ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book shows how the different practitioners have adapted their technique to the primary care setting, have struggled with the tensions inherent in it in order to establish a balanced and coherent way of working, and have come to a synthesis which has created a new and original perspective on clinical counselling in primary care. It looks at the broader conceptual framework of clinical counselling in primary care. The book presents new ideas based on seeing the work in the consulting room as part of the whole setting. It examines the importance of evaluating counselling services in primary care in view of its increased availability and the fact that there is very little evidence to prove its clinical effectiveness. The book describes a unique way of working which each contributor has arrived at on the basis of his/her experience.
