Dear Paul
To be perfectly honest I can't remember where this thread started. I'll
just put my view simply. There is nothing wrong with academia nor in
applying its findings to practice. Too many therapists consider themselves
to be good therapists simply because they have a qualification, which
entitles them to be accredited by one of the now internally accepted
regulating bodies. I find the vision of these bodies to be blinkered,
probably because they are self appointed and consider that only they are
worthy of judging who is or is not a good therapist. Far too many people
decide to become therapists before gaining life experience and experience of
working with people outside of therapy. Too many therapists sit behind
their academic achievements and do not establish contact with patients. Too
many course tutors give places to candidates purely on the basis of their
academic ability. I enjoy academic pursuit and have been involved in
academia for very many years, including working with and being trained by
some of the worlds most eminent psychoanalysts/academics. I have learned a
lot from my patients and owe them a debt of gratitude. I am intellectually
able and academically accomplished. I have had two analyses. I can work
with patients in an undefended way. I receive regular supervision. I can
incorporate theory into my work while retaining the ability to think and act
independently.
Sorry if that reads like a shopping list but I found it easier than trying
to remember how the thread started.
Kindest
Gerald
-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Carney <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: 16 June 2001 19:51
Subject: Re: Discontinuation of course
>Dear Gerald and Nick
>
>If you cosnider where this strand first began I have obviously
>got to disgree with both of you on this one.
>
>> Yep! we certainly shot ourselves in the foot.
>> Gerald
>
>> >Not just academia. Have you not noticed that UKCP and BACP
>> >share this commitment, and that it is a key element in the
>> >entire 'professionalisation' process?
>
>There is a place for training at all levels of 'education',
>without restricting it to any given level. To argue that
>'academia' is a bad thing is rubbishing the research and other
>material that came out of such a background. We should also
>recognise that most of the 'founders' of therapy were
>'academics' of one sort or another. I'm actually not sure what
>the 'beef' is about 'professionalisation'. If you mean making
>the entry gate harder for people to enter then I would agree
>that it's a problem, but for me it's also about ensuring that
>the standards of training and education, and by that the
>standard of pracice is safe and adequate for the job. I doubt
>that we would want to go to a doctor who had only served an
>apprenticeship (as in days of old) so I can't actually see why
>we would want to have people that are not equally as well
>trained to give counsel.
>
>I appreciate that, as an 'academic' I have a personal interest
>here, but I think that too often the world of academia is seen
>as bad for no apparent valid reason. My personal belief is that
>we need to become more 'professional' -- as a member of the
>sanctions panel for BACP, an ex-adjudicator, and an ex-member of
>the complaints committee, and the Standards and Ethics
>Committee, I have seen too many practitioners who were woefully
>inadequately prepared to act as counsellors. While I recognise
>that a professional standard of training in itself will not
>guarantee 'excellence', I believe that we have to grasp the
>nettle and ensure that we install adequate levels of training
>and education for oiurselves. If we don't then others WILL do it
>for us.
>
>Sorry if I sound as if I'm on my 'high horse', but I am. 8-)
>The solution to 'professionalisation' was in my opinion tried by
>Pol Pot in Cambodia -- please recognise that 'academia' itself
>isn't any more bad than a lack of it and let's work together.
>
>
>
>=====
>Best wishes
>
>Paul
>
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