Dear Gerald
> Dear Paul
> To be perfectly honest I can't remember where this thread started.
I expect that I am probably feeling a little defensive about this whole
subject for two particular reasons. The thread started with me sharing
with the list that the course for which I am Course and Admissions
Tutor (BSc Counselling) was being discontinued - hence the 'slamming'
of 'academia' was a bit close to the bone for me. However, I personally
believe that we as therapists NEED to continue our learning and our
education too. I have known too many people that have caled
themselves 'counsellors' that I really wouldn't trust with anyone. I
appreciate that having 'book learning' or whatever does not
automatically mean that the person can use it, but having none at all
certainly means the person can't use it.
> 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.
I think we need to recognise that the bodies that exist are composed of
therapists (Incidentally that is one of the major factors that define a
'profession' - that is, an internally regulated organisation). Would you
want none therapists telling us what we should and shouldn't do and
who should and shouldn't be qualified?
Life experience IS useful, but I have also known some people with life
experience who have been unable to move on from that experience and
use their 'counselling' as a way to vicariously attempt to 'treat'
themselves - again this is not all therapists that have experienced some
trauma and there are many that have used their own experiences to
great advantage in helping others. I would not 'condemn' those that do
and I would hope that others won't condemn those that seek a degree
level education just because others haven't.
I have to say that I disagree that 'too many therapists sit behind their
academic achievements without establishing contact' and that 'too many
course tutors give places purely on academic ability'. I think that it is
'negatively labelling' those with degree's to say that and seemingly
arguing that those who DON'T have degrees never sit behind their
diploma or fail to make contact. There is always a danger in
generalising anything - unless there has been research to confirm the
findings.
Universities - as with colleges - have a certain stanbdard for admission
to courses that has to be met. For my own course, as with many
others, this was a Diploma in Counselling. If this is 'academic ability'
then yes we do discriminate, the reason for this is that the course (as a
'top-up' degree) does not teach the skills of counselling. It assumes
that the candidate already has those from their previous training, it
seeks to further the student's knowledge and application of theory to
practise. Personally I would not like to see somebody that trained X
number of years ago and had not done any further training'education
since their initial training.
I accept your 'shopping list' of achievements (smile), but wonder why
you seem so dismissive of others with a similar 'shopping list'?
Best wishes
Paul Carney
Paul Carney
Senior Lecturer
School of Health & Social Science
Coventry University
Priory St
Coventry England CV1 5FB
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