Counsel culture

Counselling as a profession was only really established in the UK in the 1960’s.  By 1970 there were a few hundred.  At the turn of the century, it was around 20,000.  But today it is estimated that there between 80-100,000.  In Australia the number is 40,000 – a doubling in the past 15 years.  It seems that counselling is in vogue.   We are a counsel culture.   

One of the reasons for the increase is that the number of issues we can receive counselling for keeps increasing.    We have moved from counselling for the trauma of death, horrific accidents and terrible abuse, to counselling for hurt feelings, ‘harmful’ words and even political results.  When Trump was elected in 2016, some school districts in the US offered professional counselling to their students (it is unlikely they would have done so if Hillary Clinton had been elected). I suspect that if Pauline Hanson spoke at Sydney University, counselling could be offered.   Perhaps counselling should have been offered to the long-suffering Scottish football supporters?

Where the culture goes you can be pretty sure that the Church will follow.  Which is why I was not surprised at an e-mail I received in preparation for the upcoming NSW General Assembly.   To quote the letter “The Assembly is providing confidential pastoral support through Jericho Road Chaplains for people affected by the ongoing discussions and decisions relating to the overture on eldership and the broader Assembly process.”


But. It’s not your best life now!  Scripture points us to our best life hereafter.  

When all labours and trials are oer 

And I am safe on that beautiful shore

With my dear Saviour whom I adore

THAT will be glory, glory for me!


Sent from my iPhone

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