Counselor Competency and the Revised ACES Standards

This article examines the relationship of competency-based counselor education and the revised Standards for the Preparation of Counselors and Other Personnel Specialists of the American Personnel and Guidance Association. The point of view presented stresses the similarities between the two approaches to improving the skills of helpers. The two are viewed as complimentary concepts that should lead to a re-examination and redefinition of counselor education.     

Work-based Learning in an Offshore Environment

This paper describes the pilot stage of a work-based learning project. The partners were the Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, Shell Expro UK and seven Shell technicians who are also part-time students on the Robert Gordon University HND/BSc in Mechanical Engineering. The part-time course follows a day release format but the technicians are employed on a rota of 2 weeks offshore followed by 3 weeks onshore. It was recognized that their work was highly technical and that they had considerable responsibility. Shell have a formal competence assessment scheme and the project team compared this with the learning outcomes of the course. Areas of commonality in four subjects were identified as satisfying certain outcomes although in all cases some secondary evidence of understanding was required in addition to the competencies. A major problem is the inaccessibility of the workplace. Assessment was conducted by rig supervisors and two academics paid a quality assurance visit to a platform. All of the partners have found benefits from the programme although academics also reported an increased workload. It is planned to extend the scheme next year.     

C.H. Patterson: Reflections on Client-Centered Therapy

C.H. Patterson (Pat) has long been a prominent contributor to counseling and counselor education. His published works have been many and varied, including such books as Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy and Foundations for a Theory of Instruction and Educational Psychology. Though these efforts have proven of considerable value, Pat's presentation and interpretation of client-centered therapy has been of particular significance. In this article Pat is interviewed regarding his current views on the client-centered approach.