Thanks Paul
I shall file away your formula for future reference. My wife says in two words what it takes me a couple of senteces to say, and it infuriates me that she is nine times out of ten bloody right :-)
Best
Gerald
-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Carney <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: 07 April 2003 18:01
Subject: Re: counselling young people
Well, it's like this Gerald. First I start with what I want to say. Then I think of what my wife would say about what I want to say (which would be somethng like "Typical 'academic' never uses one word where TEN will do!"). Then I think of how SHE would say it - and that's basically what I write (Unless I don't go through the above process!).
"G.F. Phillips" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
AH Paul
Before you retire, you must teach me how to put relevant comment into a nutshell :-) You've got it down to a fine art.
Kindest
Gerald
-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Carney <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: 07 April 2003 14:30
Subject: Re: counselling young people
Dear Mo
Just a few quick thoughts:
I wonder whether you are starting from the wrong premise? Perhaps if we first ask the question "Can counselling be 'informal'?" it might give us a clue.
As you might guess, my own belief is that counselling is a formal process deliberately undertaken with some aims or 'objectives' planned at the start. For me anytihing less than this would be 'support'. or some other interaction.
I do believe however, that the 'atmosphere' can be 'informal and, where children are concerned might need to be. However, even here there are difficulties insofar that it might depend upon what the purpose of the 'counselling' is - pre-trial work, for instance, would have to be very careful that it didn't 'tamper with the evidence'.
A second question that you might consider in relation to this study is whether the developmental age of the individual child would significantly alter the counselling relationship. I would suggest that it would have a very big effect, with the younger child being more 'concrete' in his/her thinking as opposed to the adolescent. Therefore, a 'pure' counselling approach might have to be more 'directive' with the younger child, which is where play therapy (for instance) has positive uses in that it bypasses the 'verbal needs' in communication.
Best wishes
Paul
http://www.traumatherapy.co.uk
http://www.traumatraining.com
Best wishes
Paul
http://www.traumatherapy.co.uk
http://www.traumatraining.com
