ABSTRACT
A key feature of therapy is that client and therapist form a good working alliance. Being in the ‘enquirer’ role means that someone is making enquiries about therapy. Conversely, they may have a clear notion of the kind of therapy they are seeking, but are ‘shopping around’ for a particular therapist or therapy – and at the right price if they are looking for a therapy in the private sector. Case conceptualisation involves taking all the problems the client wants to deal with in therapy and developing an overall shared understanding of the factors that might explain why these problems exist as well as why they persist. The chapter discusses broad therapy strategies rather than outlining specific therapy techniques. There is some interesting research by C. Barker et al. on clients’ views of their problems and the impact these subsequently may have on therapy.
