Jacqui Akhurst

‘I wouldn't dream of ending with a client in the way he did to me’: An exploration of supervisees' experiences of an unplanned ending to the supervisory relationship

AbstractAim: To explore supervisee experiences of unplanned endings to the supervisory relationship, a previously under-researched aspect of counselling and psychotherapy. Method: Interviews were conducted with five counsellors identified through purposive sampling; all had experienced an unplanned ending to at least one supervisory relationship. A semi-structured interview schedule was utilised for data collection and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was employed for data analysis. Findings: Eight emergent themes were identified within four domains: the ending; the existing supervisory relationship; the new supervisory relationship and the legacy of the supervisee experience as a trainee on the supervisory relationship. Boundary issues and power dynamics within the supervisory relationship featured in two domains. The importance of managing a good ending was highlighted and the impact of an abrupt ending was identified. Conclusion: Unplanned endings to the supervisory relationship can somet...

Views on National Security in Africa

In many ways, a vision of African national security is difficult to conceive. Prior to 1963, national security on the continent of Africa could not be found. However, on September 13, 1963, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, a vision of African national security emerged, with the establishment of the Organization of African Unity (OAU). This multilateral organization of 37 independent African States agreed “…to promote unity and development; defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of members; eradicate all forms of colonialism; promote international co-operation and co-ordinate members’ economic diplomatic educational, health, welfare, scientific, and defense policies” (Juma 2006, p. 1). At one point in its 38 years of existence, the OAU included all 53 African states. On July 9, 2002, in Durban, South Africa, the Constitutive Act of the African Union (AU) replaced the OAU and continues to be at the forefront of the new African vision (Juma 2006). The goal of the AU is to “integrate political and socio-economic factors throughout the continent; to promote and defend African common positions; to help establish peace and security throughout Africa; and to promote democratic institutions, good governance and human rights” (African Union n.d.).

Perspectives on Torture in Africa

In a bold and dramatic fashion on December 10, 1948, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed to the world the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). This was the first international recognition that people had fundamental rights and freedoms. Among its provisions was a ban on all forms of torture, as specified in Article 5, “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment” (United Nations n.d.).

African Perspectives on Invasion

Africa, the cradle of humankind, is the second largest continent with abundant diversity, richness, and beauty in its natural and anthropogenic landscape. Despite vast resources, humanity’s birthplace is characterized with human conflict and suffering, arguably making it one of the least hospitable places. According to a number of indicators Africa suffers from “a debilitating crisis of low human development” (Bangura and McCandless 2007; McCandless and Bangura 2007; United Nations Human Development Report (UNDP) 2010) and is the least peaceful continent in the world (Vision of Humanity, Global Peace Index (GPI) 2010). Its rates of abject poverty, hunger and malnutrition, illness and disease, low literacy, premature death and disability, and human rights concerns are among the highest in the world (UNDP 2010). Military invasions from outside the continent and from within have been ubiquitous.

Definitions of War, Torture, and Terrorism in Africa

Africa is the second largest and second most populated continent on earth (Africa Guide 2009; Miniwatts Marketing Group 2009; Sayre 2003). There are 53 countries, including the seven island countries, the total comprising close to 20 % of the world’s land area. The most common categorization divides the African continent into five subregions: Northern Africa, which lies North of the Sahara Desert, runs along the Red Sea on the east coast and the Mediterranean Sea to the north, and extends to the Atlantic Ocean; Western Africa, the land west of 10° east longitude; Eastern Africa, the land from the Red Sea south along the Indian Ocean to Mozambique; Central or Middle Africa, which is defined as a portion of the African continent south of the Sahara Desert, east of Western Africa, and west of the Great Rift Valley; and Southern Africa, the portion south of 10° latitude to the southern tip of the continent surrounded by the Indian Ocean to the east and the Atlantic Ocean to the west (New World Encyclopedia, Africa 2011).