‘Does class count?’ Social class and counselling

Abstract

This article explores the importance attached to social class by experienced practitioners taking part in a co-operative inquiry group. A review of the literature from the last thirty years indicates that there is very little research on class in relation to counselling and psychotherapy reported in the UK. Both authors position themselves as coming from working class origins. Nine co-researchers from both middle and working class origins joined the group. Eight meetings took place over a period of nine months. Extracts from the group's discussions are represented and integrated with ‘presentational knowing’ drawn from contemporary culture, including poetry and popular music. This study suggests that social class is a neglected aspect of diversity in the counselling field. Implications of the study have relevance for the language of counselling and psychotherapy and class based values; social class and its impact on initial education; and ongoing counselling practice and access to therapy for working class people.

Keywords:

• Social class
• working class
• middle class
• co-operative inquiry
• counselling and psychotherapy practice
• counselling and psychotherapy training

Acknowledgements

With special thanks to Richard Saxton of Sheffield Hallam University, to the participants of the co-operative inquiry and to Bloodaxe Books for permission to reproduce stanzas from Jackie Kay's poem ‘Maw Broon Visits a Therapist.’