A New Introduction to Counselling and Psychotherapy Embedding Context, Diversity, and Equity into Practice

Part 1: Personal and Professional Development  1. Mental Health, Root Causes and Therapy  2. Building Blocks of Self-development  3. Whole Person Self-development  4. Social Identities I: Race, Culture, Ethnicity, Nationality, Gender, Class, and Neurodiversity  5. Social Identities Ii: Disability, Age, Body Image, Sexuality, and Religion, Spirituality and Belief  Part 2: Theory  6. Theories of Stress, Trauma and Harm  7. Primary Therapeutic Approaches  8. The Therapeutic Relationship I: Working Alliance, and Communication and Meaning  9. The Therapeutic Relationship Ii: Transference, Reparative, Personal, and Transpersonal  Part 3: Skills  10. Relational Skills  11. Contextual and Professional Skills  12. Therapy in Action  Part 4: Practice, Equity and Change  13. Practice, Organisation and Equity Improvement  14. Advocacy, Community and Social Change  15. Changing the Curriculum, Standards and Organisation

Biography

Mamood Ahmad a psychotherapist, lecturer, speaker, and Whole Person DEI consultant, as well as the founder of The Anti-Discrimination Focus community. Established in 2020, this community aims to promote equity by design within the educational foundations of therapeutic practice. As a UKCP Psychotherapist with over a decade of experience in private practice, with specialisms in trauma, multicultural competence and social change, his primary focus now is professional standards change, which is the central rationale for this book.

'There is a gaping hole in (most) psychotherapeutic training and practice where the integration of systems, history, culture, identity, knowledge, power and privilege should be acknowledged but is not. This book pulls us out of that hole and places personal context, intersectionality and embodiment front and centre. To call this book an introduction is to do it a disservice, and to keep it only for trainees is to deny the rest of us so many valuable opportunities to grow our thinking. Monumental in size, scale and significance, this is the book the therapy world has been waiting for.' 

Jeanine Connor, psychodynamic psychotherapist, supervisor, editor and author of (among other things) You’re Not My F*cking Mother and other things Gen Z say in therapy and Stop F*cking Nodding and other things 16 year olds say in therapy

'This is an essential read for anyone involved in therapeutic training and education. It offers a visionary and practical roadmap for embedding a deep understanding of individuals in their full, lived-in context—right from the start. By challenging isolated approaches to learning about "social context, culture, difference, and diversity," it provides a refreshing antidote to the "othering" of students, trainers, and clients alike while fostering a truly inclusive, equitable training experience.

Packed with actionable strategies and insightful guidance, it ensures that key pillars—skills, practice, theory, self-awareness, and relationship—are seamlessly integrated into every aspect of a student’s development. A transformative and necessary resource for shaping the future of therapy training and practice.'

Jenny Bell, Development Officer, Individuals/Courses, COSCA (Counselling and Psychotherapy in Scotland), Integrative counsellor and supervisor

'Mamood has crafted a seminal mainstream introduction to counselling and psychotherapy text, poised to revolutionise the way we learn, teach, and reflect on ourselves, our relationships, and our practices. In one fell swoop, he brings down the epistemic wall between universal and contextual knowledge, demonstrably unifying and harmonising them into a coherent whole at the foundational level of helping and therapeutic practice—self-development, theory, skills, relationships, and practice. This book is not just a superb contribution to the field; it is a necessary and socially responsible call to action, paving the way for enriched, stronger, and fairer foundation for individuals, underserved and underrepresented communities, and whole of society.'

Shahajra Jamal (she/her), BACP registered therapist, course tutor and group therapist

'This book offers a powerful alternative to the traditional mindset of counselling and psychotherapy training, theory, and practice, which often isolates our understanding of the individual from the social and political contexts we inhabit. Too often, curricula are structured in ways that separate matters of belief, personal culture, and identity—such as class, sexuality, and ‘race’—as if they are not deeply embedded within and formative of the self. Here, Ahmad presents a radical challenge to this outdated way of thinking, offering a highly practical, creative, and refreshing perspective. This is an important book that belongs on the reading list of all practitioners.'

Helen Morgan, Jungian analyst, author of The Work of Whiteness. A Psychoanalytic Perspective, Routledge, 2021. She is also co-author with Fanny Brewster of Racial Legacies in the Jung, Politics and Cultural series published by Routledge in 2022

'Training to become a counsellor or psychotherapist demands an understanding of a wide range of complex theories and ideas, as well as how they can be applied in different contexts and situations and with diverse people and communities.  It is not a small endeavour, and any resource to help support this training journey, as well as informing practitioners once qualified, is always welcome in the field.  Mamood's New Introduction to Counselling and Psychotherapy is absolutely one of those welcome texts that will play an important role in supporting learning and development - as well as for those working in allied disciplines - navigate their way in practice.  It offers much to the field, including support with training and curricula development, understanding the latest advances in training and practice, as well as embedding throughout a rich consideration of identity, diversity and difference.  A book that should be on everyone's bookshelf and one that makes an important and welcome contribution.'

Professor Andrew Reeves, BACP Senior Accredited Counsellor/Psychotherapist, Senior Accredited Coach and Registered Social Worker

'This is an important and timely handbook and essential reading not just for trainees, but for any therapist/supervisor. It is also an invaluable tool for lecturers and trainers, with each chapter designed as a lesson plan that models a "context-embedded-by-design" curriculum. As a refugee mental health practitioner, I have frequently found that even experienced therapists feel de-skilled and ill equipped to work therapeutically with the challenging and difficult contexts that refugees find themselves in. This resource seeks to address how therapists might understand and respond to issues of power, privilege and difference, challenging us to engage with the personal, socio-political context and individual experience of clients we are working with. Self-reflexivity is critical in all therapeutic work, and especially important in work with refugees and people seeking asylum. Mamood addresses the much-neglected theme of when/how therapists might undertake practical support and/or advocate for clients, ensuring that there is a clear ethical framework for doing so. This is a comprehensive training resource, that is modality inclusive and is highly recommended.'

