Wayne Perry 
Basic Counseling Techniques 
A Beginning Therapist’S Toolkit (Third Edition)

Wayne Perry has been a therapist for more than thirty years, but he still hears the same thing from beginning counselors and therapists: Yes, I know what the theory says, but what do I do with this particular client?

Drawing on his decades of experience training marriage and family therapists, professional counselors, and pastoral counselors, he answers that question in the updated edition of his landmark book: Basic Counseling Techniques.

He provides practical suggestions for setting up the therapy room, using audiovisual recording equipment, and conducting those first critical interviews. You’ll learn how to:


apply nine different sets of clinical tools;
select the appropriate tool for the appropriate clinical situation; and
improve how you carry out the clinical thinking process.


Each chapter concludes with a ‘Living into the Lesson’ section that allows you to participate in experiential exercises to master what you’ve learned.

While designed for counselors and therapists in the beginning of their careers, even veterans in the field will find value in this updated edition.

About the author

Wayne Perry is a faculty member in the masters and Ph D programs in marriage and family therapy at Northcentral University. He brings more than 20 years university teaching experience and supervising therapy to this work. He is a Clinical Fellow and an Approved Supervisor for the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and a Fellow in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors.