Donegal ready for Conference 19 - Inside: Coping with Anxiety - Online Guidance - Alfred Adler
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Volume 48 Number 2 March 2019
A Publication of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors
Donegal ready for Conference 19
Inside:
- Coping with Anxiety
- Online Guidance
- Alfred Adler
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THE INSTITUTE OF GUIDANCE COUNSELLORS NEWSLETTER
Cover photo: Organising Committee and others at the launch of the Donegal Conference 2019. See page 22-23 for more details and photos.
In this issue:
Too Much Information.............................................................................. 5 Don’t demonise social media, it can be a blessing for teens with
The Setting Up of 17 Herbert Street........................................................ 6 problems................................................................................................ 19
A consistent seven to nine-hour sleep each night is the most effective Donegal Conference Launch.................................................................. 22
thing we can do to reset our brain and body health’ ............................. 7 New research examines the realities of being a senior inter-county
Becoming an online career guidance practitioner................................... 9 player..................................................................................................... 25
Research shows some increase in number of students taking higher Religion is about emotion regulation, and it’s very good at it............... 26
level subjects......................................................................................... 11 North West IGC Careers Fest................................................................. 27
Research examines association between early mobile phone ownership Inspiring Conference on Careers for Women........................................ 28
and children’s academic outcomes........................................................ 11 Why exercise alone won’t save us........................................................ 31
Helping a student who is struggling with anxiety................................. 12 Alfred Adler: Father of Individual Psychology and a Major Influence on
Let’s talk about careers and foreign languages .................................... 15 Modern Systems of Counselling and Psychotherapy............................ 37
On the Educational Impact Statement................................................... 15 Conference 2018 Dublin North.............................................................. 42
Services of Careers and Education News............................................. 17
Copy Deadline Contributions of articles can be sent to:
The deadline for the next issue of Guideline Magazine is Fred Tuite,
14th April 2019 1 Loreto Park
Articles (which may be edited) and advertisements should be Troys Lane
with the editor before that date. Kilkenny
Tel: 087-6698873
Guideline is published three times a year (October, February and Email: guideline@eircom.net
May) by the Institute of Guidance Counsellors. Contributions
and advertisements are welcome. The Editors reserve the right
to amend or abridge any contribution accepted for publication. For advertising contact our Advertising
Items for inclusion should preferably be sent in MS Word by Manager:
email to the address below. Typeset articles or advertisements
Carmel Dooley,
are best sent in high resolution Adobe Acrobat format.
PRWORKS,
The opinions expressed in the articles are those of the 14 Ceannt Ave, Mervue, Galway
contributors and not necessarily those of the Editors or the Mobile: 087 2349903
Officers of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors. Email: carmel@prworks.ie
Web site: www.prworks.ie
Acceptance of advertisements does not constitute an
endorsement of the products or services by the Institute.
Every effort has been made by the editors to ensure that the ie.linkedin.com/in/prgalway
information is accurate, however no responsibility can be
accepted by the Editors or the Institute for omissions or errors
that may have occurred. www.facebook.com/prgalway
Editorial Board
Fred Tuite, Gerry Reilly, Betty McLaughlin and Michael L.
O’Rourke.
Institute of Guidance Counsellors,
Head Office,
17 Herbert St.,
Dublin 2
Tel: (01) 676 1975
Fax: (01) 661 2551
Email: office@igc.ie
3
IMPORTANT DATES
1 May (17:15) 30 August (17:15)
Late application facility closes. Reply date for Round 2 offers.
1 July (17:15) Late August
Change of Mind closes. HEIs begin registration.
5 July (06:00) September
Round A offers issued to some
Offers issued and acceptances
candidates.
recorded on a weekly basis.
22 July (17:15)
Mid-September
Exceptional closing date for late applications for
those already attending a participating HEI. Results of Leaving Certificate appeals released.
1 August (06:00) 25 September (17:15)
Round 0 offers issued to some candidates. Offer season ends.
Mid-August
CAO AUTUMN CONFERENCES
Current year Leaving Certificate
results issued. Dates and venues
15 August (14:00) The dates and venues for the
2019 CAO Autumn
Round 1 offers available from 2pm Conferences, in association
online - also issued by e-mail with the Institute of Guidance
and SMS text. Counsellors and the higher
education institutions, are:
20 August (12:00)
Available Places facility opens.
23 August (17:15)
Reply date for Round 1 offers.
28 August (10:00)
Round 2 offers available from 10:00am online.
There will be no postal Round 2 offers issued.
4 www.cao.ie
THE INSTITUTE OF GUIDANCE COUNSELLORS NEWSLETTER
Too Much Information
Fred Tuite
T
h inking back to when computers were first appearing there was a is crowding out other kinds of
general optimism. We would soon be educating people for leisure. information in memory. In particular,
So much of the work would be done by computers and automation where people do not already have
that we would be left with lots of time for leisure activities. Alas, it has not strong ideological convictions
worked out that way. The huge explosion of information and connectivity has otherwise, social information can
led to a form of “information overload” We see it in our work as students try lead to herding and undermine
to negotiate their way through the huge quantities of information available collective wisdom in favour of
to them on their choices. Once we were the suppliers of this information but someone else’s online review, musical recommendation, or social media
now we need to be guides to help them negotiate their way through the vast celebrity endorsement of a product. This is particularly worrying when turning
array of choice and sources that lie before them. However, human nature has to social media to resolve problems or questions. When problems are easy, this
not changed and some old biases persist as we go through the information. reliance on a mass of social information can be good as it increases the speed
Indeed the way so much of this information is presented tends to increase at which groups and individuals find the best solution. But for hard problems,
these biases or filters. high levels of social connectivity prevent groups from finding the very best
solutions because they rush groups to exploit suboptimal solutions too quickly.
The huge proliferation of information and communication is creating
“attentional bottlenecks” which are acting to limit our choices to those based
Imitating others can be very useful in uncertain environments where mistakes
on fear, peer pressure, and global groupthink.
are costly, but neuroimaging evidence indicates that when we choose to do
This problem is being made much worse by the fact that that information and that we turn off the processing associated with our own critical evaluation -
the way it is communicated is itself evolving in ways that accentuate these our better judgment.
dangers.
Predictive Bias: The Peril of Patterns - People love looking for patterns but
New research by Professor Thomas Hills, of the University of Warwick’s these can be deeply deceiving and information proliferation greatly accelerates
Department of Psychology, published in the journal Perspectives on the risk that we fasten on to spurious correlations, patterns and predictions.
Psychological Science in a paper entitled The Dark Side of Information Scientists have long agonised about how to decrease the risk of generating false
Proliferation, looks at the information bottleneck we all face, and the “severe positive (type I errors) in their experiments but the number of false positives is
pitfalls” of the psychological processes behind the shortcuts and sifting likely to inevitably rise with increasing information. Moreover, because journals
methods we intuitively employ to try to deal with that increasing torrent of tend to favour positive findings, more false positives are likely to be published.
ever evolving information. This is not just a problem for lab scientists. As information proliferates this
also creates “spurious super performers”. This is particularly true in financial
Professor Hills identifies four particularly worrying biases in “cognitive
and economic decision making. People who experience monetary gains from
selection”. Those being biases for negative, belief-consistent, social, and
a set of alternatives will then tend to choose riskier alternatives (seeking
predictive information:
rare but illusory gains). As the set size of possible alternatives increases
Negative Bias: Fear and Dread Risk – Professor Hills notes in his paper that: the likelihood of spurious super performers (as well as super failures) also
“Heightened sensitivity to negative information is part of our evolutionary grows with the number of choices purely as a function of statistical noise.
heritage. This sensitivity leads us to weight disadvantages over advantages But it’s not just the psychological tendencies we employ to process this
in information seeking and decision making.” This negativity bias induces us growing glut of information that should give us cause for concern. The
to identify and recommunicate information about risk at the expense of more information itself is undergoing evolutionary pressures. As the competition
balanced information. As well as being disproportionately drawn towards to get our attention grows, information that better exploits one of the four
the negative we are also more likely to share such information. This leads psychological pathways above has a natural advantage, leading it to be better
to “social risk amplification”. One example being when the first Ebola case detected, recalled, and reproduced in the social propagation of information.
was diagnosed in the United States which led Twitter posts mentioning Ebola Unfortunately, misinformation (i.e., Fake News) has a significant advantage in
to jump from 100 posts per minute to 6000 per minute and rapidly produced those competitive environments. Firstly because it is free from the constraints
inaccurate claims that Ebola could be transmitted through food, water, and of being truthful, allowing it to adapt more quickly and easily to cognition’s
air. Professor Hills also notes that this social risk amplification is especially biases for more distinctive and emotionally appealing information. Secondly
prominent for dread risks - unpredictable, catastrophic risks to life and limb it is a general rule of evolution that faster generation times accelerate
such as plane crashes, nuclear disasters, epidemics, and terrorism. adaptation. The more rapidly people can access, select, and reproduce
preferred information, the more readily will that information reflect the
Belief-consistent bias: Global Groupthink - To cope with information cognitive biases of its users. These are both factors associated with the
proliferation people tend to personalize and favour information consistent empirical finding that lies proliferate faster than the truth. As Jonathan Swift
with their current beliefs and avoiding belief-inconsistent information. This wrote in 1710, “Falsehood flies, and the Truth comes limping after it”.
psychological process is accelerated by algorithms in online information
systems such as recommender systems and search engines guided by our Professor Hills concludes:
browser history. On social media, these combined personal and machine
“There are well-understood psychological limits on our capacity to process
tendencies for in-group selection lead to filter bubbles and echo chambers,
information. The unfortunate reality is that these limits are forcing us down
which further reduce individual exposure to information diversity even as they
an evolutionary relationship with information that is losing sight of our best
increase diversity across social media as a whole. The tendency to select like-
interests. People didn’t evolve in an information environment anything like the
minded individuals in decision making is often associated with “groupthink”,
one we currently experience. And the evidence suggests that things are rapidly
with groups defensively insulating themselves from external views. Information
moving beyond our control.”
proliferation now extends the capacity for groupthink globally, organizing and
polarizing groups from political ideologues to international terrorists. So keep these cognitive filters in mind as you and your students negotiate
your way through the Spaghetti Junction of what was once the Information
Social Bias: Following the herd - Researchers have noted that people’s
Superhighway! We’ll do our best for you at Guideline!
appetite for “social information” on their smartphones and other devices
5
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The Setting Up of 17 Herbert Street
Roisin Kelleher
With regard to the article submitted in of April 12th recorded that M Quinn, P Flynn, R members and myself were aware that an
the October 2018 issue of Guideline re the Kelleher visited Herbert St. and were pleased office secretary would need to be appointed.
establishment of the IGC office in Herbert St, I with it. In this regard, we drew up a job specification
wish to correct and clarify some details. and started the process of seeking a suitable
We were fortunate that the VEC CEO Liam
person. Interviews took place over a period of
As a person who had considerable experience Arundel, who was known to some of us on the
time but it was not until May 1998 that Anne
in office administration, I was aware of the executive, was in a position to offer a premises
Pilkington was interviewed and recommended
usefulness of having an office to see after at 17 Herbert St. that could meet our needs.
to fill the vacancy. She was appointed and
the affairs of the Institute. I shared my views
In June 1997 final details regarding the commenced working in office on 6th August,
on this issue with the then president Fr John
establishment of the office on a long lease 1998.
