Library of Congress Control Number (LCCN):2012923369 The definition of professional counseling is to intervene intentionally for a predictable therapeutic outcome for the person seeking help. Professional counselors, therapists, and mental health practitioners derive their living and identity from their knowledge of the special skills and processes described in this book. Based on transcripts of an intensive practical counseling course presented by the author, the style of the manual is conversational with numerous examples of the effective wording of therapeutic statements. Chapter topics include: Clinical Assessment and Suicide Prevention, The Counseling Process and Therapeutic Interventions, Loss and Grief Counseling Skills, Communication and Conflict Resolution Skills, Couple Counseling Strategies, and Counseling Ethics. The Appendix is filled with practical concise articles for common issues and processes in counseling such as: depression, anger, bullying, sexual abuse, relationship/marriage issues, healing infidelity, childhood loss of caring, domestic violence, healing grief, words for dying, suicide prevention, addiction, resolving conflict, and more.