http://springhillgroupcounselling.com/2013/03/20/how-to-have-an-effective-counseling/
You don’t need a good counselor alone to make counseling effective, it’s a two way street. The person receiving the counseling needs to be cooperative because a good counselor couldn’t do his job if the person receiving the counseling wouldn’t participate. And it needs commitment to make complex changes in behavior or thinking patterns.
From the beginning you need to know your goal and what is it that you wanted to achieve with your counselor, it should be clearly defined before you even start. Plan a realistic time frame for reaching your goals with your counselor. And also it is important that you both agree on how you will measure your progress.
Though it is the counselors’ responsibility to gain your trust and build rapport, you have to do your part as well and be honest. It is very important that you and your counselor to establish a good relationship so that it will allow you to be completely honest about your thoughts and feelings. It is vital to built rapport because the situation often entails an elusive “chemistry” between both of you in which you feel comfortable with your counselor’s personality, approach and style. This is very important that if after few sessions you don’t feel this chemistry, look for another counselor with whom you feel more comfortable because that’s the first step of the effective results.
And if you are wondering hoe to tell if you have found an effective counselor here are some signs to spot.
An effective counselor can help identify the obstacles in your way but you are still in charge for making changes in your life. If you have power over these obstacles, a counselor can put forward behavioral changes to help you conquer them. Your counselor can coach you on coping mechanisms that will encourage your well being in trying circumstances if these obstructions entail factors out of your control.
An effective counselor can recognize off-putting thinking patterns that may be causing feelings of sadness, depression or anxiety. A counselor can help you develop a more optimistic attitude by encouraging you to build upon personal strengths and suggesting skills that can overcome self-inflicted feelings of hopelessness.
An effective counselor can help out in making positive changes in your relationships with others, helping you distinguish behaviors that possibly the causative to a troublesome relationship. Your counselor can educate you successful ways of communicating, clearing the way for honest exchanges with people in your life who might be the grounds of your emotional pain.
You can verify if your work with your counselor is effective if you start to get hold of your insights about your own thoughts and behaviors that may have eluded you before. In time, you should be able to be aware of patterns in the way you act, trace their sources and spot uncertain blocks to your happiness that you may have without knowing shaped. The outcome is personal growth that allows you to be in charge of your life and take pleasure in positive, life-affirming interactions with others.
Monday, March 25, 2013
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Christian counselor’s attempt to cure gay man was 'malpractice' - In The News - Springhill Group Counselling
http://inthenews.springhillgroupcounselling.com/2013/03/20/christian-counselors-attempt-to-cure-gay-man-was-malpractice/
A gay man was tried to be converted to become heterosexual, his Christian psychotherapist found guilty of professional misconduct.
Lesley Pilkington, a Christian psychotherapist, was condemned by the professional body for counselors subsequent to an undercover journalist posing as a patient furtively recorded her during a therapy session at her home.
British Association for Counseling and Psychotherapy (BACP) ruled that she had breached the profession’s ethical code despite finding that Mrs. Pilkington’s client, Patrick Strudwick, “deliberately misled her”.
She now affronts being chastised off the association’s widely renowned professional register and is considering an appeal.
Mrs Pilkington, 60, practises “reparative therapy”, a contentious method which assumes that homosexual orientation can be “therapeutically changed” in clients who are motivated.
Back in 2009, Mr Strudwick met Mrs Pilkington at a largely Christian conference on therapy of homosexuality. He told her he said he was unhappy with his gay lifestyle and that he wanted treatment for his same-sex attraction.
Mr. Strudwick recorded a session on a tape machine strapped to his stomach while he appeared to Mrs. Pilkington’s private practice, based at her home in Chorleywood, Herts, and
He collected evidences which he later used in a protest against Mrs. Pilkington to the BACP. A decision by the BACP panel was made but both sides were advised to treat the issue as confidential while Mrs. Pilkington considered whether to use her right to an appeal.
Mr. Strudwick wrote about the BACP’s decision for the Guardian newspaper while Mrs. Pilkington then issued her own press statement through the Christian Legal Centre, which is supporting her case. The BACP has refused to comment, stating that the process has not yet concluded.
The disciplinary panel described Mrs. Pilkington as “reckless”, “disrespectful”, “dogmatic” and “unprofessional” and ruled that her treatment of him constituted “professional malpractice”.
