Some thumbnail sketches of books, magazines and articles about co-counselling. Only items thought to be currently (1983) available are listed.
Suggestions for obtaining these publications can be found later on page 83.
The Human Side of Human Beings: the theory of re-evaluation counseling, Harvey Jackins, 1975, Rational Island, Seattle. This is Jackins' original published outline of what co-counselling is about, written in the 1960s, and his views on why the process works.
Co-counselling: "everyone is a psychiatrist", Jerome Liss, Chapter 17 of his book Free to Feel, 1974, Wildwood House: London. A sympathetic account and commentary. Liss, a professional therapist, says "I've co-counselled with a number of people and have gained personally."
Ordinary Ecstacy, John Rowan, 1976, Routledge & Kegan Paul, London. The chapters on 'personal growth' and 'counselling' include an informative and sharp introduction to co-counselling. A refreshing perspective by someone outside organized co-counselling of whatever persuasion.
What's Co-counselling?, A poster designed by Rose Evison, published by Co-counselling Phoenix: Sheffield. The question is posed and answers proposed on a 20" X 30" three-colour poster. The format comprises a strip-cartoon dialogue between an Enquirer and a Cat who seems to know a lot about co-counselling.
Co-counselling, John Heron, 1979, Human Potential Research Unit, University of Surrey, UK. The Forward states "this manual is offered as an aide-memoire only. It is given to participants in basic training courses ... and it presupposes experience of such a course." Check lists of methods and techniques make up the guts of the manual. There is also a prefacing essay on the principles of the process. Overall emphasis is on the client role.
Fundamentals Of Co-counseling Manual, Harvey Jackins, 1970, Rational Island, Seattle. The original manual, by one of the original co-counselling gurus. Though subtitled "for beginning classes in re-evaluation counseling" this book is a valuable general account for anyone. We've gone back to it many times. This manual emphasizes counsellor skills.
Three collections of articles, pamphlets and talks by Harvey Jackins are available. These cover a wide range of topics: political implications of co-counselling; bases of effective learning; living for ever; relationship counselling; sexuality; health care.
The Human Situation, 1973; The Upward Trend, 1977; The Benign Reality, 1981; All published by Rational Island Publishers.
John Heron has also put some of his thinking into book format, e.g: Catharsis in Human Development, 1977, Human Potential Research Unit, University of Surrey, UK. In this book John discusses the varieties, origins and consequences of human distresses: and of catharsis as a positive response. The nature and effects of catharsis are discussed, as is the issue of "catharsis in a noncathartic society."
Another collection on articles is available, mostly though not entirely by us: Co-counselling In The World, Rose Evison & Richard Horobin, 1983, Co-Counsellng Phoenix, Sheffield. A range of subjects is discussed: social implications; practical applications to parenting and teaching; how to become a more skillful counsellor, one way counselling, conflict resolution in communities, and more.
Rough Notes from Buck Creek I, Harvey Jackins and others, 1979, Rational Island, Seattle. Buck Creek I, the first inter-community re-evaluation counseling workshop, was held in Washington, USA, in 1970. Fascinating and useful. Not least for its perspective of Jackins as a guru who turns out to be another struggling human being.
Rough Notes from Liberation I and II, Harvey Jackins and others, 1976, Rational Island, Seattle. Presentations, discussions and counselling sessions from two workshops for co-counsellors committed to liberation movements: against sexism, racism, capitalism ... The 'Jackins and others' is a rather ironic insight into the politics of Re-evaluation Counseling. A meaty volume, self and society taken seriously.
Co-counseling: the sharpest people we know, R.D.Rosen, 1978, in Psychobabble, Wildwood House, London. A muck-raking account of therapy-personal growth in the USA in the '70s . A journalist's prose style (co-counselling is "an automechanics course in feeling"), and a barely acknowledged enthusiasm for psychoanalytic theory and practice, frame an intriguing sketch.
There are two manuals for actual and would-be teachers of co-counselling, one from within the Re-evaluation communities, and one from outside it.
A New Kind of Communicator: the Re-evaluation Counseling Teacher, Harvey Jackins and Mary McCabe, 4th edition 1976, Rational Island, Seattle. Rewritten magazine articles & workshop presentations by two RC stalwarts. They assume teachers will be within their organization, which will provide training opportunities and, eventually, authorization for satisfactory candidates. The tone is formal, tending towards 'experience has shown.' The style is discursive, with lots of headings but few lists. The vocabulary is basic American-English. The manual is extremely clear and easy to read.
Co-counselling Teachers Manual, John Heron, 1978. New edition available from Dept. of Educational Enquiry,The University of Surrey. A distillation of John's thoughts on this topic, aimed at people within the independent co-counselling communities. Consequently there is discussion of community building, decision making, teacher training and accreditation; no overarching community rules can be assumed. The approach is personal, leaning towards 'my experience is.' The style is rather telegraphic, favouring lists of possibilities and alternatives. The vocabulary is uncommonly rich: sometimes evocatively poetic, sometimes obscure.
Differences apart, both books discuss useful characteristics of co-counselling teachers, including modeling what's being taught; the need for rigorous presentation of theory, for screening of class participants, and for the use of assistant teachers. Both books offer outlines for fundamentals of co-counselling classes.
Across the globe many co-counselling groups produce useful magazines and newsletters. Limiting ourselves to those magazines which are generally available means however looking at those produced 'centrally' by the Re-evaluation Counseling communities. There is a general interest magazine, Present Time. This describes new ideas and counselling methods, accounts of applications of co-counselling in the world at large, and a great deal of personal experience. Re-evaluation Counseling also publishes many specialist magazines: The Re-evaluation Counselling Teacher, for the teachers and leaders of RC; Black Re-emergence for black counsellors; Classroom and Colleague for teachers in schools and higher education; Sisters for women; The Caring Parent; Older and Bolder for people over fifty; Complete Elegance for the physically different; Pensiamentos for latin americans; Side by Side for gays; Recovery and Re-emergence for mental health workers; Wide World Changing for social activists; Young and Powerful for young people; ... and there are others.
A fantastic wealth of experience shared; the successes and failures of co-counsellors in so many areas of their lives. All the editors belong to the interest group concerned, and most of the published material is 'by' them too. These literary riches pose intriguing questions. Do the magazines exist in spite of the organizational pyramid, or because of it? Or both?
Librarians practically anywhere, and many bookshops (eg Compendium (Camden High Street, London NW1), are amazingly useful. Otherwise try these addresses:
Go to References. Return to How to Change Yourself & Your World.