Counselling and Psychotherapy with Refugees,

David Blackwell London, Jessica Kingsley, 2005, pp. 124, ISBN 1 84310 316 8, £14.95 The dispersal policy adopted by the British government on asylum seekers meant relocating many refugees from London to the regions, with the result that increasing numbers of health and social-care professionals across the country are coming into contact with them. There are, however, relatively few texts available to guide social workers, therapists and doctors in provision for such refugees. Indeed, the literature tends to be skewed towards asylum and human rights legislation. It is therefore most welcome to come across this easy-to-read book directed at those with responsibility for counselling or offering psychotherapy to recently arrived immigrants. Dr Blackwell, himself a psychotherapist specializing in work with victims of torture, tells us at the beginning of his book that it is not intended as a practical step-by-step guide. Rather, it is designed to give counsellors and psychotherapists coming anew to the field an overview of possible client experiences and how, as helpers, they may react in response to these. Although primarily aimed at therapists, as a very broad introduction to working with refugees, it contains material relevant to social workers and health care professionals.