The ruling affirmed that her accreditation to the organization will be suspended at the same time she will be ordered to complete training. If she be unsuccessful to comply she will be forced off the register.
Mr. Strudwick said in his newspaper article, “I am an out, happily gay man. I was undercover, investigating therapists who practice this so-called conversion therapy (also known as reparative therapy) – who try to ‘pray away the gay’.
“I asked her to make me straight. Her attempts to do so flout the advice of every major mental-health body in Britain.”
Mr. Strudwick alleged that Mrs. Pilkington asked him whether he had been the victim of sexual abuse as a child and then prayed for God to “bring to the surface” his past suffering, and suggested he take up rugby.
The Christian Legal Centre released further excerpts from the ruling, which stated that “Mr. Strudwick was not open about his true intention” and “in significant ways deliberately misled” Mrs. Pilkington into believing that he was comfortable and accepting of her approach”.
This had the effect of “lulling Mrs. Pilkington into a false sense of security” in which he could “manipulate” the sessions “to meet his own agenda”.
Mrs. Pilkington said: “I am deeply concerned that the privileged and confidential relationship between a counselor and her patient will be undermined by a journalist seeking a sensationalist story without any substance.
“Reparative therapy is a valid therapy that many people want and it should not be damaged by irresponsible reporting. The hearing is still subject to an appeal.”
A gay man was tried to be converted to become heterosexual, his Christian psychotherapist found guilty of professional misconduct.
Lesley Pilkington, a Christian psychotherapist, was condemned by the professional body for counselors subsequent to an undercover journalist posing as a patient furtively recorded her during a therapy session at her home.
British Association for Counseling and Psychotherapy (BACP) ruled that she had breached the profession’s ethical code despite finding that Mrs. Pilkington’s client, Patrick Strudwick, “deliberately misled her”.
She now affronts being chastised off the association’s widely renowned professional register and is considering an appeal.
Mrs Pilkington, 60, practises “reparative therapy”, a contentious method which assumes that homosexual orientation can be “therapeutically changed” in clients who are motivated.
Back in 2009, Mr Strudwick met Mrs Pilkington at a largely Christian conference on therapy of homosexuality. He told her he said he was unhappy with his gay lifestyle and that he wanted treatment for his same-sex attraction.
Mr. Strudwick recorded a session on a tape machine strapped to his stomach while he appeared to Mrs. Pilkington’s private practice, based at her home in Chorleywood, Herts, and
He collected evidences which he later used in a protest against Mrs. Pilkington to the BACP. A decision by the BACP panel was made but both sides were advised to treat the issue as confidential while Mrs. Pilkington considered whether to use her right to an appeal.
Mr. Strudwick wrote about the BACP’s decision for the Guardian newspaper while Mrs. Pilkington then issued her own press statement through the Christian Legal Centre, which is supporting her case. The BACP has refused to comment, stating that the process has not yet concluded.
The disciplinary panel described Mrs. Pilkington as “reckless”, “disrespectful”, “dogmatic” and “unprofessional” and ruled that her treatment of him constituted “professional malpractice”.
The ruling affirmed that her accreditation to the organization will be suspended at the same time she will be ordered to complete training. If she be unsuccessful to comply she will be forced off the register.
Mr. Strudwick said in his newspaper article, “I am an out, happily gay man. I was undercover, investigating therapists who practice this so-called conversion therapy (also known as reparative therapy) – who try to ‘pray away the gay’.
“I asked her to make me straight. Her attempts to do so flout the advice of every major mental-health body in Britain.”
Mr. Strudwick alleged that Mrs. Pilkington asked him whether he had been the victim of sexual abuse as a child and then prayed for God to “bring to the surface” his past suffering, and suggested he take up rugby.
The Christian Legal Centre released further excerpts from the ruling, which stated that “Mr. Strudwick was not open about his true intention” and “in significant ways deliberately misled” Mrs. Pilkington into believing that he was comfortable and accepting of her approach”.
This had the effect of “lulling Mrs. Pilkington into a false sense of security” in which he could “manipulate” the sessions “to meet his own agenda”.
Mrs. Pilkington said: “I am deeply concerned that the privileged and confidential relationship between a counselor and her patient will be undermined by a journalist seeking a sensationalist story without any substance.
