Doodle Guidance

I liked this weeks 'doodle guidance' (aka life space maps). Very much the sort of thing I like (but then again I am a little odd).I have done something a wee bit similar with a group in the past. We made posters using magazine images/words, to represent 'you'. You could make it represent you in the past, present, future, or a mix of the three, whatever you liked. The only rule was you had to include the positive things you think about yourself. This was actually quite a difficult exercise for some of the group, as they generally had low self esteem. It was sad because every single one of them had cut out the word 'help' and stuck it on their poster somewhere. No-one was willing to talk to the group about their poster either, which was a shame because that was supposed to be the 'empowering' bit (but then it was a difficult group with a lot of group tensions).I'm not sure if I entirely agree with Grant about it being tool very unlikely to cause harm - like I said with the repertory grids, if you don't have trust/rapport with the client, this sort of thing can be very exposing. Even through it's in 'code' and you don't have to say anything you don't want to, it would still be scary to do if you didn't trust the counsellor.

Repertory Grids

Overall, I’m a big fan of the self-characterisation we have been doing. However, I don't think it's the right tool for a lot of situations. I can imagine self-characterisation going wrong. It can be very exposing, and so (well-placed) trust is important.

Overall, I can't say I'm keen on repertory grids. I find the numerical rankings overly simplistic.

Use of a wider scale would allow you to represent unequal distance between elements, and it should be possible to score more than one element equally for each construct. It should also be possible to weight the constructs differently for significance.

I also think the linear representation of ‘construct’ and ‘contrast’ is bizarre. It assumes that the implicit and explicit are inherently distinguishable and opposing, and that the ‘preferred’ end of the continuum is recognisable, singular and static.

So, even if the ‘accuracy’ of the scoring were improved, I’m not sure what exactly is ‘measured’.

Can internal constructs ever be adequately plotted onto charts and graphs? Our evaluation of clients’ internal constructs is inevitably filtered through our own internal constructs. How can the bias of the counsellor be addressed? Does it need to be?

I can imagine situations where it might be interesting, even insightful, but it can never be ‘enough’.

I spy with my little eye...

I came across this case study in the march linknet newsletter - our very own Pete's take on mentoring!

Peter (Mentor)

I work as a lecturer at Napier University, and I am involved in teaching trainee career advisers on a post-graduate course. I got involved in Linknet because our students were given the opportunity to become mentors - it would be great experience for their CVs and very relevant to learning about guidance. Having heard what was involved I decided I would give it a try myself . I don't see why students should have all the fun.

For me mentoring gives me an opportunity to work one to one with interesting people. I am a bit rusty, but it enables me to practice the skills of individual guidance that we train our students in. Also as a Londoner, I sometimes miss the incredible ethnic diversity and constant surprise of my home town. Mentoring provides a chance to meet with and have an in depth conversation with someone I would never normally meet. And of course if I am able to be of help then that's a bonus ! Ideally its working towards a situation where the mentee no longer needs you, but the mentor benefits from the process too.