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Exploratory findings on personal development sessions for students undergoing basic counselling skills training
Author
Tang, Peiwen
Supervisor
Kit, Phey Leng
Abstract
Personal therapy has been long advocated as a route to personal and professional growth for therapists. This qualitative study explored the experiences of 15 Singapore undergraduate students, who received both individual and group personal development sessions, as part of their course requirements in a basic counselling course. Using a grounded theory methodology in the analysis of data, twelve themes in four categories were identified, that provided insight into how the students perceived the process of the personal development sessions, as well as the influence of the experience on their personal and professional growth. The students’ Pre-existing perceptions and experiences of counselling (causal condition) and the Counsellors’ effectiveness in facilitating the counselling process (intervening condition) led to the Students’ participation in the sessions (strategic actions/ interactions). The consequence was the Students’ perceived effects of the PDS experience. The findings indicated that from the experience, the students began to perceive counselling in a positive light in spite of their initial apprehension towards it. Through their active participation and engagement in both the individual and group sessions, there was reported growth in their personal and professional aspects, which increased their confidence in helping others. There was also reported gain in self-awareness and an enhanced understanding of the client’s experience. Their experience of the therapeutic process also provided validation that counselling worked and increased their own willingness to turn to it as a viable source of help and support. The results from this exploratory study pointed towards the potential in the inclusion of personal therapy in counsellor training curriculum.
Date Issued
2017
Call Number
BF636.65 Tan
Date Submitted
2017