On Counsellors and Being Human

Why is it that counsellors sometimes forget to apply the skills and knowledge they encourage in others' lives - into their own?  A counselling department is similar to a family.  Other departments within the school are similar to families in the neighbourhood that we interact with and, with whom, to varying degrees, we are locked in mutual interdependence. Norms around decision making, communication and power sharing need to be clearly established (but often are not) in order for harmony to exist.   One to the most common difficulties that can arise is failing to apply basic concepts from group dynamics research.  We are all familiar with the stages groups go through: forming, norming, storming, performing and adjourning.  What is often overlooked is that whenever  a member leaves or a new member joins the department (especially an influential member), or outside forces impose change .... the group is forced to go through the initial stages of development again ... back to forming and norming and potentially quite dramatic -- storming.  The trick is to recognize that this is normal for all groups - counselling departments are not immune.  Indeed, counsellors more than anyone need to recognize what is happening and facilitate their own group process and take responsibility for a healthy new group to emerge complete with new (or at least tweaked) norms, new decision making methods, new leadership styles, well established communication protocols and so on.  The group's newcomers can assist by recognizing established group norms, while not being imprisoned by them, and working gently toward change, if needed.  Well educated and skillful counsellors can utilize their group dynamics training to facilitate a peaceful transition leading to order, productivity and harmony while allowing  individuals the maximum possible professional autonomy.   Otherwise, counsellors will experience the same intense disruption that a blended family may experience upon the arrival of a new parent.  Counsellors are human too.