“Reparative therapy is a valid therapy that many people want and it should not be damaged by irresponsible reporting. The hearing is still subject to an appeal.”
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Universal Preschool, What High-Quality Education Really Means
http://inthenews.springhillgroupcounselling.com/2013/03/08/universal-preschool-what-high-quality-education-really-means/
“Make high-quality preschool available to every child in America”, says President Obama in his recent State of the Union Address. This proposal he referred to research that has demonstrated long term positive effects of attending high-quality preschool programs. The early childhood community got excited in President Obama’s support. And it seems like a very good proposal, expanding a high-quality preschool opportunities, what could go wrong? But the question is “What does “high-quality” mean in practice?”
According to educators and economists “high-quality” preschools means teachers are adequately paid, facilities are adequate, and the ratio of staff to children is low. Those mentioned are really significant elements of quality and if not achieved there could be serious problems. In reality, high-quality is otherwise as preschool educators are often very poorly paid, poorly educated themselves, and lack decent facilities. The low salaries results to a bad quality and poor performance of the teachers. So this proposal for ensuring universal access to high-quality preschools is aiming high for current preschoolers are already struggling with quality and funding issues.
Aside from money matters, there is a question raised about how preschool programs should be structured. Compare to no preschool there are a lot of advantages of high-quality preschool. And although there are a lot of researches supporting the latter, there is fewer research showing different benefits of different preschool approaches.
By means of standard preschool teaching methods the Preschool Curriculum Effectiveness Research initiative weigh against a number of promising approaches to each other and to groups. You can see the results summarized review on the Best Evidence Encyclopedia. And consequently only a small number of programs illustrated child outcomes superior to those achieved by other programs, by the end of kindergarten. The best outcomes for children are planned programs that mainly focused on language and emergent literacy, giving children many opportunities to use language to work together, solve challenges, and develop positive relationships with each other.
Nowadays, early childhood education has also evolved in many ways such as technology has so far played a modest role in it, but this may change as multimedia devices become more commonly used. Children cannot be technologically late, they must understand how the world works, and technology offers opportunities for teachers to enhance language development by engaging children with brief content that helps them to do so. They can watch videos on DVD and educational television, things like that helps.
But this doesn’t mean that technology has to replace the early childhood learning although it may help adding the capacity for teachers to show anything they want to their children and to link to the home in ways that have not been possible in the past, and this may result in enhanced learning at this critical age, they still have to manipulate and learn from real objects. They have to learn to work with each other, sing songs, develop coordination and creativity, and practice appropriate behaviors.
In general, the proposal was a terrific idea, expanding preschool access would really help children’s education but sure thing is it will take a lot of money and time to get in order. This will be a great help more especially to unfortunate children and if they want to go further in this project then they should motivate immediately.
“Make high-quality preschool available to every child in America”, says President Obama in his recent State of the Union Address. This proposal he referred to research that has demonstrated long term positive effects of attending high-quality preschool programs. The early childhood community got excited in President Obama’s support. And it seems like a very good proposal, expanding a high-quality preschool opportunities, what could go wrong? But the question is “What does “high-quality” mean in practice?”
According to educators and economists “high-quality” preschools means teachers are adequately paid, facilities are adequate, and the ratio of staff to children is low. Those mentioned are really significant elements of quality and if not achieved there could be serious problems. In reality, high-quality is otherwise as preschool educators are often very poorly paid, poorly educated themselves, and lack decent facilities. The low salaries results to a bad quality and poor performance of the teachers. So this proposal for ensuring universal access to high-quality preschools is aiming high for current preschoolers are already struggling with quality and funding issues.
Aside from money matters, there is a question raised about how preschool programs should be structured. Compare to no preschool there are a lot of advantages of high-quality preschool. And although there are a lot of researches supporting the latter, there is fewer research showing different benefits of different preschool approaches.
By means of standard preschool teaching methods the Preschool Curriculum Effectiveness Research initiative weigh against a number of promising approaches to each other and to groups. You can see the results summarized review on the Best Evidence Encyclopedia. And consequently only a small number of programs illustrated child outcomes superior to those achieved by other programs, by the end of kindergarten. The best outcomes for children are planned programs that mainly focused on language and emergent literacy, giving children many opportunities to use language to work together, solve challenges, and develop positive relationships with each other.
