Meditation, as a disciplined practice has a developmental history stretching back close on three millenia; Counselling practice is a phenomenom of this twentieth century; it's development has, however, been rapid and intense. Both practices can be said to share a similar broad aim: the reduction of human psychological suffering.

Until recently, the development of western psychology was fundamentally Euro/USAcentric. In the 1960's and 1970's, growing interest in eastern psychological approaches was one of the triggers for the development of humanistic psychology and the human potential movement - with it's emphasis on enhancing well-being rather than the psychological readjustment of the sick. (Rowan,1976). A strong 'self-help' ethos lay at the heart of this movement; those who were psychopractitioners were at the same time engaged with their own process of growth. Those who worked as counsellors were also actively 'being clients' in other situations. The development of the co-counselling method formalised this movement away from 'reliance upon the expert' with reciprocal counselling sessions taking place within a community of peers. Hence in co-counselling an integration (or at least, an exchange) of the roles of counselling and clienting takes place.

This inquiry, however, is concerned with a tripartite integration - counselling, clienting and meditation - to further that end the inquiry group, in addition to being co-counsellors , are also all practising meditators. To that extent the co-researchers are already integrating these two different ways into their lives. The inquiry group came together to explore the possibilities of the simultaneous integration of these two apparently disparate personal growth modalities. The ‘Preliminary Thoughts’ document (App1.4) was presented to the inquiry group at the commencement of the first meeting and offers definitions of counselling, clienting and meditation which have attention as a common factor. This short document contains other important introductory themes.

The first section of this report comprises a literature review which defines and elucidates concepts and theories which are fundamental to the investigation. sections 2&3 describe the process and results of the inquiry; sections 4&5 offer reflections and conclusions on both procedure and outcomes.

Updated 16 June 99
by Martin Wilks