I have fond memories of my grandmother patiently telling me stories, not only to entertain me but also shape my values or helping me to face situations.
Today as a counsellor when I reflect on those times, I am able to grasp the process employed by her. She may not have been a trained counsellor but she knew the subtleties of counselling as a process.
She knew very naturally that counselling is an intense process wherein one human being extends healthy contact to the other. She had very naturally accumulated years of worldly wisdom based on her experiences and learning. She was willing to share these experiences and learning with others.
When I come across very powerful people of age 60 and above, sometimes I see a shadow of ‘sunken cost’ in their eyes. Others have stopped taking their opinion on various issues at home such as children and their discipline, health issues, social relationships or education. However, some of them are really accomplished as well as willing people who are viewed as “out of use” by others!
If only we are able to train this very important population of our society on simple aspects of how to handle counselling process, we have an army of barefoot counsellors. The rich and vast experience accumulated by the elderly can be shaped and added to the effectiveness of counselling process. They have the time and the intellectual capability.
The pressure of urban life has made it difficult for parents to spend quality time in understanding their children and their issues. On the other hand, the grand parents often feel unwanted and believe they are a sunken cost. Training them as a barefoot counsellor will give them a purpose and make them more active. There will be challenges, as they have to be taught how to overcome their ego and judgementality and become more effective to participate in the counselling process. But creating barefoot counsellors is not an impossible concept!
