|
Return To the Celestial Review (This does NOT open a new window) Return To the Index (This does NOT open a new window) Note, to make reading multi-part stories easier, story links (links with dejanews.com or www.qz.to, NOT the review or profile links) will open up a new browser window. When you are done reading the story, or section of the story simply CLOSE the story window. |
|
"The Beginning Of a Life" by LeAnna (counseling session) 10, 8, 8
"The Beginning Of a Life" by LeAnna (leanna1@hotmail.com). --- This story is a snippet from a counseling session in which a sexually confused person is discussing with her therapist her present and prospective relationships. It's an example of good counseling. Indeed, many people could probably derive good vicarious advice from this story and apply it to their own lives. One problem that I had with this story is that it reminded me of a computer program called Eliza that somebody showed me several years ago. Eliza is programmed to simulate a non-directive {Rogerian} counselor. The program keys on certain words and just feeds the clients ideas back to him/her. If the computer finds no key word, it goes into a random response pattern, including such techniques as saying, (1) "I see." (2) "Why do you think you {insert most of client's sentence}?" or (3) "Have you ever thought of getting drunk over this?" It was that last part that convinced me that Eliza was a hoax; somebody was making fun of non-directive counselors. So when I read this story, I couldn't help but think of Eliza, and I was reassured when the shrink said, (1) "I see." and (2) "Why do you think you {insert most of client's sentence}?" But it was kind of like waiting for the other shoe to fall: I kept waiting for her to say (3) "Have you ever thought of getting drunk over this?" My reaction was, of course, irrational and irreverent. Although this is not a fully developed story, it is a good description of an interesting and productive counseling session. By the way, one of the great tragedies of American education is that counselors in our schools almost never conduct counseling sessions like the one described here. Kids certainly have sexual problems that need discussing and most schools have counselors who are as capable as the person described in this story. The problem is that these counselors are so preoccupied with drawing up schedules and mailing transcripts that they have no time whatsoever to counsel people with emotional problems. And so kids get counseled by other kids or by watching the soaps or reading this newsgroup. Check it out. This is something worth getting pissed off about. Ratings for "The Beginning Of a Life" Athena (technical quality): 10 Venus (plot & character): 8 Celeste (appeal to reviewer): 8 |