Dunne and executive members.
with a nominal rent were finalised and a
In the autumn of 1998 arrangements were
At Executive meeting of 8th Feb. 1997, the contract was signed by Liam Arundel and I at
made for the official opening of the office
minutes record that Fr. John recommended the VEC Office in Ballsbridge, in the presence
which took place on 11th February 1999 with
the establishment of a secretariat. This was of Marion Quinn, Pat Flynn and John O Dowd.
Charlie McCreevy T.D. Minister for Finance
to be in a prefab building in the grounds of
The keys of the office at 17 Herbert St, were performing the opening ceremony.
the Teacher Training College in Drumcondra. It
acquired by me on 15th July, 1997.
would be a 2 room operation on a 3 year lease. In conclusion, executive members who
Shortly afterwards it came to the attention of As arranged, the necessary renovation supported and worked with me in the setting
some of us on the executive that there was of the office was undertaken by the VEC. up of the office have contacted me and were
a possibility of obtaining office space at 17 Some executive members gave great help in surprised and disappointed, as I was, that
Herbert St., under the control of City of Dublin acquiring furniture and equipment. Much work the article published in the previous edition
VEC. was undertaken by myself to ensure that the of Guideline did not give a correct account of
office would be ready for use in the autumn. how the office at Herbert St was established.
In March 1997, I was elected president at an
annual conference in Kilkenny, replacing Fr. The first executive meeting in Herbert St took Editor’s Note: Guideline is happy to set the
John. Shortly afterwards I visited the sites in place on 13th Sept. 1997. record straight. Perhaps this could be the first
Drumcondra and Herbert St. and was of the in a series of looking back at the history of the
opinion that the Herbert St. location would be The working of the office in the early days of its IGC. There are many interesting moments to
the most suitable one. The Executive meeting existence was carried out on a voluntary basis recall.
mainly by Dublin Branch members. Executive
6
THE INSTITUTE OF GUIDANCE COUNSELLORS NEWSLETTER
A consistent seven to nine-hour sleep
each night is the most effective thing we
can do to reset our brain and body health’
Matthew Walker
Do you think you got enough sleep this past buildup and reductions in blood oxygen saturation increase in rates of the aforementioned physical
week? Can you remember the last time you woke with converse increases in carbon dioxide, due in diseases and mental disorders.
up without an alarm clock, feeling refreshed, not part to a reduction in the amount of air that the
Scientists such as myself have even started
needing caffeine? If the answer to any of these lungs can expire in a sleep-deficient state. And
lobbying doctors to start “prescribing” a good
questions is “no,” you are not alone. Two-thirds then there is injury risk. Relative to sleeping nine
night’s sleep (though certainly not sleeping pills).
of adults throughout all developed nations fail to hours a night, sleeping five to six hours a night will
As medical advice goes, it’s perhaps the most
obtain the recommended eight hours of nightly increase your chances of injury across a season by
painless and enjoyable to follow. The irony here is
sleep leading to severe consequences. more than 200%.
that, in medical practice, inadequate sleep leads
Insufficient sleep is now one of the most significant Routinely sleeping less than six hours a night also to inadequate healthcare. Junior doctors working a
lifestyle factors influencing whether or not you compromises your immune system, significantly 30-hour-plus shift will make 460% more diagnostic
will develop Alzheimer’s disease. During sleep, increasing your risk of cancer. So much so, that mistakes than when well rested. These same tired
a remarkable sewage system in the brain, called recently the World Health Organization classified physicians will commit 36% more serious medical
the glymphatic system, kicks into high gear. As any form of night-time shiftwork as a probable errors, compared with those working 16 hours or
you enter deep sleep, this sanitisation system carcinogen. less. Seasoned physicians can suffer the same
cleanses the brain of a sticky, toxic protein linked compromise of medical skills. A senior attending
Inadequate sleep – even moderate reductions of
to Alzheimer’s, known as beta amyloid. Without surgeon who has slept only six hours or less the
two to three hours for just one week – disrupts
sufficient sleep, you fail to get that power cleanse. previous night is 170% more likely to inflict a
blood sugar levels so profoundly that you would be
With each passing night of insufficient sleep, serious surgical error on a patient, relative to
classified as pre-diabetic. Short sleeping increases
that Alzheimer’s disease risk escalates, like when they have slept adequately. It is worth noting
the likelihood of your coronary arteries becoming
compounding interest on a loan. evidence from scientific studies showing that after
blocked and brittle, setting you on a path towards
22 hours without sleep, human performance is
Parenthetically, and unscientifically, I have always cardiovascular disease, stroke and congestive
impaired to the same level as that of someone who
found it curious that Margaret Thatcher and Ronald heart failure.
is legally drunk.
Reagan – two leaders who were very vocal, if not
Strikingly, all it takes is one hour of lost sleep, as
proud, about sleeping only four to five hours a night Young doctors themselves can become part of
demonstrated by a global experiment performed
– both went on to develop the ruthless disease of the compromised health-care equation caused
on 1.6 billion people across more than 60 countries
Alzheimer’s. The current US president, Donald Trump by long hours. After a 30-hour continuous shift,
twice a year, otherwise known as daylight saving
– also a vociferous proclaimer of sleeping just a few trainee doctors are 73% more likely to accidentally
times. In the spring, when we lose one hour of
hours each night – may want to take note. stab themselves with a hypodermic needle or cut
sleep, there is a 24% increase in heart attacks the
themselves with a scalpel, risking a blood-borne
Perhaps you have also noticed a desire to eat more following day. In the autumn, we gain an hour of
infectious disease, compared with their careful
when you’re tired? This is no coincidence. Too sleep opportunity, and there is a 21% reduction in
actions when adequately rested. And when a
little sleep swells concentrations of a hormone heart attacks. Most of us think little of losing an
doctor finishes a long overnight shift and drives
that makes you feel hungry while suppressing a hour of sleep, yet it is anything but trivial.
