The book ‘Theory and Practice of Counselling and Psychotherapy by Gerald Corey assists learners in comparing and contrasting the therapeutic models which are expressed in counseling theories. For instance, Corey is introducing students to the major theories and demonstrates the way each approach should be applied practically together with helping scholars in integrating concepts into an individualized counseling style. The edition has updated the material and refined the existing discussion. Part one of the book comprises of the first three chapters. The main component of the three chapters is the issues which are elementary to the practice of counseling as well as psychotherapy.

The first chapter of the book is the introduction together with showing Corey perspective as the author. Corey’s view is that there is no single model which can explain all the human experience facets. Corey writes the book with the assumption that learners can develop a counseling style which is tailored to their personality. The author shows his philosophical orientation to be strongly influenced by the existential approach and draws technique from other models especially the role-playing methods. From the chapter, Corey categorizes theories into psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, experiential and relationship-oriented as well as systems and postmodern approaches. Besides, Corey outlines two cases of Stan and Gwen which are essential to any student who wants to learn more about the methods and techniques meeting therapy goals for the two victims.

Chapter two of the book comprises of a new discussion in researching the role of the counselor as a person together with the therapeutic relationship. For instance, the chapter covers more in the topics of personal therapy and the characteristics of effective counselors. Corey acknowledges that counseling students can gain styles which are tailored to their personality through familiarizing themselves with the critical approaches to therapeutic practice. Therefore, reading of the chapter helps learners in reevaluating ways of working towards personal development. The author shows that individual needs, life experiences, personality traits, values, and motivations can enhance or even interfere with one’s effectiveness as a counselor. The central aspect and theme of the chapter is that a person and a professional are intertwined facets which cannot be isolated in reality.

Chapter three is introducing learners to various vital ethical issues and principles which are an essential part of an individual’s professional practice. The section stimulates one to think about ethical practice so that the individual can establish a sound basis for making moral decisions. Therefore, Corey addresses main topics such as educating clients on their rights, balancing client’s needs against own needs, ways to make sound decisions, parameters of confidentiality, evidence-based practice as well as dealing with multiple and dual relationships. Corey indicates that students might think of ethics negatively or merely to be a list of prohibitions and rules resulting in malpractice actions and sanctions when practitioners cannot follow them. For instance, mandatory ethics refers to viewing ethical practice which deals with minimum professional practice level. On the other hand, aspirational ethics is considered a higher level of ethical practice which addresses doing what is in the client’s best interest. Besides, the author shows positive ethics to be an approach which is taken by practitioners requiring best for clients instead of merely meeting minimum standards of staying out of trouble.  In the chapter, Corey emphasizes more on ethical issues in assessing and diagnosing as well as dimensions in multicultural counseling. For instance, there is a new section of evidence-based practice as well as a trend towards accountability in counseling practice. The author has highlighted both sides of the controversy which surround evidence-based practice. Therefore, the chapter introduces one to some ethical issues that the individual is bound to face at a certain point of the counseling practice.