Let's stay and hate: The role of community meetings on counsellor training courses

Abstract

This study explores the role of community meetings within BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) accredited counsellor training courses. A postal survey was carried out with trainers on 56 BACP accredited training courses in January 2000. A questionnaire was used to elicit information about trainers, courses and the organisation of community time, along with perceptions relating to the meaning and purpose of community meetings. Possible links between course attributes (course length, cohort size and core theoretical model) and the implementation of community time are explored, as are links between core theoretical model and explanations of community group process. Findings indicate a diversity of definitions and assumptions concerning the role of community groups within counsellor training courses in Britain. It is suggested that there is a need to establish a much clearer definition of the nature of community groups on counselling courses. A tentative, trans‐theoretical description of community group process is offered, and further research on this topic is recommended.