Co-counseling Page

Information about co-counseling

WHAT IS CO-COUNSELLING?

Two people arrange to meet. They divide their time together in half. One is in charge for the first half, the other for the second. The one in charge is called the client. He or she does the talking, laughing, crying, smiling, cushion-beating, role-playing, thinking and decision making. The other, the counsellor, gives attention. This means listening, watching, keeping time, prompting and giving what's asked of comfort, provocation or role-play as the client requires.

WHAT'S IT FOR?

It helps people overcome their fears and inhibitions, cheer themselves up, rehearse social situations, express held-in feelings, discover deeper feelings, explore habits of thought and feeling and take more responsibility for what they do in their lives. As client you discover how the release of stored up feelings helps you to become more intelligent, creative and loving in life and relationships. As counsellor you learn to give attention and support without taking over.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

The more you put in, the more rewarding it is. You have the other person's complete attention and a strict guarantee of confidentiality. You are the one that knows what to do and the only one who can do it. Since we take turns to work, no-one is better than anyone else, though naturally everyone has a different style. Anyone who can give attention and care to another for an hour can do it.

HOW TO LEARN CO-COUNSELING

You can attend an introductory evening or afternoon to find out more, ask questions and try a few exercises. Then do a 'Fundamentals' course, at weekends or on a series of evenings, practising the skills you need. Then you learn by experience.

WHERE TO LEARN CO-COUNSELING?

The CO-COUNSELING ALLIANCE is a relatively new alliance of co-counseling groups founded to share resources and information about co-counseling among the many co-counseling groups, teach co-counseling classes, and offer workshops. CCA has an accountable leadership model of organization.

PEER LISTENERS is a web-based resource for co-counselors to connect, form classes and exchange information. PL has a peer-concensus model of organization based on Alcoholics Anonymous' organizational structure.

CO-COUNSELING INTERNATIONAL "is a planet-wide association of individuals and local networks committed to affirm a core discipline of co-counselling while encouraging, on an international and co-operative basis, the advancement of sound theory, effective practice, network development and planetary transformation. Local networks of co-counsellors within CCI are independent, self-governing peer organisations, exploring ways of being effective social structures while avoiding all forms of authoritarian control." (taken from the CCI home page)

RE-EVALUATION COUNSELING is the oldest and probably the largest co-counseling organization. I have serious problems with its authoritarian structure and some of its policies. Check out the RC link below for more information.

dark_bullet Information about The Co-counseling Alliance

dark_bullet Information about Peer Listeners

dark_bullet Co-Counseling International Home Page

dark_bullet Humanity Unbound - CCA co-counseling manual

dark_bullet Other co-counseling literature

dark_bullet Information about Re-evaluation Counseling

dark_bullet The Spark's co-counseling community page

A survey for people involved in Re-evaluation Counseling to clarify our thinking

Here are some of my thoughts about growing up, denial and Re-evaluation Counseling

A timeline of Re-evaluation Counseling's development from Dianetics

If you have difficulty dealing with the information in these pages or have questions for me, email me.

For a lively and free discussion about co-counseling and Re-evalutation Counseling, send e-mail to majordomo@lightlink.com with '(un)subscribe ccounsel' in the body of the message.