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Retaining anonymity |
| "The September issue of Therapy Today published an article in which I shared my personal reflections on the many issues surrounding the retirement of counsellors – why, when and how we decide it is time for us to cease working" |
Retirement and moving on |
| "A BACP member recently passed me a copy of your article ‘Retirement: how do we know when to stop’" |
Retirement: when is it time to stop? |
| "Age is generally seen to be an advantage for counsellors and psychotherapists, rather than the drawback it is for some professions. But in the absence of guidelines about retirement, how do we judge when the time has come for us to stop? Two practitioners offer their personal reflections" |
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I was delighted to read your article about retirement and knowing when it’s time to stop working, though saddened that the author chose to remain anonymous
Opening to the ageing process
I was delighted to read your article about retirement and knowing when it’s time to stop working, though saddened that the author chose to remain anonymous – it seemed to emphasise the taboo of talking openly about aging and retirement, usefulness and wisdom, and particularly for us women, being fruitful post-menopause.
At 57 (a spring chicken in this debate) I believe I have another 20 or so years of working life ahead of me – my mother is still working as a supervisor at 80. And, as for counsellors of any age, it is vital that we are accountable, open, honest and clear about our motivations and our abilities. I enjoyed Sally Sugg’s questions and believe they could be usefully employed in supervision and as the ‘MOT’ she suggests. I appreciated Mary Russell’s response and have been pondering her words on being mentally ‘vigorous’ and ‘self disciplined’. Unfortunately they resonate for me with the ‘70 is the new 50’ approach that feels so denying of the aging process; that belief that we all have to try harder and risk becoming more rigid as we age in order to ‘keep up’ with the young.
For the past few years I’ve been experimenting with softening, opening to the aging process, and enjoying all that it brings. It seems to me that in holding myself, my life and work more softly and gently, it becomes more sustainable and enjoyable, particularly important for a person with a ‘try harder’ driver!
Thank you for constantly challenging my worldview with your stimulating articles!Debbie Collins
