Mo, there is very good evidence to suggest that human communication is mostly non-verbal (as much as 97% by some academically respectable estimates). We also know that context is massively relevant to message transfer. I leave the BACPS issues to you, as these are not directly relevant to young people's perceptions, but would answer from my experience that
a) counselling for young people is greatly affected by its context, including setting, degree of formality, appearance of counsellor, responsiveness of counsellor to verbal and non-verbal cues, smell of counsellor (a vegetarian child can tell if you are not vegetarian quite easily), tone of voice etc.
b) it is not so much a matter of whether or not young people are attracted or discouraged by formality, but what about formality attracts of discourages them, as gaining insight into that may be part of enabling them to answer problems that beset them.
c) a formal contract is not necessarily a part of the counselling process. The skilled practitioner should be able to achieve that separation quite readily.
I find working through play, especially story based journeys through aspects of life very helpful in sharing understandings that children and young people may find difficult to put into a public space. Understanding the play cues of the child or young person is crucial to the constrructive involvement of the counsellor.
But then, I am a playworker, an anarchic force in any situation involving seriousness. I may be entirely the wrong person to respond to you.
Stephen Rennie, Leeds Metropolitan University
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mo Wilson [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Monday, April 07, 2003 1:02 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: counselling young people
>
> I'm doing research into young people's perceptions of counselling and
> the question arises as to whether counselling undertaken in an informal
> setting still meets the standards required by BACPS for example - a
> soundproof, quiet and secure room different from the teaching
> environment, is specified in the new Counselling in Schools guidance.
>
> More specifically, is counselling for young people affected by its
> context, the setting, formality etc.
>
> Are young people discouraged from seeking counselling because of the
> formality and if so how
> can this become different and more attractive to young people and still
> conform to BACP guidelines?
>
> Can informal counselling still be the subject of formal contract and
> remain informal?
>
> What are people's experiences of working with young people and offering
> a more informal
> setting?
>
> Thank you
>
> Mo Wilson
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