An anthology of essays written by contributors shortly after completing initial counselling and psychotherapy training. Contributors describe their experiences, the challenges and surprises of training, and changes they underwent. Each chapter begins with an abstract summarizing its main themes and the concluding chapter discusses the personal and professional significance of training. A valuable resource for trainees and trainers, offering a context within which trainees can set their own experience and guidance for surviving and thriving as a trainee.

VAL HARDING-DAVIES and GRAHAM DAVIES are both lecturers on the Counselling programme at Keele University. GEOF ALRED is a Lecturer in Counselling in the Centre for Studies in Counselling and is the author of The Mentoring Pocketbook (Management Pocketbooks 1998). KATHY HUNT is a Lecturer in Counselling in the Centre for Studies in Counselling and is Course Director for the Certificate in Counselling Skills at Durham University.