Whom are we counselling?

Non-directional counseling of patients is introduced experientially in a 5-day residential course at the College of Ripon and New York St. John in England. Groups of 3 work on real problems presented by a doctor, with some sessions videotaped for later analysis. Over the past 5 years, 200 doctors, primarily trainees, have participated in the course. The doctors ranged in age from 25-60 years, and participated for a variety of reasons. Increasing frustration with traditional medicine, doubts about career or specialty choice, and doubts about their ability to help others were among the reasons cited for participation. The course is emotionally intense for both students and tutors, but a feeling of camaraderie develops, particularly between the trio members. Although the course was not intended to provide psychotherapy for doctors, the exploration of a patient's problem can lead to a process of self-discovery. Tutors felt keenly the inability to offer proper personal counseling for some of the participants, which highlighted the current lack of organized counseling services for doctors. The rate of suicide, drug abuse, and marital problems in the medical profession is indicative of the need for such counseling. But, because of self and public perceptions about the omnipotence of doctors, it is questionable that doctors would avail themselves of counseling services. This course might provide a realistic option, in that its overt aim is teaching a skill while covertly offering a limited amount of personal counseling.