The construct of IDENTITY inevitably plays a prominent role when we talk about cross-cultural work. I know (tacit knowledge) from my personal experience of living between (or within) two cultures (referring to ‘countries’) that my identity (not only cultural) has been affected in a number of ways, something difficult to put into words. As a Greek, growing up at the far East corner of Europe – with a Cypriot father – I ‘carry’ features of both East and West…and yet I was trained as a therapist in a very western (UK) environment and have been living in it for a few years now. Although, my country is a member of EU, politically governed by ‘democracy’ etc, we are yet a nation that has been historically repeatedly invaded until recent years…and dominated by nations with whom we presently seem to have ‘equal’ rights, according to EU standards…the boundaries of dynamics of power become kind of blurred at this point. When thinking about all this, C. Lago (2006, Identity Development and its role in Therapy) sent me this excellent paper where he critically reflects on identity development models and challenges therapists in considering the following: … Read more »

I ve been bulding up this blog for a few weeks now but have noticed a resistance in me about making it public. Is there something around self-disclosure that provokes that? Although, as a counsellor having gone through therapy, am used to ‘revealing’ aspects of myself, so it’s something often taken for granted in the counselling world…

I think, it’s time for the blog to get public and for me to overcome my kind of ‘reserved’ side…or have I become ‘too English’ by now? … Read more »

Here I am back to the UK after my Christmas travels and notice the two languages co-existing in my head…I went for group supervision on Friday and my english was coming out with errors…not a big deal really…what is more revealing in terms of cultural adjustmement is the time it takes me to start dreaming in the language of the country I inhabit each time…

I know remember reading that essay by Stanley on ‘Different tongues’. With thanks and acknowledgements, I here present some extracts of this study aiming at exploring “how the personal experience of changing language and culture raises the awareness of cultural, social, and personal issues in counsellors. Are they able to offer something ‘in addition’ during their sessions and if so, what?” … Read more »