This book investigates how counselling is constructed through the dynamic interaction between counsellor and client. Drawing on research from clients undergoing HIV testing, David Silverman analyzes the conversations between counsellors and patients. The analysis reveals how these interactions reflect, embody, and subtly alter fundamental assumptions about the purpose, methods, and practice of counselling. The work offers a deeply researched and analytically sensitive account of the conversational construction of the counselling process.

The book is regarded as a significant contribution to the understanding of counselling as a social and interactional process. Its detailed analysis of conversational data provides a robust foundation for appreciating the subtle ways in which therapeutic relationships are built and maintained. The work is likely to be of interest to students and practitioners in counselling, psychotherapy, and communication studies seeking a deeper insight into the mechanics of therapeutic dialogue.