Why are i-pods and mobile phones fashion accessories? Why do people spend thousands remodelling their perfectly functional kitchen? Why do people crave shoes or handbags? Is our desire for objects unhealthy, or irrational? This book offers a systematic overview of the diverse ways of studying the material as culture.

This timely and fully revised second edition provides an overview of the personalisation agenda and looks at the recent legislation in a broad historical and theoretical perspective. This approach will provide opportunities for students to consider the changes to the social work role and to evaluate the impact of this for service users and as practitioners.

This sixth edition of Richard Nelson-Jones' bestselling book is a step-by-step guide to using counselling and helping skills with confidence and proficiency. The author's three-stage model of counselling is designed to facilitate developing lifeskills in clients and to help them to change how they feel, think, communicate and act.

This is a step-by-step guide to the key skills and techniques of the psychodynamic approach used at each stage of the therapeutic process. It not only addresses how to implement skills, but also why they are being implemented.

Drawing on the ideas of Michael White and David Epston, this fully revised, extended and updated Second Edition incorporates the progression of their thinking over the past five years and introduces developments initiated by other narrative therapists worldwide. New material has been added around counseling for post-traumatic reactions, couples conflict and a sense of personal failure.

Amajor update of an incredibly popular book which explores the everyday issues which all counsellors face, regardless of theoretical orientation.

Quantitative Research for the Qualitative Researcher is a concise text that provides students who are not predisposed to mathematical or scientific thinking with the needed conceptual and practical understanding of quantitative methodology.

Designed for both students and newly-qualified social workers, this dip in and out of guide introduces students to over 300 key laws, legal terms, and legal processes in a concise and no-nonsense way. I t covers all areas of social work practice, ensuring students have the knowledge they need to apply the law with confidence.

This text is both a practical account of the research process, and an invitation to think more deeply and reflexively about the imperfect, multifaceted nature of social research itself.

Designed to help students think critically about the skills and knowledge they need to understand and tackle inequality, and provide meaningful help to those people most in need.