2023…On and Upward.

NeoLiberalism and its current Influence in Higher Education in Counselling and Psychotherapy Practice in Australia.

When I applied to university at 25 (After a successful career in the Arts) to be accepted into a Master of Counselling degree I went through very rigorous interviews and screening stages, to determine my suitability. I was interviewed firstly by a panel of three senior facility members within the psychology and counselling department at QUT, a further group interview with senior lecturers and then a number of one-on-one interviews.

The application process involved three seperate interview stages (Similar to getting a job) with the senior lecturers within the course and a number of psychology and counselling teaching staff to test my suitability for acceptance into the masters program.

These individuals were some of Australia’s leading teachers and researchers in social constructivist, process oriented psychology and narrative approaches to counselling and psychotherapy at a masters level and they did not just grant entry to ‘just anyone’ wanting to ‘join the course’.

Twenty years ago being accepted into a masters degree in counselling/psychology/social work or sociology in general was difficult and hundreds of applicants (in the master of counselling degree QUT), would be narrowed down each year to 30 students.

To achieve maximum quality of training and expert education in this profession the teaching staff had only positions for a ‘select few’ to join each year. This screening approach although not ‘maximising’ profits for the university, produced leaning opportunities for those willing to excel and opened up doorways to doing the ‘hard work’ in application of the psychotherapy theorem through research, coursework, thesis and or clinical experience.

Today the private market (when possible) requires increased ‘vigorous screening’ of applicants for those wishing to gain qualifications in psychology/mental health and counselling. The solutions are challenging, however for the continuation of ethical standards in the profession it’s important that person’s being granted qualifications that do not naturally have the personality, skills or temperament to be ‘good therapists’ is taken into account.

If we are to have well-trained counselling and psychotherapy professionals working with people ‘we’ care about, the higher education industry (especially the private market) needs further improvements.