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How many counsellors and psychotherapists out there are familiar with my process, into and out of the voluntary sector?
A volunteer no longer!
How many counsellors and psychotherapists out there are familiar with my process, into and out of the voluntary sector? It goes a bit like this:
1. An idealistic novice, keen to learn and experience, planning to help and care for an overlooked client group.
2. A proficient practitioner becoming more involved in the organisation, developing awareness of responsibilities, funding and ethical provision of service.
3. The dedicated practitioner, honing expertise with ongoing professional development towards greater client outcomes.
4. The financially and emotionally depleted do-gooder.
5. The cynical practitioner aware of exploitation of charitable organisations by the wider system.
6. The non-volunteer.Having worked for a Cornish charity dedicated to the psychotherapeutic support for victims of rape and sexual abuse for at least five years, I am saddened by my recent decision to discontinue my voluntary contribution of service. When I started working with this client group I believed it is crucial, for ethical practice, to identify when I am working beyond my competence and refer on to a specialist – somebody paid vast amounts of money (I imagined) for having devoted interest and invested money and time into this specialist expertise. However, as the IAPT programme is being implemented in Cornwall, I am becoming aware that there are low intensity health workers (paid reasonable amounts of money, I imagine) signposting clients presenting with issues beyond their competence and budget towards charities such as ours who are paid nothing. What is going on?
