Tutors’ stories of personal development training – attempting to maximize the learning potential

This paper uses a narrative approach to examine some of the dilemmas that counselling trainers face when designing and running personal development activities as part of a Diploma in Counselling training programme. The research emerges from a focus group discussion by the tutors involved in piloting and evaluating an experimental personal development training programme. The themes examined include: the strengths and weaknesses of unstructured group work; whether structured activities helped quieter members to participate and learn more; how trainers can evaluate and assess students learning in relation to personal development in order to maximize student learning potential. The aim is to invite debate and further re‐tellings from other counselling trainers and practitioners in the field.     

A Design for First Line Supervisory Training In Manpower Agencies

This article describes a training program to increase supervisory skills in manpower agencies. Supervisors taking part in this program were employed by a state manpower agency in Maryland and trainers were university faculty in rehabilitation counselor education. Reading material and structured assignments combining cognitive and affective material were given, but there was much freedom within the program for participant feedback. Some of these suggestions were used to revise the program as it progressed. Affective activities employed included relaxation, guided fantasy, role playing, and microcounseling. Participants' reactions ranged from satisfaction with the useful skills provided to resentment at the selection method for the training and the time involved, which made further progress impossible. The majority of the participants suggested recommendations for further training of this nature.     

The relationship between father absence and children's social problem solving competencies

Predictions of deficits in children's social problem-solving competencies due to early and continuing father absence were investigated. To test these predictions, equal numbers of father-present and father-absent third graders matched on a number of variables were assessed on measures of social problem-solving performance. In Phase 2 of the study, half of the children from the father-absent category received a 15 week intervention programme which was conducted by adult male trainers to provide structured practice in social problem solving. Results demonstrated that father-absent treatment subjects, compared to father-absent control subjects, improved their social problem-solving skills significantly. Despite improvement due to intervention, social problem-solving scores for father-absent treatment subjects were still below those for father-present control subjects. Educational and developmental implications of the findings were discussed.     

The stresses of learning counselling: Six recent graduates comment on their personal experience of learning counselling and what can be done to reduce associated harm

This paper presents research that examines the negative and stressful aspects of learning counselling and methods for harm reduction. Using an in-depth semi-structured interviewing approach, six people who recently graduated from a UK university counselling programme have commented on their negative experiences of learning counselling and what helped or would have helped to reduce the harmful effects. This research has produced information which indicates that counselling trainees experience significant disruptions in their relationships with their family and friends; that a sizeable number of trainees report feelings of depression and or stress; and that counselling trainers have not addressed these issues effectively. The study concludes with a suggestion that an extra training component could be built into existing training frameworks that focus on the process of 'becoming a counsellor'.     

Transforming school ensemble instruction through spiritually informed teaching practices

The transformative experiences that could be central to learning are curiously absent from American school music education. Students are motivated through competition and the goal of most programmes is flawless large ensemble performance. This paper describes a music programme in which the daily instructional practices have been modified and influenced by an outreach programme in which the students taught socially and economically challenged children of similar age. This programme was developed by a teacher with a deep sense of faith. His spiritually informed teaching practices emphasise the same principles of social justice espoused by secular educational philosophers. Parallels between spiritual and educational philosophies and a discussion of the transformations experienced by students conclude the paper.     

Family therapy training research: systems model and review

This paper proposes that a systems approach to the organization of family therapy training courses would be advantageous to trainers and researchers alike. A family therapy training programme development model is outlined. Using the stages of this model as a framework, the research into family therapy training is reviewed. The field still remains in its infancy and the quantity of research is relatively sparse. Developments have, however, been made and these auger well for the future.     

Some thoughts on counsellor training

The main object of counsellor training is to help trainees to offer an effective counselling relationship. It is suggested that this requires three main training elements: personal, practical, and academic. Ways in which the personal development of trainees may be fostered include individual support counselling and a weekly encounter group session. While constructive feedback is necessary, a minimum of evaluation is suggested so that the trainee can feel safe and free to explore himself. Pre-placement training focused on empathic understanding is considered essential before the trainee is allowed to embark upon supervised placement, and a programme of practical work training is outlined. Reasons for including academic work are also discussed, and appropriate academic content is suggested. Finally, the problem of obtaining suitably qualified trainers is considered, along with the desirability of trainers continuing to counsel, and the need for adequate administrative support for training programmes.     

