Counselling achievements

Masters of Counselling students from The University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle presented their research theses to staff and students of the University in November. The postgraduate students, who will graduate in December, are required to complete a thesis contributing to a third of their two year masters degree. They must undertake extensive research in an area of counselling practice. Coordinator of Counselling, Professor Martin Philpott said the presentation gave the students a chance to present to students and staff of the University their discoveries and overview the work they have been doing over the past two years. “The presentation gave an insight into the kind of research relevant to the practice of counselling, undertaken by students in accordance with the philosophy of the programme,” said Professor Philpott. Research areas for this year’s graduating students included; domestic violence, chronic fatigue syndrome, the lived experience of panic disorder and pilgrimage as therapy. Graduating student Mr Kenneth Culbert who undertook his research on ‘pilgrimage and counselling’ found that pilgrimage can be used as more than a metaphor for the therapeutic journey. He explained the metaphor of journey is often used in counselling. It conveys process, movement, feeling lost, confused, lacking a sense of direction or even wondering what is the point. Mr Culbert said undertaking this research, though a lot of hard work, was a great experience and changed they way he as a counsellor works with his clients. “Researching, planning and writing this thesis has been the most frustrating and most rewarding experience during my Masters course at Notre Dame. My thesis may not change the world, but is has changed the way I look at it. It has confirmed my work as a counsellor, it’s not only the goal that matters, it’s the process,” said Kenneth Culbert