Walking Feet
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Normed Testing in Counselling Diatribe
Here is a statement of one of my guiding principles in my counselling practice. If you want to be entertained, don't bother reading it. If you are curious about what counsellors obsess about, this is one item that you can put your collection. If you want to know more about testing in counsellling, this may be the nugget you've lived for.
I have an admitted bias against quantifying soft psychological constructs in the counselling process. I feel that quantifying parts of a person, for example interests, can raise barriers to integration of identity and locus of control. It is for this reason that I feel ambivalent. Although it may seem like a minor distinction, this is not the same as a bias against the tools themselves. I use the tools often because most clients I see espouse value in getting this feedback. Sometimes the tool fills a desire for a concrete outcome such as a written report, and sometimes we are convinced that the tool simply is the best source of information to help inform a decision about livelihood. I want to believe that the client and I work with whatever motivations he/she comes with, not whatever method I have least ambivalence. Most clients I see indicate an interest in a "test" at some point. While I do use the the tools I most concerned whether he or she has a critical perspective when the client leaves with the results.
In spite of my concern about locus of control and integration of identity, most people who do normed vocational tests find that she or he is affirmed which I'm thinking is about as far away from disintegrated identity as you can get.
I have an admitted bias against quantifying soft psychological constructs in the counselling process. I feel that quantifying parts of a person, for example interests, can raise barriers to integration of identity and locus of control. It is for this reason that I feel ambivalent. Although it may seem like a minor distinction, this is not the same as a bias against the tools themselves. I use the tools often because most clients I see espouse value in getting this feedback. Sometimes the tool fills a desire for a concrete outcome such as a written report, and sometimes we are convinced that the tool simply is the best source of information to help inform a decision about livelihood. I want to believe that the client and I work with whatever motivations he/she comes with, not whatever method I have least ambivalence. Most clients I see indicate an interest in a "test" at some point. While I do use the the tools I most concerned whether he or she has a critical perspective when the client leaves with the results.
In spite of my concern about locus of control and integration of identity, most people who do normed vocational tests find that she or he is affirmed which I'm thinking is about as far away from disintegrated identity as you can get.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Broke
Loss of trust in the economic order and the loss of hope that you can find your way into a productive role can easily lead to a sense of helplessness. If depression becomes embedded in one's mood then investing time and effort on career becomes problematic. Having a career/job/employment isn't best therapy at this point. Treating the underlying issues of depression become essential. My thesis research suggests that some people have a transcendent experience or they acquire a new view on life when everything seems this hopeless. Getting stuck in the hopelessness or confounding this natural grieving process with sedation, electronic diversions, a premature career hop or unhealthy relationships keeps the personal transformation from happening. When someone who is experiencing long term unemployment becomes mentally ill, planning a career may give a focus to "getting normal" but it should not be the main focus of a helping relationship. At least, this is my view.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Sacking
The sacking of Rome was a big deal. A whole culture and infrastructure went down like gravity on a clear day.
Now people are sacked although I don't know anyone who uses the term. I can imagine people saying "I've been redundicated." " I've been down sized from the upside." "I was fired" " I have been kicked through the goal posts of life." But here is some advice that comes to us from the CBC as a sidebar on an article that seems to feature journalist stories of revenge for sackings. It's called "Taking the Sack" and is based on an interview with workplace consultant Linda Allan. During the sacking she advises things like:
Keep calm:
Don't say anything:
Take the information:
Thank them:
Cool off:
Be honest: (but don't say anything)
Lose the anger: (but don't do anything that may come back and bite you.)
The advice is fine if you are score really well on the Barron Emotional IQ test or are a reclusive high performance monk but then you wouldn't be in this situation if you where. This isn't likely what I'd likely be thinking or doing. I'd be thinking more about how will I manage to cope with the bashing I'm getting over the the next few hours then the next few days. Even though Allan isn't likely intending to say it, I'm left with the message "Whatever you do, don't acknowledge what is happening to you to anyone else." or "Stuff it into a sack and chuck it into the basement."
Feels like a receipt for mental illness. Lets call it "sacking."
Now people are sacked although I don't know anyone who uses the term. I can imagine people saying "I've been redundicated." " I've been down sized from the upside." "I was fired" " I have been kicked through the goal posts of life." But here is some advice that comes to us from the CBC as a sidebar on an article that seems to feature journalist stories of revenge for sackings. It's called "Taking the Sack" and is based on an interview with workplace consultant Linda Allan. During the sacking she advises things like:
Keep calm:
Don't say anything:
Take the information:
Thank them:
Cool off:
Be honest: (but don't say anything)
Lose the anger: (but don't do anything that may come back and bite you.)
The advice is fine if you are score really well on the Barron Emotional IQ test or are a reclusive high performance monk but then you wouldn't be in this situation if you where. This isn't likely what I'd likely be thinking or doing. I'd be thinking more about how will I manage to cope with the bashing I'm getting over the the next few hours then the next few days. Even though Allan isn't likely intending to say it, I'm left with the message "Whatever you do, don't acknowledge what is happening to you to anyone else." or "Stuff it into a sack and chuck it into the basement."
Feels like a receipt for mental illness. Lets call it "sacking."
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