29th ottobre 2010
Chester launches new counselling society set up by MA students.
Chester author and academic Dr Stuart McNab delivered the inaugural lecture of the newly launched University of Chester Counselling Society at the city’s university last week.
Addressing students and fellow lecturers in a packed lecture theatre, Dr McNab – programme leader of the university’s MSc in Psychological Trauma – spoke about the challenges of trauma counselling.
He explained how counsellors need to be aware of the emotional drain, potentially, of being regularly exposed to the trauma and deep suffering of others.
The University of Chester Counselling Society (UCCS) – a forum for learning and networking – is the brainchild of MA Clinical Counselling students Liddy Carver and Julie Bremner Scott, Chair and Vice-chair respectively. Both are third-year MA students.
Liddy Carver said: “Having spoken to fellow students and tutors, I felt that we might be able to augment the University of Chester’s academic programme in counselling in a very real way by setting up this society. The university and the department have been enormously supportive.”
“The society is open to past and current students, and we are hoping to attract ever increasing numbers. We have been extremely fortunate in engaging a number of eminent speakers in the field of counselling for the months ahead,” added Liddy Carver.
Julie Bremner Scott said: “The UCCS aims to inform and enthuse both trainee and practising counsellors. I feel sure that our speakers will provide insight and inspiration for those already trained as well as counsellors at the start of their career.”
Valda Swinton, programme leader for the MA in Clinical Counselling, said: “These MA students, most of whom are embarking on a second career in counselling, have shown remarkable initiative in setting-up this society – a first for the University of Chester. The programme of speakers in the months ahead is extraordinary, featuring many well-known authors and academics in the field of counselling.”