Self-Care for Counsellors (starts at 2.25 mins)

What do you do to cope as a counselling student when, say, you have recently experienced a close family bereavement? It is already hard to juggle studying, working and family responsibilities. When a major event in your personal life comes along too, it’s more important than ever time to ensure you are taking proper care of yourself.

Ken uses the analogy of the oxygen mask on an aeroplane: you must fit your own before you are in a fit state to look after others. It is so important to be willing to speak about your personal experiences – doing so is a sign of strength, not weakness. For example, you may wish to share your feelings with a good friend, peers on your course and/or your personal counsellor. If you are in practice, it is vital too to tell your supervisor.

Although you may be reluctant to take a break from counselling and/or your studies for fear of getting behind, sometimes recognising your own need to rest and taking action on this can actually help you be more effective and efficient in the long term.

Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development (starts at 11.15)

Rory describes the theory of cognitive development developed by Jean Piaget, a Swiss psychologist with an early interest in zoology. He observed his own children’s development as a way of informing his work on how the human brain works, and how this influences what we can do.

The Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions of the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (2015: 8) states: ‘Careful consideration will be given to working with children and young people that … demonstrates knowledge and skills about ways of working that are appropriate to the young person’s maturity and understanding.’

It is therefore really important for counsellors and psychotherapists who will be working with children and young people to have a sound understanding of the developmental stages of the human brain.

Rory goes through the key developmental stages of a baby/child, explaining typical abilities at each stage and how we can understand these through the lens of brain development. He has prepared a detailed handout describing these stages, which you can download here; this is also available in the Handouts Vault and Counselling Study Resource (CSR). The CSR also includes a lecture on working with bereaved children; Rory has made available one slide from this here, with a challenge for podcast listeners – which of Piaget’s developmental stages do you think is described in this slide? Do visit the Counselling Tutor Facebook group to let us know what you reckon!