Counselling and the dislocation of representation and reality

Counselling theories have typically assumed a nomenclaturist view of language. This has been subject to increasing criticism in this century. Two alternative views of language and reality to nomenclaturism are discussed as a basis for post-modern therapeutic practice. It is argued that a post-modem view of counselling should recognise both the value and limitations of language, and in doing so should recognise the value and limitations of counselling as a means of therapy.