Member-only story
The Counselling Assessment
A Short Story
Introduction
Today is John’s exam date. If he passes, he will be certified as a Catholic Mental Health Counsellor at the Catholic Psychiatric Hospital (CPH).
John’s teacher is none other than the famous Professor Stewards. Professor Stewards is known for his extreme and eccentric ways of teaching, which was generally tolerated given that he also produced the best counsellors.
Nonetheless, his opponents rightly criticise him for selecting only the most exceptional students to be among his brood.
Was it nature or nurture that produced these brilliant counsellors? Probably a combination of both.
Before we go on to discuss the details of John’s examination, perhaps, it is important to first offer some background information of the patients at CPH;
Most of the patients are from the higher echelons of society. This was frankly, a self-selective phenomenon. Given the high recovery rate of patients in this hospital, there was a long waiting list of patients eager to enter. This jacked up the fees. Eventually, only the rich and famous could afford to send their mentally-ill family members here.
John waited eagerly at the examination room for Prof. Stewards to enter.
