In this issue
Features
Counselling in China
Gareth Davey and Xiang Zhao report on the听changing status of counselling in a rapidly听changing China.
Life after death
Pete Connor reflects on 25 years鈥� counselling听people living with HIV.
Write, read, share, reflect
Therapeutic writing groups present particular听challenges and rewards for the facilitator and听participants, as Jeannie Wright explains.
Regulars
News focus
Growing old happily
New research shows a clear link between happiness and better physical听and mental health in old age Catherine Jackson reports.
Talking point
Christiane Sanderson: Hear them and believe them
The researcher
Barry McInnes: Why I love research
In the client's chair
Billy Hague:听Sorting out听my bag of听worries
In practice
Rachel Freeth: I am feeling powerless
Dilemmas
Client encounters in a dual role
My life
Lydia Tischler: I am not a victim
How I became a therapist
Elspeth Schwenk
Questionnaire
Terri Apter
Letters
香港六合彩精准资料
From the chair
Amanda Hawkins: So much to talk about
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Editorial
I鈥檝e been hearing for a number of years听about China鈥檚 growing need for counselling听as it transitions to an economic superpower,听so I鈥檓 pleased to be able to publish Gareth听Davey and Xiang Zhao鈥檚 article, which gives a听good introduction to the status of counselling听in China today.
It is fascinating to reflect听on how unsuitable some Western models听of counselling are for Chinese people. The听Chinese are brought up to identify with the听group rather than as individuals. Also, they听see the practice of openly expressing thoughts听or feelings about family members to outsiders听as dishonouring to their family; to remain听outwardly passive and restrained is seen听as positive. The values of person-centred听counselling, for example, can therefore be听difficult for Chinese clients; focusing on听independence, autonomy and self-direction听may conflict with obeying parents and听dependence on family. Some clients may be听unable to make decisions without consulting听their parents. The client in our case study tells听us she would prefer her therapist to tell her听what to do. As the article says, Chinese clients听often have a preference for CBT but even听this needs to be adapted to cultural needs.
Pete Connor has spent the last 25 years听counselling people with HIV. As he says,听25 years ago a positive HIV diagnosis was听a traumatic and catastrophic event. Many听of us lost friends and colleagues to AIDS in听the late 80s and early 90s and, before reading听Pete鈥檚 article, I hadn鈥檛 fully realised that HIV听is now a chronic but treatable condition.听People with HIV can now live out a more or听less natural lifespan. But, as Pete describes,听newly diagnosed clients may present in great听distress, believing they have just received a听death sentence. People facing a life-time of听powerful drugs with unpleasant side-effects听may understandably struggle to look on the听bright side. The role of the counsellor is no听less vital than it was 25 years ago.
Sarah Browne
Editor