Ivor, are a client's dreams (sleeping dreams) important in Gestalt therapy? Just wondering...

I like all the wisdom I see posted above re what makes a good counsellor ie ...it is a core principle of all forms of counselling that counsellors never act in an advisory capacity. Individual Counsellors who disregard this are,by doing so,acting in bad faith.When this happens their services ought to be dispensed with.

Right on.

Therapists must find their own personal integrity/issues tested every step of the way. They are dealing with injured people who have, typically, little to no self-esteem and therefore no relationship skills. Such injured ones tend to put people on pedestals, particularly anyone who even just sounds like they might care, have the answers and/or the 'cure' they need.

For the therapist, those pedestals must feel dizzying at times -- and if and when they ever lose their balance (being only human after all), its a long LONG way to fall ...

Just a few observations.

My kids and I had a wonderful counsellor for a few years -- a very caring man, a husband and father of three who did us, and a lot of other kids and families in this community a lot of good.

Last time I stopped by his office, hoping to just have a chance to say 'boo' cuz it had been a few years, I was so saddened and shocked to learn he'd committed suicide. (Didn't tell me that at the office of course, just that he'd passed on and I found out later why ...)

:-(

Therapists don't have it easy, folks. Especially those who work for gov't agencies, swamped to overflowing with the most troubled of folk. Our counsellor was supervisor/director of one such agency.

So take care of yourselves, be discerning -- but please, give 'em a break.

daylia