Nowadays, early childhood education has also evolved in many ways such as technology has so far played a modest role in it, but this may change as multimedia devices become more commonly used. Children cannot be technologically late, they must understand how the world works, and technology offers opportunities for teachers to enhance language development by engaging children with brief content that helps them to do so. They can watch videos on DVD and educational television, things like that helps.
But this doesn’t mean that technology has to replace the early childhood learning although it may help adding the capacity for teachers to show anything they want to their children and to link to the home in ways that have not been possible in the past, and this may result in enhanced learning at this critical age, they still have to manipulate and learn from real objects. They have to learn to work with each other, sing songs, develop coordination and creativity, and practice appropriate behaviors.
In general, the proposal was a terrific idea, expanding preschool access would really help children’s education but sure thing is it will take a lot of money and time to get in order. This will be a great help more especially to unfortunate children and if they want to go further in this project then they should motivate immediately.
Friday, March 8, 2013
Universal Preschool: Use Innovation and Evidence to Make it Effective
In his recent State of the Union Address, President Obama proposed to "make high-quality preschool available to every child in America." He referred to research that has demonstrated long term positive effects of attending high-quality preschool programs. President Obama's support has excited the early childhood community. Who could be opposed to expanding high-quality preschool opportunities? Yet this begs the question: What does "high-quality" mean in practice?
"High-quality" preschools are often defined by educators and economists alike as ones in which teachers are adequately paid, facilities are adequate, and the ratio of staff to children is low. These are indeed important elements of quality and they are serious problems, as preschool educators are often very poorly paid, poorly educated themselves, and lack decent facilities. The low salaries received by preschool teachers leads to a high turnover rate, which also reduces quality. So ensuring universal access to high-quality preschools when many current preschoolers are already struggling with quality and funding issues will be a heavy lift.
Leaving aside money issues, however, there is an important question about how preschool programs should be structured. There is lots of research showing the benefits of high-quality preschool in comparison to no preschool (as in the famous Perry Preschool and Abecedarianprograms). However, there is far less research showing different benefits of different preschool approaches.
The Preschool Curriculum Effectiveness Research initiative compared a number of promising approaches to each other and to groups using standard preschool teaching methods. The results are summarized in a review on the Best Evidence Encyclopedia. By the end of kindergarten, only a few of the programs showed child outcomes superior to those achieved by other programs. Structured programs that had a very strong focus on language and emergent literacy, giving children many opportunities to use language to work together, solve challenges, and develop positive relationships with each other, had the best outcomes for children.
Technology has so far played a modest role in early childhood education, but this may change as multimedia devices (such as interactive whiteboards) become more commonly used. Technology offers opportunities for teachers to enhance language development by engaging children with brief content that helps them understand how the world works. For example, children learning about health can see videos on how the body works and can be provided with video models of how to stay safe and healthy. Children can make choices and manipulate pictures and videos representing objects and processes. Further, classroom technology allows for linkages with the home, as parents increasingly have computers, DVDs, and other media available. Children can be shown exciting content in school and then take home DVDs or link electronically to specific materials that closely align with the content they learned that day. These electronic activities can be designed to be done with parents and children together, and can then inform parents about what children are learning in school. Also, in high-poverty homes children often have few if any books. Existing DVD or internet technologies can provide children with access to appropriate literature, which can be read to them by narrators or by their parents or older siblings.
Of course, technology will not replace the majority of early childhood teaching. Young children still need to manipulate real objects and learn to work with each other, sing songs, develop coordination and creativity, and practice appropriate behaviors. However, technology may add the capacity for teachers to show anything they want to their children and to link to the home in ways that have not been possible in the past, and this may result in enhanced learning at this critical age.
Expanding preschool access is a terrific idea, but it will take a lot of money and a long time to put into place. The possibility that it may take place should motivate immediate investments in innovation and evaluation, to develop new ways of ensuring that early education leads to enhanced preparation for success, especially for disadvantaged children.
Preschool quality should not just be seen as a question of per-pupil cost. Preschool educators and children need innovative, proven models that use modern teaching strategies and technologies that are appropriate to the developmental needs of four-year-olds. Innovation and research is needed to show the way as we head toward universal preschool.
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