Psychological distance, stated values and values in use: An approach to considering interactions for counselling within organizations

Abstract

The work of Argyris (Reasoning, Learning and Action: Individual and Organisational: San Francisco Jossey-Bass, 1982) demonstrated the gaps that we tend tio have between our stated values and those that we actually use in practice. That of Micholt (Transactional Analysis Journal, 22, 228–233, 1992) illustrated the concept of psychological distance as applied tio facilitating groups in an organizational setting. These are both important works which can be very useful in conceptualizing the organizational context of counselling and also the client's problem situation. By combining these two approaches, it is possible to demonstrate a more detailed picture of the psychological distance and some of the potential problems inherent in interactions among three (or more) parties. For counselling, the combined approach emphasizes the importance of the counsellor remaining aware that the client's story is likely to reveal their stated values and that only by gaining a values-in-action perspective (i. e. behaviour) about the client's life can the counsellor adequately assess the client's situation. The examples given in this paper relate to counselling in an organisational context, but the approach may be applied tio facilitation, geneal management or consltancy.