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First words

When I canÌýmuster togetherÌýa quality rangeÌýof articles that truly reflectÌýwhat’s going on in the realÌýworld today, it alwaysÌýgives me a warm, fuzzyÌýfeeling. And in this issue,ÌýI believe we have a cracker.

I met Dr Walter BusuttilÌýat last year’s Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¾«×¼×ÊÁÏ conference in Newcastle andÌýwas fortunate to chair his seminar. Walter is aÌýconsultant psychiatrist and medical director atÌýCombat Stress. I’m grateful that he has presentedÌýus here with a fascinating insight into the work ofÌýthe charity supporting ex-service personnel withÌýmental health problems. Afghanistan continuesÌýto make news headlines, sadly, too often becauseÌýof further fatalities, yet the campaign continues,Ìýas does the potential psychological fallout forÌýthose involved. Hats off to Walter and his teamÌýfor their sterling work.

We still seem to be mired in the ‘recession’ andÌýquite how we’ll emerge from it will no doubt beÌýthe subject of countless yawn-triggering debatesÌýfrom election posturing political parties. Maybe weÌýshould be voting in Vicky Sinclair who returns toÌýthe journal with an intriguing article on employeeÌýmotivation during a recession. She has takenÌýa theoretical perspective merging psychology andÌýeconomics to illustrate expectancy theory. ThisÌýpresents us with a really useful way to consider
what motivates people at work.

Thanks also to Dr Michael Walton who hasÌýwritten an invaluable article about the impactÌýof organisational dynamics on the workplaceÌýcounsellor. Akin to the introduction to theÌýin-flight safety demonstrations ‘even if you are aÌýfrequent flyer, do please give it your full attention’.ÌýThe workplace is perhaps the most complex sectorÌýin which to counsel clients and all of us whoÌýpractise would be advised to take heed of Michael’sÌýfour ‘world views’. I believe there is currentlyÌýinsufficient sector training or continuingÌýprofessional development (CPD) to equip workplaceÌýcounselling for the complex issues in this sector andÌýI know that Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¾«×¼×ÊÁÏ is exploring how the communityÌýcan benefit from more sector-specific training.ÌýMichael’s article provides a mini-CPD update toÌýcaution workplace counsellors on colluding withÌýdysfunctional organisational dynamics.

Damian Stoupe adds to the ‘organisationalÌýdynamics’ debate by reflecting on ‘mimetic desire’Ìýas a means to illustrate how bullying behavioursÌýcan emerge from potentially innocuous competitionÌýamong work colleagues. It makes a lot ofÌýsense. Damian helps us to consider bullying inÌýa different light and his article adds to his richÌýcontribution on the subject. In an ever-competitiveÌýworkplace environment (more so when people areÌýworried about keeping their jobs and willing toÌýwork more for less) and in a rampant consumeristÌýsociety it’s useful to consider when desires moveÌýto needs. One of my favourite websites at theÌýmoment is , a treasure troveÌýof pointless gadgets and boys’ toys banneredÌýunder a name that persuades you that you desire,Ìýnay want, nay need, gimmicky offal. But enoughÌýof my surfing habits.

Peter Jenkins picks up on Damian’s concludingÌýpoint about whistleblowing with a timely articleÌýon the position of workplace counsellors withÌýregards to disclosure of wrongdoing ‘in the publicÌýinterest’. At the moment we’re bombardedÌýby press reports on whistleblowing, either featuringÌýsomeone making the call or the consequences ofÌýnot doing so. And it further reflects the confidentialityÌýand boundary tensions for workplace counsellorsÌýin terms of who’s the client and who might be theÌýbeneficiary of disclosure.

I wonder if it’s too much to disclose to say I’mÌýnow off to the above website to buy a slanket.ÌýThey’re all the rage these days don’t you know.ÌýAnd yes, I do need it.

Enjoy.

Rick Hughes
Editor

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