home, their chances of being involved in a car crash
companion hormone that otherwise signals food
Sleep disruption has further been associated are increased by 168% because of insufficient
satisfaction. Despite being full, you will still want
with all major psychiatric conditions, including sleep. Sleep should therefore be considered a life-
to eat more. It’s a recipe linked to weight gain in
depression, anxiety and suicidality. Indeed, in my support system; a universal national healthcare
sleep-deficient adults and children alike.
research over the past 20 years, we have not been plan still waiting to be fully embraced by medicine,
Worse, should you try to diet but don’t get enough able to find a single major psychiatric condition in and society at large.
sleep while doing so, it is futile, since up to 70% which sleep is normal. Science is thus proving the
I believe it is therefore time for us, as individuals
of the weight you lose will come from lean body prophetic wisdom of Charlotte Brontë, who stated
and as nations, to reclaim our right to a full night
mass, not fat. Turn these facts around and you that “a ruffled mind makes a restless pillow”.
of sleep, without embarrassment or the terrible
realise that plentiful sleep is powerful tool for
Add the above physical and mental health stigma of laziness. Governments and health
controlling your appetite, your weight and keeping
consequences up, and a scientifically validated link institutes must themselves become a voice that
your body trim.
becomes easier to accept: the shorter your sleep, educates society about sleep.
Related is the association between plentiful the shorter your life. Recent findings demonstrate
Put simply: sleep – a consistent seven- to nine-
slumber and athletic performance. Sleep is that individuals who routinely sleep five hours a
hour opportunity each night – is the single most
perhaps the greatest legal performance-enhancing night have a 65% increased risk of dying at any
effective thing we can do to reset our brain and
“drug” that few people are taking advantage of. moment in time, relative to those getting seven
body health each day, and the reason I revere and
Obtain less than eight hours of sleep a night, and to nine hours a night. The elastic band of sleep
adore sleep (scientifically and personally).
especially less than six hours a night, and the deprivation can stretch only so far before it snaps.
following happens: time to physical exhaustion • Why We Sleep: The New Science of Sleep
It is therefore no coincidence that countries where
drops by 10 to 30%, as does aerobic output; and Dreams by Matthew Walker is out now in
sleep time has declined most dramatically over
limb extension force and vertical jump height are paperback, published by Penguin Books
the past century, such as the US, the UK, Japan
reduced; peak and sustained muscle strength
and South Korea, and several countries in western Article from www.theGuardian.com
decrease. Add to this the cardiac, metabolic and
Europe, are also those suffering the greatest
respiratory effects: higher rates of lactic acid
7
Shaping a future where students
with disabilities can succeed
01 716 4396 www.ahead.ie /ahead.ie /aheadireland
Association for Higher Education Visit our website or get in touch
for all you need to know about
Access & Disability accessing college or employment
THE INSTITUTE OF GUIDANCE COUNSELLORS NEWSLETTER
BECOMING AN ONLINE CAREER
GUIDANCE PRACTITIONER Barbara Verner
There was an evolution associated with both the inspiration and birth of my Online
Career Guidance & Coaching practice which I would like to share with you.
BACKGROUND clients, some of which you can view on barbaraverner.com , has also confirmed
this. The protocols for working online with my clients can be read in the ‘Terms
and Conditions’ in the ‘booking’ section of the website. All clients have to sign
I had the pleasure of working as a Guidance Counsellor in Ireland from 1997 and agree to these ‘T & C’s’ before the first session. Other matters relating
to 2014. This included working in second level education, in Marian College, to ‘cyber security’ issues and choices of platforms are explained. VSEE, for
Dublin, and during that time a wonderful seven years working with the Trinity example, is available to my clients. It is an audio visual communications
Access Programme, five years as a supervisor on behalf of the IGC and five platform which is ‘HIPPA’ compliant. (HIPAA stands for the Health Insurance
years as a part-time member of staff as a group facilitator and supervisor on Portability and Accountability Act. It is a US law designed to provide privacy
the DCU MSC Guidance Counselling programme. I commuted to the UK for standards to protect patients' medical records and other health information
five years prior to leaving Ireland permanently in 2014 and I am now living provided to, doctors, hospitals and other health care providers). FACETIME
in Kent. (This is relevant!) I made the decision to leave Ireland with some and WHATSAPP are end to end encrypted. My clients are therefore able to
regret as I knew, despite the pleasure of being with my “growing” family, make an informed choice. It is interesting to note that the marriage counselling
who were by then all living in the UK, I was going to greatly miss the close service in the UK, ‘Relate’, offers, ‘Live Chat’ and ‘Webcam’ counselling as
network of colleagues, fellow Guidance Counsellors and others, that I had alternatives to face to face therapy. This offers busy working couples
grown to respect professionally and whose friendships had enhanced both accessibility and convenience because, obviously, there is no need to travel,
my professional and personal life. Having made the move I chose to work and no parking difficulties! My own supervisor lives in Ireland and all of our
in Further Education in the UK. I felt this was necessary for me to acquire supervision sessions are conducted online.
experience and knowledge of both the education system and the UK labour
market. It was a steep learning curve but invaluable.
I also decided to develop a counselling practice. Having trained in ‘Choice
Theory Psychology’ I undertook study and an examination and I am now
a registered member of the BACP (British Association of Counselling and
Psychotherapy). I am also member of the BACP Coaching Division. However, I
continued to imagine and hope that it may not be necessary for me to completely
leave behind my wonderful network colleagues in Ireland. I wondered if,
perhaps, technology would provide a way in which I could continue working
with them in some new capacity. While I was in the “commuting phase”
between Ireland and the UK, SKYPE became a lifeline to me. It provided me
with a medium of communication with my family, which allowed me to talk to
them, see them, and short of being with them physically it gave me a sense of
“being with them”. I later learned, whilst I was undertaking ‘online therapy
training’, that this is due to what is called “the perceptual illusion of non-
mediation”. What this means is that the ‘medium of communication’ recedes
and we experience the other “as if” they are physically present, as though the
other is “in the room” with us.
