Counsellors and counselled

Press, 13 February 1982, Page 17

Counsellors and counselled

A Time to Talk: Counsellor and Counselled. Edited by Felix Donnelly. George Allen and Unwin, 1981. 266 pp. $19.95 (paperback $11.95). (Reviewed by Ralf Unger)

Donnelly, besides editing'this collection of contributions by well-known New Zealand counsellors, contributes four sections which are distinguished by his usual thoughtful, philosophical, but easily communicating, talkback style. Some of the others simply describe the work of their agency, without in the process adding to the reader’s knowledge of counselling as such.

Within the social welfare and health fields one sometimes gets the impression that half the population require,some sort of counselling to assist them in life stresses of varying severity, and the other half -wish to be counsellors in either a voluntary or professional capacity. During this last 20 years, there has been a great deal of experimentation and change, from the non-directive approach satirised as the counsellor being a passive sponge, to more active techniques of self-expression

and direction which are described by the various practitioners. Side-shoots show marked eccentricities, such as sensual massage, primal cry therapy, and the EST techniques of tearing down a person’s defences by attacking their weaknesses.

Donnelly introduces thumbnail sketches of various techniques and pares away their embellishments to their essential core. Two student counsellors discuss New Zealand as an anxious society, and the use of learning theory and scientific psychology in an approach to their clients.

“Homework," that is; practising what they have discussed, is an essential aspect of this. Thoroughout, the counsellors look at themselves honestly as to why they are so involved, and the distortions this can lead to.

Other sections include a discussion of the importance of the times we live in; unemployment and change of vocations are not neglected, nor the casualties of the system who go through a “grief reaction” at finding themselves unable to obtain a position- and hating themselves as a consequence. Pregnancy as a crisis in some lives requiring resolution in abortion, or adjustment to a future present or . absent child, deserves a section, and Jesus as the “Master Counsellor" is covered by a medical counsellor.

Suicide and cries for help by telephone become another specialised group as do Pacific Islanders and Maori counselling. Donna Awatere has a short, stimulating outburst against humanistic and behaviouristic traditions in psychology which neglect the fact that they are all, according to her, instruments of social control to fit a person to a sick system. Finally. Dr Donnelly sums up the possible future of counselling which he sees as optimistic, with highly skilled, wellsupervised individuals knowing w r hat they are doing and measuring the results.

This is an important book historically for the stage of social services in New Zealand, fairly covered and putting the whole scene into perspective without pots of gold at the end of the rainbow promised to potential clients, or mysteries of soothsaying to the trainee counsellor.