Back from the USA

Well I'm back in the good old cold grey dull, I could go on! Had loads of time 9 hours in fact, so I had a bit of thinking time. To be honest I slept most of the way home....I did spend a bit of time thinking about the blog I left a couple of weeks ago about wheather or not as counsellors we work in the present? as every second passes, we will never get that moment back, its in the past. I guess that's why people take photos! Of which I take loads took around 400 while I was away and video too. This will let me catch that moment in a picture, I don't think it will hold the feeling of that moment, but will give me a different feeling when I look at it in the future, which will create a different feeling. Anyway need to sleep right now! thanks for reading my blog, please and comments if you like. have a great week end.

Last post

Sorry about the last post, I was doing it from my phone and couldn't see the bottom of the screen so I was guessing what I was typing.

Anyway, I have taken care of some of my anxiety by upgrading my flight to first class cost a few pennies, oops! its about looking after me! Something that some counsellor find hard to do, not me! I think that I I'm a better counsellor when I take care of me. I go to work more relaxed and seem more chilled out with clients.

So if your working hard as a counsellor, take sometime out in your day to look after you.

That's me signing off now for a couple of weeks, I will try to blog from the states if the Internet is up and running at the villa!

Take care!

anxiety!

i'm sat in the hilton hotel at gatwick airport, as I'm off to the states in the morning.

Been feeling strange today and I have been trying to work outlined what it is. I think that I have put my finger on it, its anxiety, not about flying but about being sick. I do not travel well at all, been like it since I was a kid and have carried it into adult hood. So how can I reduce my anxiety? for me I don't think I can answer it. It takes a lot of concentration not to be sick. Not sure where this is going while I'm typing. its great to experience anxiety because I do really suffer with it! only. Could thi

Do we ever work in the present?

Do we ever really work in the present with our clients?

Just been thinking about it a bit today, well quite a bit really. If I ask someone how they are feeling right now, has the moment passed? even by asking someone that question dont they have to think about it in that moment and not the one we asked them about?

Sorry if this this is not clear, I am typing it as it comes into my head. It makes sence to me but then I am thinking it....in the moment or not!

Comments welcome!

Still in the Office!

Its 6 in the evening and im still sat at my desk, need to catch up on my notes after messing about on the internet for a bit...opps!

Im sat here typing of course and looking at all the counselling books we have on the shelf.. loads of them from person centered to CBT....can a book really teach you how to be a counsellor? Let me type that again...can a book really teach you how to be a counsellor? and do you what I dont think they can! (you may disagree) I must admit I dont really like books and dont read many about counselling..Im a hands on learner! and I am sure there are people that will read this and think I talking rubbish and thats fine. Everyone learns in different ways!

Will add more to this when I get home!

Not well

Does feeling unwell effect are ability to work with clients?

I am feeling unwell today and working with clients, is it a good thing to do? I'm not sure of the answer to that question for everyone but I can answer it for myself.... I think I was there and listening with took a lot of concentration, due to my pounding head. The feeling in my head is like I am pissed, (I'm not by the way lol) Don't think I could work with clients if I needed to run to the loo every couple of minutes tho.

The body and brain are amazing, I'm going through a few things in my personal life right now and too cut a long story short, I am really enjoying being on my own right now, even tho I'm married and happy ( I like space). So is it my body or brain or both sending me a message to go home and enjoy the space before my wife comes home from work? Not sure about that was just typing out loud.

All I know is that what happens in life has an impact on how I work with clients with what i bring into the room and what the client brings into the room meets on some level. Maybe its a negative meeting of 'stuff' or a positive meeting of 'stuff' hard to tell really, even the negative meeting can be positive! now I'm starting to lose myself!

Think what I'm trying to say is we all bring 'stuff' into the room even if you think you don't and if you think you don't you do...lol

This is getting worse and worse need to stop now! hope this makes sense? be good to hear your thoughts.

Sunday evening

Helped my sisiter move into her new flat today. Had a lazy morning before going round to help. No counselling work for me tomorrow as I dont work Mondays....arrrrrrrr!

Then into work Tuesday for a full day...meetings and clients.

I am very interested in supervision that is my real passion. I read some interesting stuff on the internet to day http://www.infed.org/biblio/functions_of_supervision.htm worth a read. Would be great to here what anyone has to say about it.

Enjoy!

What a busy day....had a bit of snow this morning and didn't come to much! They say it will snow here tonight but we will see. More rain I'm guessing.

Been busy with initial (assessments) of clients today. It's amazing to here how strong humans are, how some people cope with issues in there lives is outstanding.

I guess that's what makes my job so rewarding, seeing someone come back from the brink to being able to pull themselves thought to a better place....fantastic.

Been talking to a couple of supervisors today that are confused about responsibilites. Can I just say the following....

As a supervisor you have ethical responsibilities and these are distinct from ant legal responsibilities.

So for working emphasis on responsibilities of the supervisee not the supervisor! when working with clients.

Had supervision last night. lots of things going on im my life which is having a effect on my client work, not negative but is in the room with me. Aware of it and processing it in supervision, the in pack on clients that is.

3 Clients today then home.

Sat at desk watching the rain come down....no snow here on the south coast....and just 25 mins up the road the snow is 4" deep.

Hav spoken to a couple of riends this morning, they have 4 -5 inches of snow an its still coming down...and they are not at work!!!!

Looks like we may have the snow back for friday, so you never know may get another day off work!

Well the no snow this evening! so looks like I'm off to work in the morning.

Busy day a head, 4 assessments and 2 ongoing clients plus project work in between clients.

Working on offering supervision across the Uni to other members of staff. Think this would really help people that deal with students on the front line, offering support to other support staff and not just counsellors.

Also in the middle of reinstating group supervision as well as 1 to 1, group supervision has been on hold after reduction in core team staffing.

We already offer a training thing called 'hot potatoes' this training is to help staff deal with handling difficult situations. We have role plays for them to practise which are observed with feedback. The feedback we have about the training has been very positive.

If you are in Scotland and you need a name of a great counsellor, I can recommend this guy, cheak out his web sit at wilson counselling

Alittle snow and the south stands still.... Doesnt happen often.


Started the day by getting stuck in the snow and traffic on the south coast. Finally got to work at 10.25am. Good job I didnt have clients this morning, just team meetings so they can be rearanged. Hope I can get home? Better to be stuck at home then to be stuck at work.

I have a couple of trainings coming up in March I will post some of the useful stuff on my blog. First training in with Rape crisis and the next is with the NSPCC. I am involved with the development (renew) of our under eighteens policy.

Right back to me job, off to supervise someone now.

Right! here I go, Blogger up and running and just got my web site domain sorted. Needs a bit of work to get it up and running.

Although I am working at the Uni 4 days a week, I still have counsellors asking me to supervise them privately. I do get asked to offer training too. What with PD groups and my own supervision it all takes up my own time.

Anyway, I am sure I will get the hang of this as I go along, I hope to add information on counselling and supervision and maybe bits from my book to see what fellow blooger's think.

The Uni I work at was shut today because of the snow....so lets hope it snows more tonight.

Well what can I say? This blog will be about counselling and counselling supervision. Thoughts and feelings about the world of therapy.

Feel free to add you comments and feelings.