What makes a good counsellor? An analysis of ways in which counsellor trainers construe good and bad counselling trainees

As part of an investigation into criteria used by counsellor trainers to distinguish between good and bad students of counselling, experienced counsellor trainers were asked to complete a repertory grid. Each trainer was asked to list five good counsellor trainees and five not so good or bad counselling trainees they had worked with, as elements for the grid. Repertory grid forms were provided by the researcher with spaces for ten constructs which were elicited from the trainers in the standard triadic manner. For each elicited construct subjects were asked to rate each trainee on a five point scale. Twenty-seven correctly completed grids were collected. The 262 constructs elicited were conflated into 22 semantically similar categories by the researcher and independent raters. The data was subjected to statistical analysis using the Statistical Package for the Social Services (SPSS). Overall the constructs that were most frequently used in describing trainees were open-closed, personable/aloof, secure-insecure, professionally skilled-unskilled. The mean differences for scores of good and bad trainees for each of the 22 conflated constructs were calculated. The greatest mean difference related to professional competence. The 22 conflated constructs were subsumed into three categories, and the mean of the difference between ratings for good and bad trainees within each category was calculated. Counselling related competence showed the greatest mean difference. Implications for counselling course curricula and the selection and assessment of counsellor trainees are discussed.     

Ethics, Engineers and Drama

This paper describes four plays which illustrate ethical themes relevant to engineers and which could be used as a resource for engineers who wish to explore ethical topics and their relationship with professional practice. The plays themselves have been chosen because a character in the play is involved in engineering activities. Each play is analysed to highlight some of the ethical issues the play raises. Often ethical topics are presented in abstract terms but the plays relate ethical issues to individuals and individual actions in specific situations that connect either directly or figuratively to practical situations engineers find themselves in. The paper describes how the resources have or could be used in an educational programme.     

Assessing therapeutic problem solving skills: Empirical analysis of a measuring operation

Employment of caregivers as trainers is an imperative in the training and treatment of mentally retarded persons. Besides being taught specific behavior modification skills, these paraprofessional trainers have to obtain a set of general skills in order to adjust their specific skills to new clients, situations, and behaviors across time. Empirical research on the characteristics of therapeutic problem-solving skills are scarce. This may be due to a reluctance of behavior researchers against including cognitive factors in the analysis of behavior influence. However, the development of basic knowledge on the existence of therapeutic problem-solving skills should be one of the primary research goals. This article describes the development and application of four scales assumed to be representative of an important set of general skills—therapeutic problem-solving skills. By means of these four scales 21 caregivers were evaluated before and after extensive training. A multifaceted measuring operation is employed with the main objective of empirically testing the dimensionality of problem-solving skills. Rater consistency and individual differences in change from pre- to post-training level are also uncovered. It is concluded that the four scales of therapeutic skills, largely reflect the same underlying concept of a rather general therapeutic problem-solving skill. Discussion of the findings also pointed to future research.     

The role of counselling in community support for HIV/AIDS in uganda

HIV/AIDS counselling in medical related programmes focuses upon pre- and post-test counselling. The MRC programme in rural Uganda, a high prevalence area, began with pre- and post-test counselling, but as it was a community based programme this was not found to be adequate. As the programme developed, the counselling service became a way of strengthening the community to withstand the effects of HIV/AIDS. The paper describes the de-centralization of the counselling Programme from a medical centre to community centres. To monitor and evaluate the programme a set of quantitative and qualitative indicators were developed, these are introduced and discussed.     

Does theoretical background influence therapists' attitudes to therapist self‐disclosure? A qualitative study

Aims: This study investigated therapists' attitudes towards therapist self‐disclosure over different theoretical orientations and to establish how classical theoretical background and training effected and informed practice. Classical theoretical background was intended to refer to traditional Psychodynamic understanding. Method: Participants were experienced therapists drawn from four groups by a recruitment screening measure. Three groups were from the students’ cohort within a university Masters programme in Psychological Therapies. Participants were practicing from CBT, Systemic and Psychodynamic orientations. A further group was drawn from Person‐Centred therapist/trainers at a further education College. Data was gathered using focus groups and analysed using thematic analysis. Findings: Three major and one lesser theme emerged. These revealed that there was a spectrum of willingness to disclose throughout all groups, classical training influenced all participants; total restriction of TSD was impracticable and attitudes were affected by concerns for the therapeutic relationship. Implications for practice: TSD needs to be more thoroughly explored within therapy training and supervision. A structured framework could help inform practice. Conclusions: The study supported the idea that Classical Training influenced TSD.     

Training of practitioners and beliefs about family skills in family-based prevention programmes

To ensure close adherence to the contents of a family-based cognitive-behavioural programme, and maintain a high standard of quality in its implementation, it is important that practitioners’ attitudes and beliefs regarding family skills coincide with those of the programme. This paper describes and analyses (observed) potential changes in these beliefs, after training courses held prior to the application of a prevention programme for families: the Family Competence Programme. A questionnaire was devised to examine practitioners’ beliefs regarding family skills; and completed both before and after the training course. The results point to significant changes in family dynamics, realistic expectations and active listening. Thus, it can be demonstrated that preliminary training courses promote practitioner attitudes and beliefs which are more coherent with a subsequent programme’s approach.     

Putting personal growth into an occupational psychology curriculum

This paper outlines an alternative approach to curriculum design in higher education focusing in particular on the introduction of personal growth into the programme, and on facilitating the selection by students of the optimal choice of options. It is argued that models of curriculum design need to take cognizance of at least four interested parties; and that in the resolutions of their divergent interests, curriculum designers must make clear their most potent values, as well as their theories and assumptions about the nature of learning. A brief outline follows of two courses based upon these propositions. Finally, evaluations by both trainers and students involved in these courses are presented.     

