At The Heart of the Matter: Communicating Care in Helping Relationships introduces helpers who are not professional counselors to the fundamental theory and essential skills of helping interaction: centering, listening, reflecting, responding, and asking questions. Written in an informal, informative style, the text includes examples, case descriptions, and scripts to illustrate key material. At The Heart of the Matter is grounded in the premise that helpers must build and maintain good helping relationships in order to optimize their work with others. Effective helpers recognize and engage in opportunities to listen well and communicate care at the heart of these relationships.