parenting – Iain Douglas Stewart

Further thoughts on my father’s passing

By Iain 27 March 2025ReflectionsNo Comments

So, my Dad died. As I said in the other post, we weren't close by any stretch of the imagination, the last time I saw him in person was in maybe 1997 or 1998 when I was in my early twenties, the last time I spoke to him on the phone was in 2019 on Jake's birthday (I didn't actually…

If your grandfather was here today, would you be able to look him in the eye?

By Iain 21 October 2020Reflections, The MissionNo Comments

Men: Are you proud of your behavior? If your grandfather was here today, would you be able to look him in the eye? Are you a man of the world, caving to whatever temptation it puts under your nose? Or do you want to be uncommon, a great man? Do you want to be proud of yourself?— EthanE (@ethan_ethos) October…

L3CiCS Reflective Diary – 22nd May 2020

By Iain 22 May 2020Qualifications courseworkNo Comments

Ethics in counselling are very important. I will be using the BACP’s Ethical Framework as contextual guidance to explore these hypothetical Ethical dilemmas. A client has been in counselling for a year and has made great progress. She brings in an expensive gift for you. She knows that this is something that you would like, and she knows that you…

L3CiCS Reflective Diary – 3rd April 2020

By Iain 3 April 2020Qualifications courseworkNo Comments

This week we looked at common mental health problems and possible reasons for their incidence in society. Mental health problems could be seen as skewed rules that people are trying to live their lives by. These abstract rules are mostly developed alongside the organism as it grows and learns to navigate this world we live in. These self-created rules form…

L3CiCS Learning Log – 13th December 2019

By Iain 13 December 2019Qualifications courseworkNo Comments

The origins of Psychodynamic Counselling can be traced back to Sigmund Freud in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, and the psychodynamic theory has been continually developed, modified and refined over time. It is based around the philosophy that people are driven by unconscious patterns of behaviour and desires which are shaped by their past experiences. Some examples of things…

L2CiCS: Reflective Diary – 13th June 2018

By Iain 13 June 2018Qualifications courseworkNo Comments

This is the last piece of work I’m going to be writing for this course, and I just wanted to record my thoughts and feelings as it all comes to an end – a conclusion of sorts. If I look back on my initial expectations of the course, they were to gain a basic understanding of counselling and the skills…

L2CiCS: Learning Log – 23rd May 2018

By Iain 23 May 2018Qualifications courseworkNo Comments

This week we looked at enabling the client to identify and focus on their needs and concerns. They might not know where to start, what they want to talk about or even have the capacity to put those thoughts into words. Counsellors identify any difficulties clients have, and use the relevant skills to enable the healing process. We had a…

L2CiCS: Workshop Reflective Diary – 10th February 2018

By Iain 10 February 2018Qualifications courseworkNo Comments

Today our group had a Personal Development weekend. Our first task once we had arrived and settled in was to learn about the Johari Window, and then to create a mask based on our Open Self. There were tables full of decorating materials for us to use. When I first went to enrol on the course our tutor mentioned that…

L2CiCS: Reflective Diary – 10th January 2018

By Iain 10 January 2018Qualifications courseworkNo Comments

Today we explored personal blocks to listening, which are external or internal factors that interfere with a counsellor’s ability to be present in the room and utilise active listening. One internal block to listening that I feel could be pertinent to me, especially at this early stage of my counselling journey, is me wanting to give advice. So often in…