he works with beginning counselors or therapists.  It is the question Basic Counseling Techniques seeks to answer.  Born out of Dr. Perry’s more than twenty-years’ experience training marriage and family therapists, professional counselors, and pastoral counselors, this book skips the theory and goes right for the practical application. 

Students in counseling or therapy training programs will find Basic Counseling Techniques an essential part of their studies.  This textbook beings by providing practical suggestions for setting up the therapy room, using audio-visual recording equipment, and conducting those first critical interviews.  Nine chapters provide the basic steps to actually applying nine different sets of clinical tools, and guidelines for selecting the appropriate tool for the appropriate clinical situation.  This second edition also includes an entire chapter on the clinical thinking process, which can help beginning therapists sort through the myriad of options and select the “right” therapy for a particular client.  That makes this textbook unique in the field.  Each of the chapters concludes with a “Living Into the Lesson” section to give the reader experiential exercises to apply that chapter’s skills.

Role assumptions.    Role assumption is a specific type of role play where the roles are clearly specified.  In other words, role assumption is deliberately not as open-ended or free-flowing as a pure role play. 

& n b s p ; & nbsp;          One common type of role assumption is to have various members of a family assume each others’ roles.  One family I worked with, the Marshalls, found this very enlightening.  Steve and Peggy Marshall, the parents of two teens, were very frustrated by Roy’s, the 15 year old son’s, “Goth / Grunge” appearance and his resistance to any instructions they gave.  Shelby, the 14 year old daughter, played the “good girl,” who stayed out of trouble and did what she was told.  I had Steve assume Roy’s role, Peggy assume Shelby’s role, and the kids assume their same-gender parent’s role.  At first “Steve” (Roy in role) tried to parent “Roy” (Steve in role) the way he said he wanted to be parented.  Both “Peggy” and “Shelby” stayed out of it.  But “Roy” quickly escalated the confrontations, and “Peggy” began to step in to assist him (interestingly, the only time Shelby would become vocal and active in therapy was when she was playing Peggy’s role).  Things quickly escalated to the point that I had to step in and call a halt to process what had happened.  Although he was not ready to admit that his parents had any validity to their case, Roy did have to admit he was saying he felt just like Steve often said he felt.  Steve enjoyed the experience so much that the next several sessions he brought some “goth” props with him to put on when he assumed Roy’s role, and he and Peggy frequently requested the role assumption.  This bit of playfulness even got to Roy, and the family slowly began to actually work together.

& n b s p ; & nbsp;          A variation on the role assumption is to assume a more generic role.  In an alcohol recovery group I directed, I often had group members assume the Victim, the Rescuer, and the Persecutor roles.  When they had been in a role for a few minutes, I would have them switch to a different role. 

Wayne Perry is the Program Director of Amridge University’s marriage and family therapy, pastoral counseling, and professional counseling programs.  He is a Clinical Member and an Approved Supervisor for the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (AAMFT), and a Fellow in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors (AAPC).   He is licensed in < s t 1 : S t a t e > < s t 1:place>Alabama as Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Approved Supervisor of Supervision.  Dr. Perry earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from < s t 1 : p l a ce>Emory < s t 1 : P l a c e T y p e > University, and he is currently completing a second doctorate in marriage and family therapy.  Dr. Perry has more than 30 years experience as a therapist, currently active as a staff therapist with < s t 1 : p l a c e > < st1:PlaceName>Samaritan < s t1:PlaceName>Counseling < s t 1 : P l a c e T ype>Center. < s t 1 : C i t y > Wayne declares, “I love the academic work, but the clinical work is crucial to who I am.  It keeps me grounded.”  He demonstrates that belief by averaging a case load of approximately 15 clients per week while maintaining his full time academic teaching load.  In addition to a busy teaching and clinical practice, Dr. and Mrs. Perry frequently lead workshops for church and community groups.  He has authored various articles in professional journals and popular magazines, and a weekly column in a local newspaper providing practical applications of all of this experience.