In this issue
Features
I’m bored; get me out of here (free article)
John Sharp and Brian Hemmings explore an under-acknowledged emotional block to learning
Shanghai experience
Alan Percy takes us on an educational journey to China
If you’ve got issues, we’ve got tissues
Conference report by Ronnie Millar
Managing a multidisciplinary wellbeing team (free article)
Nic Streatfield and Liz Prance restructured student support in York. They share the journey
The science of influence and persuasion
Ethical ways to increase collaboration – with Dil Sidhu
Reader mini-survey
Findings from the recent online survey of UC members
Divisional news
News from JISCMail
Mary Jones outlines recent discussions and updates with news from FE
A pdf of this issue is available in the University and College Counselling archive
From the editor
Welcome to the spring issue of the journal. Spring is a time for fresh starts and brings a sense of optimism, echoing my own feelings as I take the helm. I look forward to hearing from you over the coming months with contributions to reflect the concerns, passions and interests that shape our thinking and practice.
In a phrase, as you know, counselling is about increasing awareness. Growth in understanding gives clients greater ability to put their own issues and difficulties into a wider context of meaning-making. So awareness is the theme guiding my first issue as editor. The range of articles, reviews and comments will hopefully increase your awareness of some issue or concept, and thereby nourish the work you undertake.
John Sharp and Brian Hemmings write about academic boredom as a potential source of depression. Clients who describe themselves as depressed might simply be bored: this connection might be a crucial piece of awareness to explore with clients, suggest the authors.
Alan Percy writes about his visit to China to deliver keynote addresses at conferences focused on student mental health, and how exposure to the rapidly growing field of counselling and psychotherapy there has expanded his understanding of the needs of international students. With Chinese notions of wellbeing merging with Western models of psychotherapy, Alan enhances awareness of how best to support growing populations of international students. Ronnie Millar meanwhile crossed the Atlantic for two conferences run by the US equivalent of HUCS and engaged in some two-way sharing of good practice there.
Nic Streatfield then writes with Liz Prance about the advantages of multidisciplinary approaches to our work. Finally, Dil Sidhu, from the Manchester Business School, explores the art of persuasion – the psychology of projecting to others so they will be more likely to help us achieve our objectives. Dil believes this can enhance co-operation and teamwork.
The more aware we are, the more effective we can be with our clients, and within our institutions. And because we all have insights to pool, I look forward to your ideas for further exploration.
David Mair
Editor
david.mair@bacp.co.uk