Actually, Paul, I agree with most of your points. I was commenting of
falling numbers generally, it was not meant as any reflection on your
particular course. But...try negotiating with some employers to that you
want to reduce your hours to 4.5 days for a year and a bit.
Yours in obvious frustration,
Ian.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Discussion on theoretical and research issues in counselling
> psychology [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Paul Carney
> Sent: 14 June 2001 07:27
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Discontinuation of course
>
>
> Dear Ian
>
> I am not entirely in disagreement with your comments. However, here
> are a few 'oppositional points':
>
> > 'cos: (1) It's bloody expensive,
>
> The BSc Counselling that we developed here was actually cheaper than
> many Diploma courses.
>
> > (2) you can't work full time and do a day-time course
>
> The course only required attendance on one afternoon a week for the
> first year and one term of the second year - the rest of the course was
> taught in the evening.
>
>
> > (3)In London, the damn centres are virtually impossible to get to if >
> you don't live in North London
>
> Ours wasn't in London. 8-)
>
> > (4) because academia seems to be committed to making it a graduate-
> > only profession
>
> I'm in partial disagreement on this one in so far that I think you are
> saying that you don't see the necessity for this? I know of some very
> good Diploma's around the country - and some less than good. I don't
> think that it would be either 'good' or 'bad' for it to be a 'graduate
> profession'. Our degree was a two-year 'Top-Up' degree, which (in
> effect) 'converted' a students Diploma into an honours degree and
> acted as a 'bridge' for those that might want to go on to study for a
> Masters, but hadn't the 'academic' preparation.
>
> > (5) because the NHS only likes CBT, so it is difficult to
> making a living
>
> I think that the NHS are (as usual) 'strapped for cash' and therefore like
> to see therapies etc that have 'speedy' outcomes. Those of us in this
> line of work know that's not the most satisfactory answer, or even that
> simple. But without being able to argue our corner we have no reason
> to expect others to listen to us.
>
> We developed our course as a 'BSc' because it was (and still is) my
> belief that we, as therapists, needed to become more research aware,
> and that merely saying "It works" without being able to offer evidence
> wasn't good enough. This isn't a prerogative of 'academia' or 'graduate
> professions'; however, IMHO, there are too few Diploma courses that
> pay more than 'lip service' to the need for evidence based practice. It is
> only when we have THAT, that we can then say that CBT is not the
> only answer, and for some cases may not be the 'best'.
>
> > (friend of mine made a grand total of £3500 last year).
>
> No argument with that. 8-)
>
>
> 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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