Adventure-Based Experiences during Professional Training in Psychology

Abstract

This article considers the use of an adventure-based medium, known as ‘ropes courses’, to enhance the personal growth and professional development of Counselling Psychology students. Six students who completed their Master's degree in Counselling Psychology at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, between 1999 and 2000 participated in a ropes course day. Each student was asked to reflect, in writing, on four questions relating to his or her experience. Their reflections were analysed in terms of analytic guidelines proposed by Giorgi. Five main themes emerged from the analysis, namely: boundaries, anxiety, roles, cohesion and trust. It was concluded that the ropes course day contributed to the personal growth and professional development of these students and that an adventure-based medium, such as ‘ropes courses’, can be a valuable component of Counselling Psychology training.