Counselling and identity : self realisation in a therapy culture / Alex Howard.

Contents;

1. Introduction: Identity and why it matters
Identity matters, whether you know it or not
Identity matters, whether you discuss it or not
Identity matters, even when you don't need to think about it
Therapist views of identity
etc.

2. In search of self - counselling and identity
Historical overview
Looking for patterns in the debates about identity
Can identity ever be 'pinned down'?
Is there a 'real' me?
etc.

3. Telling what's wrong - Narratives and metaphors of sickness and health
Health and 'satisfaction'
Quantities versus qualities of health
Health and humanity
etc.

4. Truth telling - Identity and reality
Secular and spiritual realities
Cosmopolitanism or chaos?
Deconstructing, or destroying, 'truth'?
How much truth can we stand?
etc.

5. Honoured and esteemed? Identity and happiness
How deserved is your self-esteem?
Happiness and goodness
Happiness, consumerism and the good life
etc.

6. Feeling good and being good: Identity and ethics
Who is an authority concerning ethics?
Ethical authorities and ethical authoritarianism
The myth of ethical neutrality
Ethics within schools of counselling
etc.

7. What was it like for you? - Measuring and assessing change in identity
Persons and reasons versus treatments and results
Professionals versus amateurs
All must have prizes?
Resourcefulness versus resources
etc.

8. Transcending self: Identity, society and the transpersonal
Personal prospects and social trends
Designer spirituality
Transcending oneself
Anchoring oneself
etc.

9. Conclusion - Identities, past, present and future

Bibliographical references : p. 283-291 . _ Index : p. 292-295.