Counselling older people with alcohol problems is a timely addition to the literature as there is growing awareness of alcohol problems among older people and those who are ageing. Indeed a recent report by the Royal College of Psychiatrists (2011) highlights growing numbers of older people seeking help for alcohol problems and the necessity to understand and address their specific needs. Against this backdrop Counselling Older People with Alcohol Problems sets out to provide a practice-based discussion and guide for those providing counselling for older people in this situation. The authors clearly possess considerable experience in this area which adds a depth and richness to the book, while the writing style is straightforward and has a strong practical feel, making the book accessible to a wide range of audiences. Interesting case studies are used to illustrate key points throughout the book. Following a brief introduction to the key issues and underlying theoretical approach, the main part of the book is structured to follow the potential pathway of someone receiving counselling for alcohol problems. Chapters follow the journey from ‘First Session/Assessment’ through to ‘Endings’, so that the book provides practical knowledge and skills that could be usefully implemented in practice by counsellors and other practitioners working with an older person with alcohol problems.

Producing this book may have also challenged the authors, who sought both to underline the uniqueness of individuals and stresses the need for practitioners to recognise this, while at the same time presenting specific issues relevant for older people as a group. I think the book is more successful at addressing the first point, and therefore much of the discussion is relevant when working with people of any age. Where issues specific to older people are highlighted, they are often briefly dealt with and, in the first two-thirds of the book, are rather sparse. In the latter part of the book, chapters about specific issues such as dementia and depression for older people are addressed in a useful and relevant manner.

One thing that is not clear from reading this book is its target audience. It is possibly not theoretical enough to enhance the skills of an already experienced counsellor but, on the other hand, it may be too specifically focused on counselling to provide useful information for other practitioners. It would be an excellent text for students of counselling with an interest in alcohol problems, or for a counsellor looking to branch into the alcohol field. The book does provide useful practical examples for anyone working with people with alcohol problems more generally who within their practice might encounter older people.