As a result of these experiences I wondered if such technology could be used,
SETTING UP AN ‘ONLINE CAREER
for instance, in the practice of ‘online counselling’. If so, it would enable me GUIDANCE’ PRACTICE
to continue to work with colleagues and clients in Ireland and the UK. So,
as previously mentioned, I undertook training to become an accredited online There was, for me, a seminal moment which inspired me to dedicate my
counsellor, a ‘cyber therapist’. I trained with the ‘Institute for Online Therapy time and resources into undertaking both the research and work necessary
UK’. (Their training is recognised by the BACP). I achieved my accreditation to establish an ‘Online Career Guidance Counselling’ practice. I was invited
and established my online counselling practice: www.barbaraverner.com. to deliver a webinar to the MSC Guidance & Counselling students in DCU on
Other reasons for undertaking this essential training, was because I had key the subject of “Online Counselling”. It covered the history, methods, practice
questions I needed answered. For example, issues relating to cyber security, and protocols associated with online counselling. However, feedback from the
confidentiality, and importantly, how to go about creating the right type of learners indicated that they were, rightfully in my opinion, a little disappointed
“online presence”. In other words creating the right conditions for the that the webinar focused on “Online Counselling” and not ‘Online Career
relationship with my clients so that they would experience each session with Guidance Counselling’. As a result of this informal feedback I made the decision
me just ‘as if’ they were meeting with me ‘face to face’. Online counselling/ to dedicate however much time as would be necessary into researching the
therapy is not necessarily appropriate for everyone but for those who feel viability of establishing an ‘Online Career Guidance’ service and, also, of
comfortable with the online medium and for those for whom such accessibility course, its potential efficacy. (Did you know that: in 1959 (!) The Nebraska
is needed it has a valuable role to play. The Metanoia Institute in London Psychiatric Institute was instrumental in delivering a working two way audio
conducted research into the efficacy of online or e-therapy. 400 participants video tele-psychiatry service via closed circuit television? And did you know,
were asked: “Did e-therapy help them?” Over 90% responded that it did. also, that as early as the mid-1960s Joseph Weizengraum from Massachusets
https://www.metanoia.org/imhs/alliance.htm. I was therefore confident that IT (MIT), created the first ‘e-therapy’ computer programme called ”Eliza”?
establishing an online therapy practice would be not only advantageous for Eliza followed a script that parroted the role of a Rogerian psychotherapist
many but its efficacy had been reliably evidenced. The feedback from my interviewing a new client. The client, in this case, was interacting with the
‘Eliza’ programme not an actual person! I was certainly very surprised to know
9
THE INSTITUTE OF GUIDANCE COUNSELLORS NEWSLETTER
that the idea of using such technology had been conceived as early as the 50’s
and 60’s ! ) MUMSTUCK provides CAREER COACHING
Once again, I immediately had questions about how, for example, if I were
for Mums returning to their careers - not work!
working with clients online, it would be possible to conduct assessments
(Our philosophy is if you are a parent - you ARE working!)
appropriately and effectively? This would have to include both myself and
the client being able to read instructions together and being able to provide We know your time is precious and limited so our services
interpretation and feedback of results ‘as though’ we were working together
are ALL ONLINE - so YOU choose the space & time that
face to face? Obviously, ‘screen sharing’ would be a necessity. SKYPE
provides the screen sharing facility and there are other platforms such as
works best for you. (Dad’s welcome too!) [UK & Ireland]
‘Google Hangout’ and ‘ZOOM Video Conferencing” However, in my experience,
so far, SKYPE has proved to be first choice for most of my clients. As I mentioned before my intention was to replicate all of the features of
I also needed to be assured that if I were using audio visual mediums of best practice the client experiences in the face to face encounter with a
communication I could offer the holistic model of ‘Career Guidance Counselling’ professional career coach but in this case it would be experienced by them
for which I was trained. online. So for example, when using career development platforms, ‘interest’,
‘skills’, ‘personality’ or ‘aptitude’ assessments it is, obviously, possible to
I decided to research the current availability of ‘Online Career Guidance/ use screen sharing for the purposes of demonstrating how they are used and
Coaching”. At that time, in 2018, I could only find one provider and that was for the sharing and discussion of results. I then purchased KUDOS AD for
in India. I am currently unable to find any dedicated online Career Guidance the use of my clients in the UK. This is a Career Development platform for
Service in Ireland, and there is now just one, that I can find, in the UK. (Open adults designed by Loughborough University and in the case of my Irish clients
to correction of course!) I also read a paper written by Jaana Kettunen I use ‘CareersPortal. While, in my experience, these platforms are excellent
entitled “The future challenge in career service” in which she states: “Social information sources and encourage independent client research they do
media is a new area for career practitioners who vary considerably in their not replace the need for the professional career guidance practitioner. The
experience in use of technology in career services. Some practitioners are MUMSTUCK website also provides all of the other services that would be
not convinced of the relevance of technology in delivering career services and expected from a professional Career Guidance/Coaching service such as CV
others do not have the skills or confidence to be able to do this effectively” and interview preparation and more.
Kettunen goes on to say: “Emerging technologies provide new opportunities
to create new practices and paradigms to better reach individuals who need The lecturer in Computer Systems Development in East Kent College, Tim
assistance with career exploration and decision-making. The challenge to Jackson, invited me to offer his students the opportunity to develop the initial
guidance practitioners as a profession is to decide how to best use existing technicalities for the MUMSTUCK website. I am very grateful both to him
and emerging technologies”. (Janna Kettunen is a leading researcher into and his students for their input at this initial stage. However, I subsequently,
Career Guidance Practitioners conceptions of and their competency in the use needed a designer and someone with ‘UE’ (user experience) skills. I employed
of social media in career services.) Jessica Henley-Price, a professional digital designer, to design and complete
the www.mumstuck.com website.
