Holistic Counselling

The Individual as a whole

Again, it is worth emphasising that the definition and understanding of God varies from individual to individual, and that many who describe themselves as having a strong system of beliefs do not share the definition and image imposed over centuries by the main religions. These differences need to be catered for when dealing with a person’s wellbeing. Fortunately, this notion, together with the benefit of looking at each individual as a whole entity, made of a mind, body and soul, as ancient civilisations used to and Eastern cultures do, is starting to impregnate the Western world of mental health. Indeed, respected professionals like Dr Angela Cotter, Jungian analyst (IAAP, UKCP, GAP), are starting to raise awareness by holding conferences on a variety of topics, such as Shamanic Approaches in Modern Psychotherapy organised by Confer last year.

As this awareness develops and the field of psychology broadens its horizon, it is paramount that training adapts and evolves to encompass the expanding knowledge and understanding of the connection between mind, body and soul. Unfortunately, although a few universities are starting to offer qualifications in transpersonal psychology, courses are still in my view too specialised, and do not allow to explore the full spectrum of humanity. This is particularly true of counselling courses that remain highly traditional and focused on the main schools of thought. Although some consistency is necessary to protect vulnerable individuals against amateurish interventions, the current shortcomings actually endanger them by not allowing for adequate comprehensive training, imposing rigid criteria, and refusing to take into account alternative qualifications.

So that holistic counsellors are granted the status that they deserve as fully rounded professionals, it is also essential that proficiency tests and, consequently, registration with main associations such as the BACP, are offered to those who, like myself, refuse to limit themselves by following the conventional training paths. If not, training bodies and other associations acting as regulating ones paradoxically fail to safeguard the most vulnerable by restricting the provision of mental health services when it is one of the government’s top priorities, endangering the lives of thousands who are forced to remain on waiting lists for months. For, if I may take an example from a context I am very familiar with as an illustration, many Local Educational Authorities remain reluctant to employ counsellors who are not BACP registered, despite it not being an official requirement, and choose to leave thousands of young people to suffer instead, or worse in too many cases, when high quality alternative professional care, that would be as well if not better suited, is readily available.