Jude Boyles, Manager of South Yorkshire Therapeutic Services for Resettled Refugees at the Refugee Council, BACP Senior Accredited Member, Author and editor of three books on refugee mental health

'When training as a psychotherapist in the early 2000s, I was astonished to learn that politics, that is, living within socially constructed target or non-target groups, had no place inside the therapy room. It is a testament to the power of oppression, that is - the experience, for some, of being unnoticed, unseen, and unacknowledged,—that little has changed. Whichever social groups you inhabit, alienation born of oppression will be there. We believe it’s just “me” or just “us” when really it's about our relationships with society itself, as well as with individuals. This book is ideally positioned to liberate us from this limitation.'

Eugene Ellis, Director and founder of the Black African and Asian Therapy Network and author of Transforming Race Conversations: A Healing Guide For Us All

'"A New Introduction to Counselling and Psychotherapy" is a deeply thoughtful and essential resource that seamlessly integrates personal and social context, equity, diversity, and inclusion into the very foundation of therapeutic training and practice. By embedding identity, worldviews, neurodiversity, and cultural contexts within core pillars like self-development, theory, relationships and ethics, Mamood ensures that these critical elements are not treated as peripheral but as central to professional competence. This holistic approach equips therapists to attune more effectively to client experiences, minimise harm, and foster truly equitable therapeutic relationships. An inspiring and forward-thinking resource, it is a must-read for students, trainers, and practitioners committed to meaningful, context-embedded-by-design therapeutic and helping practice.'

Natasha Grigorov, psychotherapist and EMDR therapist, MBACP (Accred), GMBPsS   

'This book is an important milestone in our professional field of practice. Timely and profoundly informative about the zeitgeist, it encourages deeper reflexivity and self-awareness while embedding contextual ethics and competencies. A vital resource for advancing quality and standards in education, training, and practice.'

Jocelyne Quennell, Co-Chair Training Standards in the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy UKCP Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy College HIPC

'Mamood’s groundbreaking book finally addresses and resolves a crucial gap in therapeutic practice—one that has long been overlooked: the impact of a client’s context on knowledge and practice. This book offers a comprehensive and insightful exploration of counselling and psychotherapy theory, relationships, and skills by embedding the social, personal, cultural, and systemic experiences of all, thereby creating space for fair consideration of vulnerable, marginalised, and “othered” communities. It skillfully blends matters of diversity, culture, and context into the very foundations of therapeutic knowledge and practice. Whether you’re a new student, lecturer, or seasoned practitioner, Mamood’s work encourages deep self-reflection, culturally embedded competence, and empathy. This essential resource will not only elevate your practice but also better equip you to serve underserved and underrepresented communities with greater understanding and care, ultimately leading to better outcomes for clients.'

Corrine S McLaughlin, clinical therapist, MSc NCP (Accredited)

'As a therapist and tutor, I strongly recommend this book. Thorough, clear, and deeply practical, it offers a powerful blend of theory, skills, self-development prompts, and actionable strategies for well-informed, equitable, and empowering work. This is a mandatory read for all of us—the book we have long awaited!'

Sylwia Korsak, Founder of VoxelHub.org, counsellor, coach, consultant, and published contributing author

This excellent and essential resource is a must-read for both students and practitioners. It seamlessly embeds context, diversity, equity, and inclusion into the therapeutic relationship, existing knowledge, and practice. With practical reflection questions and reader notes that deepen understanding, this book serves as an invaluable tool for fostering critical thinking and harm-aware client work.

Natasha Anderson-Foster, Therapist, COSRT Senior Psychosexual therapist and Supervisor

'This book is an essential read—not just for trainees, but for all helping professionals and practitioners in the field of mental health and therapy. It offers an accessible introduction to therapy while seamlessly embedding crucial client contexts, including harm avoidance, identity, culture, and trauma-informed care. These foundational elements are not treated as mere ‘add-ons’ but are thoughtfully woven in from the very beginning. A must-have resource for anyone committed to ethical, inclusive, and effective therapeutic practice.'

Andrea Summers-Green, therapist, supervisor, and consultant

'This book skilfully and thoroughly demonstrates how client context can be meaningfully embedded in the curriculum for both trainee and qualified counsellors and psychotherapists. It is a critical and essential resource, ensuring that students and practicing therapists explore the full scope of their context—including difference, power over experiences, marginalisation, and oppression—both within themselves and their clients. By fostering deeper understanding, it promotes ethical, harm-free practice, making it an invaluable addition to the field.'

Jo Daley, Psychotherapeutic counsellor, MBACP

'I am very happy this book exists and see it as part of the welcome current move in our profession towards rethinking how we train counsellors. Mamood's focus on the client and counsellor 'in context' as the starting point for all theory and practice will help trainees work with humility within their own and others' cultures in their locale.'

Briony Martin, psychotherapist, supervisor and counselling educator

'“A New Introduction to Counselling and Psychotherapy" is an essential read for both practitioners and trainees. It invites deep consideration of how clients’ self and contexts—as well as therapists’ own—shape their experiences in both client work and reflective practice. Grounded in a wide array of lived experiences, this important and expansive text offers practical, situated approaches to core theories in psychotherapy and counseling. At a time when equity and inclusion in practice cannot be overlooked, this book is a vital and timely resource for the field.'

Shravanti Shankar, therapist and fellow of higher education (FHEA)