Many mums, returning to their careers, have an interest in setting up their
own business, or freelancing, because of the flexibility and autonomy it affords
THE BIRTH OF ‘MUMSTUCK’ them. So the second member of the MUMSTUCK team joined, Clare Bennett.
Clare has considerable experience in the retail sector and has worked with
When I was forming my ideas about establishing my online counselling
global labels such as Jaeger. She also has experience running her own
practice and my online Career Coaching practice, I felt having the direct
businesses and has experience as a trainer for various companies.
experience of working online with a coach myself was essential. My coach’s
name is John Murphy of John Murphy International. John had been a Also, many women can experience discrimination when, for example, they reveal
colleague of mine in Ireland. He now conducts his Business Coaching practice that they are pregnant, let alone when they take maternity leave, and may need
from the South of France. This experience was instrumental in convincing me legal advice. Fortunately, I met with Alison Humphry who is a lawyer. Alison
of the efficacy of working online with my own clients. As a result I established is from Australia though now lives and practices in the UK. She specialises
my online counselling practice and through subsequent sessions with John in supporting women who need to set up flexible working contracts with their
the inspiration for MUMSTUCK was born! employers. She also specialises in employment discrimination issues.
I had always been deeply struck by Kathleen Lynch’s ideas about, what she I would like to invite you to visit: www.mumstuck.com and I hope you not
calls “Loves Labour”. “Women are 2.5 times as likely as men to take the online enjoy looking at the beauty of it visually but that you also enjoy reading
primary responsibility for the care of dependent children. Almost all of about this project in which I believe passionately. I would also very much like
those who care for both adult dependents and children at the same time are to receive feedback from any Guidance Counsellors who feel they may have
women….. Unpaid family carers (most of whom are women) suffer a direct ideas to contribute to this evolving project or indeed if they feel that they
material loss due to caring.” would be interested in extending their own practice to working with clients
online. I can be contacted at: mumstuck@gmail.com.
For some time I had been observing the difficulties and barriers my clients, my
daughters, their friends and other women, who are full-time mums, face when
they decide that it is time for them to return to their careers. It’s important REFERENCES:
to note that 54,000 women lose their jobs in the UK annually because of BACP guidelines on GDPR for counsellors.https://bac-pac.co.uk/wp-content/
discriminatory practices related to maternity leave “Women returning to work uploads/2018/04/GDPR-ebook.pdf.
after a child are more likely to face discrimination than they were ten years Kettunen, J., Vuorinen, R., & Sampson, J.P (2013). “Career practitioners conceptions of social
ago, says Equality and Human Rights Commission report.” (The Guardian media in career services.” British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 41, 302-317
2018) It is shocking to me that the same difficulties and barriers that I faced, https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/parenting/why-half-of-irish-
in the 1990’s, continue to be the reality for so many women. Indeed, reading mothers-work-during-maternity-leave-1.3059740
that statistic, not only have the conditions for mums not improved but they https://www.irishtimes.com/business/personal-finance/how-companies-let-down-women-
appear to be getting worse! The contribution of women’s “love’s labour” is returning-after-maternity-leave-1.3520200
not recognised as an equality, human rights issue by society because it does Why love, care and solidarity are equality and human rights issues See Lynch, K. et al. (2009)
not value “work” that is not “waged”. Given the population decline in many Affective Equality: Love, Care and Injustice. London: Palgrave Macmillan
Western countries one wonders how society envisages future generations Barbara Verner is a Counsellor and Career Guidance Coach. She is a private practitioner working
will be propagated? with her clients both face to face and online. Her counselling practice website is available at:
www.barbaraverner.com. Her Career Coaching practice is available at: www.mumstuck.com
10THE INSTITUTE OF GUIDANCE COUNSELLORS NEWSLETTER
Research shows some increase in number of students
taking higher level subjects
T
he Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh T.D. announced A further finding from the research relates to the relatively lower take-up of
in January that the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) higher level subjects in smaller schools and in disadvantaged schools that
has published research on the early impacts of the revised grading form part of the Department’s DEIS programme.
scheme for Leaving Certificate examinations which was introduced in June
Schools in the DEIS programme didn’t record the same increases in higher-
2017.
level take up, widening the gap between DEIS and non-DEIS schools in term
The reform of the Leaving Certificate grading scheme was designed to help of the proportion of students taking higher-level courses, while small schools
to reduce the pressure on students at exam time and enable them to have faced constraints around class sizes and their ability to offer subjects at
a broader and more rounded learning experience in their senior cycle. The different levels to their students.
implementation of these reforms is being overseen by the Transitions Reform
Students in the study considered that the gap between the points awarded for
Group, which is chaired by the Department of Education and Skills and whose
higher and ordinary level papers was too wide and did not reflect the effort and
membership includes representatives from across the education sector.
workload involved at ordinary level.
The revised Leaving Certificate grading scheme now has 8 grade bands
Students opting to study higher level subjects were motivated by the rewards
whereas previously there were 14 grade bands. The smaller number of broader
of persevering with higher level courses, with Maths being notably singled
bands was designed to ease the pressure on students to achieve marginal
out for the bonus points awarded for those achieving over 40%. However, the
gains in examinations, and encourage more substantial engagement with each
research shows that this created a difficulty for some students opting to study
subject. The new scheme also awards points to candidates who receive a
higher level who may not have the capacity to undertake that level.
mark of 30-39 % on a higher-level paper in the Leaving Certificate, equivalent
to the new H7 grade, and is designed to encourage the take-up of higher-level Commenting on the publication of the research, Minister for Education
subjects. and Skills Joe McHugh T.D. said:
The research, commissioned by the National Council for Curriculum and “I welcome the publication of this research by the ESRI and the NCCA into the
Assessment on behalf of the Transitions Reform Group, shows that overall, revised Leaving Certificate grading system. This research provides a valuable
more students are taking higher-level subjects, especially Irish, English and insight into the early impacts of these changes and will help shape future
Mathematics, as a result of the new grading system. policy on these important issues. We are still at an early stage of the reforms
and we will need to continue to assess their impacts on students.”
