Following the thread of the intelleigence levels counsellors I have copied
a snippet from a paper I wrote on this and you might find it interesting
follows:...........
Student selection continues through the interview although interview
processes will vary between institutions, but Mcleod, (1995) suggests that
all candidates ideally should possess generic competencies that can be
enhanced through counsellor training, such as:
· the ability to listen,
· to be able to respond appropriately in conversation,
· have benevolent attitudes and beliefs.
Training cannot supply what does not exist in the first place. It can only
refine and mature what Safinofsky (1979, P 195) says are basic qualities,
which the potential candidate for counselling training must already, possess
and according to Safinofsky these are: concern, compassion, intelligence and
sensitivity.
The interview process, not a therapy session, is set out to evaluate the
qualities mentioned above. Empathy and self-awareness which, it is said,
enables counsellors to listen and to reflect on their own inner feelings and
thoughts and acts as a good indication that they can apply this to listening
to those of others. (Reik, 1948).
The interview is purposely challenging; it assesses the candidate's ability
to function under pressure. To function well under such pressure candidates
must have a degree of emotional well being, so that they can in practice,
distinguish their own issues from those of their clients. To be able to
develop a 'free floating attention' without personal intrusions from their
own internal world and to be able to keep their own emotional world separate
to that of their clients, (Wheeler, 1996). The interview also sets out to
assess the potential candidate's ability to undertake academic study and make
use of a theoretical base. It needs to make the candidate aware of the
implications of training including the stresses that it may put on their
domestic life and amke them aware of the financial constraints that such
training can impose; to establish that the course has not been chosen solely
for personal developmental needs; that the candidate has some knowledge of
the meaning of personal growth and this in turn indicates whether the course
has been chosen for a career in counselling; and that it has been purposely
chosen for its own orientation, (Wheeler, 1996). Coltart (1998) concludes
that the way in which people relate to their own histories informs the
interviewee about their 'psychological mindfulness' (Wheeler 1996 p 37).
Therefore the interviewers need to be skilled clinicians as well as skilled
educators.
Selection process
The aim of the selection process is to ensure that all candidates have the
best possible chance of completing the course. This has to benefit student
retention and course appraisal through accreditation procedures. Although
the selection of candidates largely depends on those who are doing the
selecting.
and so on.....
Intelleigence is a necessity but I did not examine how this is assessed.
Diana
Diana Goss MSc.
UKCP Registered Psychotherapist
BACP Registered Counsellor
UKRC Registered independent practitioner
BASRT Registered Psychosexual and Relationship Psychotherapist
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