A new introduction to counselling and psychotherapy: embedding context, diversity and equity into practice
By Mamood Ahmad
All educators and trainees should get a copy of this book. It fills a sizeable gap in the literature of how to integrate diversity and equity into one’s practice in a way that’s accessible, well written and grounded in the latest research from experienced UKCP registrant Mamood Ahmad. While the main focus is on diversity and equity, the importance of understanding thinking around the context of the client and the work is also brought to the fore, and all the while there is no let-up in explaining and exploring the basics of psychotherapy and counselling.
As an existential phenomenological psychotherapist, I’d suggest that the principal theories of psychotherapy should be expanded as they’re currently too reductively grouped into three ‘main’ groups. I liked the use of other practitioners to offer short case studies and examples and would have loved to see this expanded, even if just to honour the UKCP colleges and the diverse range of voices. While this would add a sizeable amount of material, this is already a large and comprehensive text.
This is not a short book, but I found it very relatable and pitched nicely. I found myself wishing that it had been around a decade ago when I was first training as the more trainees that get exposed to a different way of being in terms of diversity and equity, the better. This is an exceptional vehicle for that and should be appearing on the mandatory reading lists of trainings across the country before long.
Reviewer:
Ben Scanlan,
existential phenomenological
psychotherapist and supervisor,
London
Scanlan, B. (2026) ‘A new introduction to counselling and psychotherapy: embedding context, diversity and equity into practice’, New Psychotherapist, Issue 92, Summer, p. 16. UK Council for Psychotherapy.