There has also been a reduction in the number of students who are randomly
awarded a course in higher education as a result of the changes, the research Selina McCoy, Associate Research Professor at the ESRI commented:
showed. The findings also indicated that students adopted the new grading “The research points to challenges for students in making subject level
scheme without much difficulty. decisions – with the incentives such that they feel pressure to stay with
higher level, even though they may feel ill-equipped. As a consequence, time
However, the research also shows that this increase in the uptake of higher
on other subjects is displaced and additional stress is created for students.”
level subjects has led to a weakening of the overall grade profile for higher
level examinations, which was an expected outcome of the reform. This is John Hammond, CEO of the NCCA said:
most notable in the cases of Mathematics and Irish, where the increase “The publication of research on the impact of the new Leaving Certificate
in the number of students taking these subjects at higher level has been grading system at this early stage is useful and timely, pointing the way
accompanied by an increase in the number of students attaining lower grades. towards further monitoring and research that will be needed as the changes
The number of students sitting higher level Mathematics rose from 28% in involved bed down in the senior cycle experience. They’re also noted in the
2016 to 30% in 2017, while the numbers sitting higher level Irish rose from context of the extensive review of senior cycle education currently being
42% in 2016 to 46% in 2017. undertaken by the NCCA.”
Research examines association between early mobile
phone ownership and children’s academic outcomes
C
hildren who owned a mobile phone at age 9 performed less well at age 9. The observed association between mobile phone ownership and test
in tests at age 13, according to recent ESRI research funded by the scores remains when we take account of many of the factors which typically
Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment influence test scores such as socioeconomic class.
and the Commission on Communications Regulation (ComReg).
As schools have recently been consulting with their staff, students and
The research uses data from 8,500 children in the Growing Up in Ireland study parents on the place of personal devices in the school setting, these results
to examine the academic performance of children who owned a mobile phone may help schools in making decisions on whether and when to restrict access
at an earlier age. It finds that children who owned a mobile phone at age 9 to personal devices, particularly during the primary school years.
scored four per cent less on average in standardised reading and maths tests
Commenting on the publication of the research, Selina McCoy, Associate
at age 13.
Research Professor at the ESRI commented, “This is the first time the ESRI
The research finds that 40 per cent of children owned a mobile phone by the has looked at the impact of mobile phone ownership on children’s academic
age of 9. Children attending more socially disadvantaged schools are more development. It is important to keep monitoring this going forward in order to
likely to have mobile phones. Children with parents who have higher incomes provide evidence for the growing debate about the potential effects of screen
and higher levels of education are less likely to own their own mobile phones time and mobile phone use of young people in Ireland.”
11THE INSTITUTE OF GUIDANCE COUNSELLORS NEWSLETTER
Helping a student who
is struggling with
anxiety
Carina McEvoy
Living in this modern, digital, on demand, 24/7 society Emotions can feel so overpowering for teenagers
can be overwhelming for anyone, let alone a teenager. also. At times they may even feel trapped by them. To a
The stress of school work, homework, class tests and state teen, it may seem unfeasible to think that any negative
exams is never too far away. The pressures of social media emotion can and will pass, when they are experiencing it!
are constant, as popularity and self approval now comes in
Is it any wonder that anxiety has well and truly
the form of ‘likes’. The thousand selfies that are posted to
taken hold of our teens today? When you consider all
Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter etc not only have
of the above, it doesn’t really come as a surprise to hear
to appear deliriously happy but they also have to be filtered
that there are countless teens through-out this country,
to absolute perfection. Not a single blemish allowed.
suffering from anxiety and waiting to see a psychologist.
Conflicts, fall outs and even worse bullying, extends beyond
The real problem however is the length of wait time they
school hours and the teen’s front door to reach right into
must endure. Because, while they are waiting, that anxiety
their head and their heart with snide online comments,
is growing and festering into more serious mental health
posted privately or even publicly for that added sense of
issues. And in a catch 22 situation, it is only the more
humiliation.
moderate to severe cases the Child and Mental Health
Life is also extremely busy for our modern teen, Service was actually set up to accommodate. So, what
between school hours, homework and activities, they seem happens our anxious teens? The anxiety tightens its grip
to be constantly active. And if they do receive some down and invites other more serious issues such as OCD, social
time, they have a phone in their hands keeping their brains phobia, depression, self-harm and so on to take hold also!
constantly stimulated! The idea of being separated from
This big question is how can we stop this?
their phones would be horrifying. This constant stimulation
Anxiety has become such an epidemic. It is like a massive
is leading to so many issues such as screen addiction, a lack
monster that we have become afraid to tackle, in case we
of face to face social and communication skills, a lack of
make things worse. So, while anxiety itself is a problem,
imagination and creativity and a low tolerance frustration
the fear of anxiety is an even bigger one! Anxiety itself is
to boredom. On top of all that, screen use makes it more
a very natural and normal response to danger. It is that
difficult for the brain shut down for much needed rest
flight versus fight response we all feel when faced with a
leading to difficulty falling asleep, which inevitably leads
threatening situation. It is our protective mind stepping
to day time tiredness and a lower ability to concentrate or
in to keep us safe. As soon as a threat occurs, our brain
focus on activities. This can lead to much frustration from
kickstarts a range of physiological changes in the body in
well meaning teachers within school.
order to help it stay alive. Blood rushes from the stomach
Couple all these struggles related to our new to the brain, causing that butterfly in our tummy sensation.
