Considering beginning counsellors' development of "self" in a personcentred and dramaturgical space.

Abstract

The counselling space is a safe, controlled, and closed environment in which personal realities can be reflected upon and challenged. In training, this space becomes a stage where the novice counsellor/actor is attempting to make a favourable impression on their client, educator, and supervisor audiences. Here they test out newly acquired knowledge and rehearse and refine an ideal professional counselling self - a self that is initially experienced as dissonant and unfamiliar. To examine this transition from temporary professional counsellor persona to a more fully realised counsellor self this exploration takes a wholly Eurocentric stance in its conscious decision to present two seminal counselling and sociological theories. Carl Rogers's (1961) distinguished and influential theory of self, and Erving Goffman's (1969) unconventional dramaturgy of self-presentation, which uses the imagery of theatre to examine face-to-face interactions. In the former, and exemplified in their working relations with clients, beginning counsellors aspire to become independent, fully functioning persons. In the latter, counsellors in training are effective as actors when their collaborative work with clients achieves mutually believable and successful performances. This discussion invites further comment from counsellors, educators and supervisors on the value of considering this normative phase in the beginning counsellor's training from diverse perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of New Zealand Journal of Counselling is the property of New Zealand Association of Counsellors and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)