Recommended novels

I can’t claim any of these recommended novels I’ve read in the past few years will change your life (though they might), but they provide plenty of emotional, spiritual, political and philosophical questions to ponder. As well as being great stories with powerful, intense writing.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Course of the Heart M John Harrison
The Years of Rice and Salt Kim Stanley Robinson
Indigo Graham Joyce
The Time Traveler's Wife Audrey Niffenegger
Atonement Ian McEwan
I Know This Much is True Wally Lamb
The Last Voyage of Somebody the Sailor John Barth
Stone Junction Jim Dodge

Recommended counselling books

Whether you’re a trainee counsellor, or are interested generally in counselling, I recommend both of these titles.

The Carl Rogers Reader Carl Rogers
A great introduction to the work of the father of person-centred counselling.

Person-Centred Counselling in Action Dave Mearns and Brian Thorne
A concise, easy to understand summary of person-centred counselling.

Computer Games and behaviour

In a recent article on BBC Collective, Daniel Etherington questions whether violent computer games can influence behaviour.

I agree with Daniel that the issue lacks proper research. But we also live in a scapegoating culture. Violence is such an irrational act that we seem to need explanations for it - and someone, or something, to blame. Just as comic books were partially blamed for delinquency in 1950s America, the media (TV and the internet) have now been put in the dock for promulgating violence and other crimes against society.

But it does seem clear that games can cause reactions (boosting adrenaline levels, for example). A vivid example was given on a recent TV programme about sleep disorders. One guy who played console games a lot would often wake up in the night and shoot at imaginary enemies through his bedroom window.

As a species, we have a preponderance for violence, but it's clearly too early to say whether computer games and other media and reprogramming susceptible brains to increase that potential.

Free short story - Dr North's Wound

My gothic tale, Dr North's Wound was published in the anthology, Breaking Windows: A Fantastic Metropolis Sampler (Prime Books). The story also received an honourable mention in The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror. Yes, I write crime, horror and science fiction stories - among other things. You may wonder if this is suitable material for a counsellor to be working with. My reply is: why not? I happen to love these genres. And on a subconscious (and sometimes conscious) level, my stories are about people dealing with difficult things in life. How people react and behave when pushed to the edge is something which is fascinating in itself, but I also believe that confronting our fears - whether that's reading Stephen King novels or going to horror movies, or going on the scariest roller coaster you could imaging - is a positive, creative act. And, what the heck, genre fiction is also great fun. It was only my third published story, and I'm still quite proud of it.

Man with a mission

As a counsellor, I strongly believe creativity plays an important role in our wellbeing. What do I mean by "creativity?" Well, you may think I mean writing, drawing, painting, playing a musical instrument, singing and dancing. Yes, that's partly what I do mean. But I also mean living creatively.

It's said that everyone has a book in them. Well, I believe we have entire libraries. The act of writing a book takes time, effort, some talent, the application of the craft and a commitment to pursuing your goal of creating something you'd like people to read. The same could be said of the way we live our lives. In the way a book is created partly through the choices an author makes, and partly through where the story and the characters take themselves (believe me, I know, since this is what happened while I was writing my first novel). And making choices about how we live our lives is probably the creates creative act we have within us. And the most powerful

I've counselled people who have been very troubled, and others who just want to sort some things out in their lives. The therapeutic relationship itself is an act of creation. A shared, consensual world built and developed by client and counsellor alike. And, at its best, the creation evolves something new and significant in a person's life. I believe in this potential. that's why I counsel.

And I believe in creativity as a powerful tool in our lives. As well as something we embrace just for fun, and the joy it can give us. That's some of the reasons I write fiction. I was driven to write fiction from an early age, and in recent years achieved my ambitions of being published. More on this later.

I will use this blog to post thoughts, musings and hopefully helpful stuff for people seeking to sort some things out in their lives. I will post the occasionally essay (not necessarily about counselling, though some will be on that subject.) You'll also find review - books, music, film, whatever is taking my fancy at the time.

And if you want to know more about me, or to find out about online counselling, you can visit my website:
www.therapeutictouchclinic.com

I hope you will enjoy reading my blog, and I welcome any comments or feedback.