How person-centred counselling trainers understand and experience their role in the current British context

This article reports the findings of a qualitative study into the experience of person-centred training from the viewpoint of the trainer. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was the adopted approach. The researcher conducted a series of in-depth semi-structured interviews with five person-centred trainers with experience across a range of settings. The findings demonstrate the commitment of person-centred trainers to a relational approach with the facilitation of individual potential at its heart. The intrinsically rewarding nature of the role is highlighted alongside its substantial demands. Participants demonstrated a primary identification with themselves as counsellor trainers rather than academics and some lack of reconciliation with current developments within counselling.     

Influence of paper color and a monetary incentive on response rate

This study examined whether survey response rate differed based on the color of the paper the survey was printed on (blue vs green) and presence of a monetary incentive. A 4-page survey on eating disorders was mailed to Division 1A and 1AA college head athletic trainers (N=223) with half of the surveys on blue paper and half on green paper. Half of the athletic trainers (n = 111) received a $1.00 monetary incentive, and half (n = 112) received no monetary incentive. A total of 166 (71%) athletic trainers returned completed surveys. Response rates did not differ based on survey color but did differ based on presence of a monetary incentive. Athletic trainers who received a monetary incentive were significantly more likely than those who did not to return completed surveys (86% vs 63%, respectively).     

Training for institutional change

If counselors are going to perform functions different from dyadic therapeutic counseling, institutions preparing counselors must change the context and processes of their programs. Assisting an individual to change is difficult; intervention for institutional change is infinitely complex. Yet many of the concepts and skills are the same for both. Dustin describes the procedures he has used to equip counselors to utilize the basic principles of change with an organization as a target. Other trainers may use other methods in this relatively new extension of counselor functioning; what is clear, however, is the need for new training models if our goals of creating humane environments is to be reached.     

Tender feet and high stepping: Soring in the Tennessee walking horse industry

This paper focuses on the role relationships between owners, trainers, judges, and federal inspectors in the Tennessee walking horse industry and the accommodations they reach in responding to pressures each places on the others. The paper deals with the practice of soring, or blistering, to alter the gait of the animal and its continued practice despite outcry from humane groups, other horsemen, and the federal government. Trainers are subjected to enormous pressures to win, which means they believe they must “sore” their animals. Because this practice is illegal, they must act in a manner contrary to legal mandates while giving firm lip service to supporting antisoring guidelines.

The study method involved unfocused interviews with 4 U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors, 14 trainers, and 8 owners. No notes or recording material of any kind were present during the interviews, although notes were committed to paper immediately afterward. Because the first author has been a horseman for some years, he approached the trainers, the jargon of horsemen being unfamiliar to the general public. Other interviews and trade journals were gleaned by both authors.     

Psychoanalytic observation in community and primary health care education

Summary

This paper describes a psychoanalytic observation seminar that was set up as part of an MA in Community and Primary Health Care programme. The seminar was intended for senior professionals outside psychotherapy trainings, drawn from the health and social-care fields. The author outlines the way in which a conventional infant-observation model was adapted for this group, enabling the students to observe both individual subjects and also diverse primary-health and community-care settings. The advantages of such a learning experience are discussed; and also the inevitable anxieties stirred by it. Several examples of observations are provided, showing how students were helped to negotiate and explore challenging primary-health and community-care settings.     

“Being human”: A grounded theory approach to exploring how trainers on clinical psychology doctorate programmes decide whether or not to disclose personal experiences of psychological distress to clinical psychology doctorate trainees

Objective

Recent research and guidelines recommend that trainers on clinical psychology doctorate training programmes consider disclosing personal experiences of psychological distress to trainees. Disclosure is thought to promote cultures of openness, validate and normalise trainee distress, encourage trainee disclosure and help-seeking and challenge stigmatising narratives. However, little is known about how trainers decide whether, what or how to disclose. This study aims to address that gap by exploring the processes and factors involved in trainers deciding whether or not to disclose personal experiences of psychological distress to trainees, generating findings of relevance across counselling, psychotherapy and psychology training courses.

Methods

In-depth interviews were conducted with nine trainers on UK clinical psychology doctorate programmes from around the country and analysed in accordance with constructivist grounded theory methods.

Results

Findings indicated that participants valued disclosure personally and professionally but were wary of the dangers of disclosure. Disclosure decisions were made by judging the context against internally held criteria. If criteria were not met, then disclosures were not made. Outcomes, whether positive or negative, served to reinforce the value of disclosure and the importance of managing risks, creating a positive feedback loop.

Conclusions

The findings of this study suggest factors that are important for trainers to consider when deciding whether or not to disclose. The six-factor framework developed may be useful for trainers to consider within reflective practice, supervision or during guided self-reflection in order to make safe, helpful and ethical decisions.