modern world with the psychological development of Adrenaline floods the system, the lungs work harder to
teenagers and we really have a recipe for disaster. Teens increase the intake of oxygen, the heart beats faster to
are going through that difficult conflict of identity versus pump blood around our body, the senses are heightened
role confusion, or more commonly known as ‘Identity and the appetite is suppressed. All of the changes are
Crisis’, a term coined by developmental psychologist Erik geared towards preparing the body for action, be it stay
Erikson. He believed that this was such an important stage and fight that threat or run away from it.
of psychological development in one’s life. The teen goes
However, in this new world, teenagers can perceive
through a phase much like a toddler, trying to exert their
anything as a threat. The possibility of going red in front
own independence from their parents. They are trying
of their classmates, the possibility of being given out to by
to find out who they are and stand out as an individual,
a teacher, the possibility of being shunned by their ‘pack’.
yet fit in with a ‘pack’, because humans want to fit in
It is no longer only the sight of a woolly mammoth casing
somewhere. We all have that sense of belonging. Friends
you as you hunt for your dinner back in the caveman days
and relationships can be put on a pedestal while parents
that sets off that fight or flight response. And for anyone
are found somewhere at the bottom of it. This alone can
experiencing these natural biological sensations, with
often lead to clashes at home and a battle of the wills!
no apparent cause, or ‘real’ danger, it can be extremely
12THE INSTITUTE OF GUIDANCE COUNSELLORS NEWSLETTER
frightening. People may feel like they are actually going to
die in times of an extreme anxiety experience. They may
even become anxious at the very thought of becoming
anxious! And the general response to anxiety is flight, to
run away, avoid the situation at all costs.
The aim believe it or not, is not to get rid of
anxiety. Why would we want to banish something that
was biologically designed to keep us safe? So in order to
help a teenager suffering with this new modern day age
anxiety, we must help them to manage it. Guide them to a
place where they can regulate anxiety themselves. So that
they are building the skills they need not only to regulate
anxiety but any unhealthy emotion that is disturbing
their life. Once they gain that valuable skill of emotion
regulation, they will have it forever also. So isn’t it a skill
worth teaching? end of the situation actually occurring. Asking what the worst
The greatest teachers are of course the teen’s case scenario is going to be. Anxiety thinks that the situation
parents/guardians. Because we are creatures of ‘monkey occurring, whatever the feared situation is, will be the end
see, monkey do!’ Therefore, seeing how a role model of the world. The absolute worst thing that could ever
approaches any adversity in life with control, acceptance happen. Talking through it logically and factually can
and positive strategies to overcome it as best as possible really help the teen come to that realisation that indeed
is vital. Seeing a smart attitude to life being modelled at everything will be okay. But they have got that reassurance
home is important for teens to be able to copy that attitude by the process of going through it and figuring that out for
and behaviour in their life. Therefore, it is important for themselves. Which is so much more powerful than an adult
parents/guardians to have a handle on their own anxieties. just telling them that it will be okay!
As Guidance Counsellors, I would suggest, encouraging Secondly, rushing in with a solution to help the
the parent/guardian to become part of the process of teenager calm their worries doesn’t help them in the long run
guiding the teen towards anxiety management. Anxiety to manage their own fears. They come to rely on other
management is a whole family approach. people for answers instead of learning to find their own
Guidance Counsellors and teachers are important answers. Allowing them to develop that important life skill of
role models too of course. And the role of Guidance problem solving is a far better approach. Guiding them to
Counsellors and teachers at school in helping students possible solutions, helping them to look at the pros and
grow and develop into mature, capable young adults has cons of each solution they think of. Help them chose the
never been more important. best one and encourage them to test it out. Not only will
they learn to find their own solutions, but they will also
With that in mind, let’s look at how Guidance find the confidence in themselves to do so also. As adults,
Counsellors and teachers can help students loosen the we possibly see the solution quicker and tend to offer it
grip of that anxiety they feel. How can you, as a Guidance up, however teaching the teen to problem solve the issue
Counsellor, guide a teenager to that place where they can and come up with a range of solutions they could try, is
successfully manage their own fears, nervousness, anxiety more beneficial to them in the long-run. Life is full of up’s
or indeed any emotion? and down’s and learning to manage the down’s that occur
In order to answer that, I feel it is important to using this important practical skills of problem solving is
look at the most common unhelpful reactions a concerned going to stand to the teen in the future.
adult may have, in a bid to help someone suffering with Another error which often occurs in a well-
anxiety. First of all, telling a teenager who is anxious meaning way is helping the student avoid that anxious situation.
‘not to worry’ does not really help. ‘Don’t worry about it’ If they don’t have to face that anxious situation, then they
actually means very little to an anxious mind. In fact the won’t feel the anxiety and isn’t that what we want? Actually,
subconscious mind doesn’t even register a negative. So the no, it’s not. We want the teen to be able to experience the
subconscious is actually hearing ‘worry about it?’ A lot of anxiety and know that they can survive it! And that is only
what we worry about in terms of anxiety tends to be future something they will come to truly realise for themselves
based and at times quite irrational. So while we can plea when they actually face their anxiety head on! Of course,
to the conscious mind to think logically and rationally, the facing anxiety is hugely difficult and must be done in a baby
emotional mind does not work that way. Not only is it not step format. This form of exposure therapy helps the individual
helpful, but being constantly told ‘not to worry about it’ realise they can manage a small level of ‘distress’ yet get past
could result in that particular teen giving up on vocalising it. They learn they can become comfortable with the feeling,
their anxieties and fears and instead internalising their so much so in fact, that the feelings subside. Then they can
emotions. It is far better to say, ‘if such and such a thing go on to take the next step. But by helping the teen avoid the
happens, we will deal with it.’ Then looking at ways you will situation, the anxiety not only wins, it becomes more deeply
actually deal with it. A good way to do that is to talk through engrained in the teens mind.
the issue and bring the teen right the way through to the
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