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 On a recent trip to a major London art gallery, I heard a group of young people laughing and praising a large exhibit. On closer examination, I discovered it was a painting of a woman, with legs spread eagled for all to see her delicate private parts and her naked body was splattered liberally with blood red paint. This painting was described on the accompanying plaque as a celebration of women.

Our minds, capable of absorbing so much, our daily bombarded by video shot images of gross distortion of the human mind and body, we hear expletives without adequate foundation. Television programmes cater and cause limited attention syndrome. Psychological manipulation is used for large corporations to appeal to our anxieties, needs and grades. We are justifiably fearful for the safety of our homes and ourselves. Our lives are controlled by consumerism and competition. We are losing our well-being. We are losing healthy relationships with our family and friends. We are losing ourselves also.

Agents

There are some big literary agencies and smaller ones, some tough and some fuzzy ones, some clever, some sincere, some dismissive and some just mercenary! 

Some deal exclusively with book rights, some with film rights, some with both, and some deal with other rights, such as public relations, and some deal with all rights. Agents often need legal knowledge that specifically pertains to publishing, a speciality within general law. 

The best agents will be impressed by their clients presentation skills, their knowledge and abilities, and will want - and know how to get - the best for their client. Most agents have many years of knowledge and a long contact list of executives in peripheral businesses, especially in the publicity departments of magazines, newspapers, TV and radio channels. They will represent you, manage you, and should sell you to all they meet. They will look after your public profile, will advise you on future possibilities and opportunities, they will help raise your profile online and offline, and will help hone your public image. They will steer you away from what is not suitable for your particular 'brand'. Your brand is the best 'fit' for what you intend to do in terms of current targets and future aspirations. They will define what you are offering and help you to develop the skills that will land you with the work you seek. To be taken on by a literary agent expect to pay 10% - 15% of your income. 

Recommended: 

Spiritualism Part Two

UK Spiritualism is experiencing a revival of books, TV stations, telephone lines, daily newspaper reports as ghost hunts, medical psychics, possessions, apports, missing children found, psychic art, psychic children and animals, channelled videos, and a hundred and one ways to conduct healing, add to the readings and messages from loved ones in Spirit and we have a huge revival taking place not only in the UK but throughout the world. 

Counselling Case Study 1985

From my training journal of 1995. 

The approach I use with all my clients is Rogerian / person centred approach, where my clients congruency provides its own focus and momentum, and I accompany the client on that journey in the sessions. In the way I work, each session is complete, and I don’t refer to previous issues. The approach involves reflecting the current client’s feelings. This has been shown to increase emotional tolerance levels, and provide access for catharsis, reflecting thoughts and meanings which may provide insight, and having a nonjudgemental attitude - I may not always be accepting of what they do but I look at my own projections and deal with these in my own therapy and supervision sessions, and I try to remember that we are all in the process of becoming, and I value my clients bravery and potentials. By being congruent where I feel it is appropriate, I may state my thoughts and feelings, which allows the client to see the ‘real’ me and hence transferences are not so likely to occur. If a transference happens, it happens, and I do not interpret it or amplify it. If a client is unhappy with a session, if they tell me before they leave, I return their fee. 

PCA training 1989

My first essay on Carl Rogers - Person (Client) Centred Counselling. 

The purpose of this essay is for me to examine my thoughts towards the person centred approach (PCA) to group work, counselling and practice, to state why I have chosen this approach for my particular client group, and how and why I would specifically use this approach in my work. I will explain the way that core principles of congruency (authenticity) empathy, and unconditional positive regard conflict (even experienced therapists can be challenged in these three areas). I would like the reader to be aware that my attitudes are still in the process of development, and many of my ideas have not been formulated from books but for my own experience and therefore my position may vary at times from traditional theory. 

My reasons for choosing to use this counselling style (PCA) are that I believe it is the most gentle of therapeutic approaches and causes, potentially, the least damage. Often a client arrives to see a counsellor in a distressed or damaged state, and the object is to help this person in the gentlest, calmest and quickest way. I think PCA is the best first-aid particularly for delicate problems and events. I also think that there is less resistance than in psychoanalysis, so therapy can proceed at the clients pace without pushing, and this is both reassuring and empowering. Carl Rogers says the client “Can become more aware of their personal strengths, and can become increasingly autonomous and creative as the architect of his or her own life. Because of the total focus on empowering the individual, we have come to think of this method as a ‘person centred’ approach“ Carl Rogers. A Way of Being page 182

Q & A from Wendy’s Postbag

 Dear Wendy: I would like to see energy fields around people. What is the best way to do this? Joe

Dear Joe: Some people can see colours surrounding a person, especially around their head. These colours can vary in intensity, hue and tone, and sometimes can move and mix together. Generally, the clearer and brighter the colour, the healthier the person. Dull and weak colours, often show ill-health. Very dark patches, like deep blobs of muddy colour, can reveal poor judgment, addictions, and other dangers. Stand in front of someone who has the light behind them. Look for colours about six inches surrounding their head. In addition to seeing, it is also possible to ‘sense’ the aura’s vibrations. With your hands, feel the energy that surrounds their shoulders and throat areas, approximately one foot away, then about eight inches away from their body.