Setting the scene - Sheelagh Strawbridge Routes into the profession of counselling, counselling psychology and psychotherapy in the United Kingdom - Tony Ward The trainee experience - Susan Maise Strauss Students top tips - Tami Avis, Fran Smith, Genevieve Solomou and Ingrid Sorhus Getting the most out of personal therapy - Mark Donati and Charles Legg Effective essay writing - Frances Mielewczyk How to write a client case study - John Davy How to write a process report - Christine Parrott Planning and preparing your research study - Don Rawson Producing and presenting your research report - Don Rawson Guidelines for professional practice - Tim Bond Research, practice and reflection - Margaret Oakes The clinical placement in therapy training - Victoria E. Galbraith Handling and processing a referral - Mary Creaner Developing skills in formulation - Sarah Corrie and David A. Lane The first session with a new client: five stages - Robert Bor, Sara Chaudry and (the late) Riva Miller Assessing a client's mental state - Yvette Lewis Psychopharmacology: a primer - Diane Hammersley, Jo Sexton and Charles Legg Written communication and counselling - Peter Du Plessis and Fiona Hirst Supervision: making it work for you - Damian McCann What do I do if . ? Questions commonly asked by trainees - Malcolm C. Cross and Linda Papadopoulos Preparing for a job after professional registration - Elaine Kasket Working with diversity: enhancing practice and challenging oppression - Martin Milton The reflective practitioner: some personal reflections - Mary Watts Setting the scene for continuing professional development (CPD) and life-long learning - Barabara Hannigan The use of social media, technology and online therapy - Anne Stokes Looking to the future - Sheelagh Strawbridge.