Why personal counselling of students is not necessary

One of the many myths* that grew up in the field of counselling and psychotherapy is that practitioners need to undergo many hours of being counselled themselves to become good at it. We are very clear about this ‘requirement’.

Extensive research shows conclusively that therapists who have received personal counselling are not made more effective by the experience.(1)

Moreover, the type of counselling that trainee counsellors and psychotherapists are often required to undergo, if it is excessively emotionally arousing, can actually be harmful to them.(2) (Some people undergoing long-term therapy value it because they are getting their attention needs met through it, but this is a different issue.)

People only need counselling or psychotherapy when their lives aren’t working. Just as we only need to take medicine when we are ill – and then in the right quantity and at the right time from someone who really understands our condition.

Research from various sources has also established that much counselling and psychotherapy training has a detrimental effect, both on the trainees and the distressed members of the public they would like to help.(3) (This is rarely acknowledged by academic organisations offering such courses.) Instead of lifting depression, for example, some counsellors may inadvertantly deepen it (antidepressant bills often rise in surgeries that employ counsellors).(4,5)

Instead of defusing traumatic responses, counsellors can make them more incapacitating (albeit unintentionally). And, instead of teaching missing social skills that enable people to move on with their lives, some therapists disempower and further depress people with the psychological archaeology they indulge in. Some clients are so disappointed with their treatment that they never return after the first session, while others, vulnerable and easily indoctrinated, become dependent on the attention they get from their counsellor.

Naturally there is a growing tide of dissatisfaction with this state of affairs. In our increasingly litigious society, it is even possible that counsellors and psychotherapists will be successfully sued in the courts (as already happens in America) for using inappropriate counselling techniques with anxious, depressed, angry, traumatised or addicted people. This is because the research findings (6,7) are so clear and unambiguous. Effective counselling can be demonstrated. Harmful therapy and counselling can be clearly defined.

The Human Givens Diploma and MA courses were created to help move the field of counselling and psychotherapy away from idealogies and bring it more into line with scientific discoveries about the mind/body system.

* The common myths around psychology, counselling and psychotherapy are explored in depth at the MindFields seminar How to do effective counselling.

REFERENCES:

1. Russell, R. (1993). Report on Effective Psychotherapy: legislative testimony, Hilgarth Press. Later endorsed by the American Psychological Association. See also: Dr. Daniel B. Hogan’s The Regulation of Psychotherapists, in four volumes (Ballinger).

2. Griffin, J. & Tyrrell, I. (1999). Breaking the Cycle of Depression. Organising Ideas Monograph, ETSI.

3. Dineen, T. (1996). Manufacturing Victims: what the psychology industry is doing to people. Robert Davis Publishing.

4. Fletcher, J., Fahey, T. & McWilliams, J. (1995). Relationship between provision of counselling and the prescribing of antidepressants, hypnotics and anxiolytics in general practical. British Journal of General Practice. 45, 467–9.

5. Sibbald, B., Addington-Hall, J., Brennemon, D. & Freeling, P. (1996). Investigation of whether on site general practice counsellors have an impact on psychotropic prescribing rates and costs. British Journal of General Practice, 65, 63–7.

6. Danton, W., Antonuccio, D. & DeNelsky, G. (1995). Depression: psychotherapy is the best medicine. Professional Psychology Research and Practice, 26, 574.

7. Danton, W., Antonuccio, D. & Rosenthal, Z. (1997). No need to panic. The Therapist, Vol 4, No. 4.

VIEW:
> All Seminars
> All Workshops  
> The Human Givens Diploma Course

Return to top

© MindFields College 2010 | Website Design by iSOS