partner relationships, work and career, home/acommodation), but who wants their life to be more colourful, productive or fulfilling, and who has some areas where things are not going as well as they'd like.

• It's for people who want to reflect on the questions: 'who am I - what makes me tick - how come I am the way I am - do I need to do things differently?'. It's for people who want to explore these questions and who don't mind the idea that they may discover areas that are uncomfortable or unpleasant and need addressing.
• It is for people who are willing to share personal experiences and listen to other people when it's their turn.
• Co-counselling is probably not for someone who is living in chaos in all areas of their life, and not for someone who risks having a psychotic breakdown (getting out of touch with reality) when they contact uncomfortable feelings.
• Co-counselling does not replace work with a professional therapist: it should be seen as an additional and complementary way of therapeutic working. It is not suitable for people who are dependent on statutory or voluntary sector services for emotional support or who are prone to psychotic episodes (i.e. emotional breakdown accompanied by lack of awareness of reality).
• Diversity: this course, and CCI Co-counselling, is open to anyone irrespective of religion, race, sexuality, politics, disabilities, height, or any other defining personal characteristics you can think of.

2. I wonder if I will get nervous in the group: should I still do the course?

I think it is very common for people to feel nervous or uncomfortable when in they are in a group that is dealing with personal issues (as compared to, say, a more technical or practical group like a committee meeting). It's to be expected and in a way is a good and normal thing, because it means that your emotions/feelings are becoming available to you and can be worked on by you during the course. One thing I want to stress is that whilst on the course you will never be pushed by me to do anything or work on anything you don't want to do: one of the main principles of co-counselling is that the client is in charge of the content, pace and depth of their work.

3. Is co-counselling just a version of "you tell me your problems and I'll tell you mine".

It might look like that at first glance, because some of the same things happen in a co-counselling session as in an ordinary conversation, i.e. two people sit down and talk about themselves, and share the time. The difference is that both people are trained in a specific method of working on issues, a method that includes not only words but also voice, sound, body and action. One person will be listening in a way that is taught on the course: the listener is also trained in making responses might be helpful in order to invite the 'talker' to go further in his or her work.

4. Is there only one type of co-counselling?

I don't think so. Co-counselling essentially uses techniques that come from from humanistic and psychodynamic therapies. Co-counselling is an explorative approach helping you to get to know yourself and link up your feelings, thoughts and actions in order to have more control over your life and live fully. In different parts of the world there may be slight differences, but the principles and approaches are pretty universal.

5. If I am in a co-counselling session working on some difficult feelings, will I get overwhelmed, especially as my co-counsellor will probably not be a professional therapist?

This is addressed on the course.

Fear

Anger

Sadness

Joy

Assertiveness tips

Messages from the past

Mad, Bad, Sad and Glad

Coming soon:

Shame and Guilt
The 7 Deadly Sins
Here and Now
Defences
The truth...
Content v. Process
Envy and Jealousy
Ambivalence
Selling Yourself
Count your blessings?