Published by IVP Academic on April 8, 2025
Genres: Healthcare, Non-Fiction, Christian Life
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Get the most from your counseling experience with tips from an expert Christian counselor.
Deciding to meet with a professional counselor is a major step for personal mental health. But what comes next? Some people are unsure how the therapy process works, some have had negative experiences, and some simply want to know they're benefiting as much as possible from the time and resources they invest.
In this accessible, information-packed guide, Christian psychologist Terri Watson provides an expert's perspective on how to get the most out of your counseling experience. Readers will find a wealth of wisdom, including:
• advice for looking into options for counseling
• how to find a counselor who's a good fit
• what to expect during and after counseling
• how to get the most out of your sessions and the therapy process
• expert tips on mental health care
• insights on the role of faith and common questions Christians askFor any Christian considering or receiving clinical mental health care, as well as mental health professionals and those who make referrals, The Client's Guide to Therapy is an encouraging and helpful companion.
Finding a therapist can be overwhelming, and people who are unfamiliar with what to expect from therapy can find the process especially mystifying. This book educates potential clients about therapy so that they can determine the type of counseling that they need, find the right fit, and make the most of their experience. Terri S. Watson is a therapist and a professor of psychology, and she shares her professional expertise and personal insights throughout this book, answering common questions and sharing details that people might not even know to ask about.
This book is just under 150 pages long, but it is very thorough and covers a lot of information. It describes different types of counseling, as well as different therapeutic approaches, and this book will give people the concepts and vocabulary they need to be able to find solutions and effectively advocate for themselves. This book also addresses common issues that may arise in therapy, helping people anticipate and avoid roadblocks when possible. The author also includes helpful insights about how Christians can integrate therapy with their faith.
However, even though The Client’s Guide to Therapy is very helpful overall, it is too academic in tone for the target audience. The author uses lots of clinical jargon, even when she is talking about fairly basic things that she could have described in normal words. This may be off-putting and overwhelming for readers who feel unsure about therapy. Even though the content is geared towards people who have never been to therapy, the writing style is often more appropriate for psychology students and therapists.
The Client’s Guide to Therapy: How to Get the Most out of Your Counseling Experience is an informative, helpful guide for Christians who are considering getting mental health care. This can also be useful for people who are already in therapy, but who want to better understand the process and take a more active, assertive role in their healing journey. However, because of the occasionally dense and jargon-laden writing style, this is best for people who are very intellectual and want to put a great deal of thought into therapy. Someone else might find this difficult to get through, and would be better off pursuing a more casual, conversational guide to the topic.