recent history

15 March 2010
Posted in CCI history

CCI emerges

The emerge of CCI was by no means accidental and had everything to do with the hierarchal remains of the formerly structure of our society in general. That seems to be a long term process, looking back to those days of the 1970.

Since there has been several contributions to the wording and content of also CCI. The lack of any hierarchy or authoritarian behaviour, seems to be the booster of that process. And still it is a question if this really is a lack! Is it not far more the ultimate challenge, that invites us to find our own wording, according to our personal understanding of the core of this moment? Which is in itself transforming! That is possibly the reason why there are several definitions of CCI co-counselling. For example, one was published by John Heron in 1994 in 'One to One', the UK CCI newsletter. It says:
'CCI is a planet-wide association of individuals and local networks committed to affirm a core discipline of co-counselling while encouraging, on an international and co-operative basis, the advancement of sound theory, effective practice, network development and planetary transformation. Local networks of co-counsellors within CCI are independent, self-governing peer organisations, exploring ways of being effective social structures while avoiding all forms of authoritarian control'.
Another wording was written in 2001 and taken from the Dutch-based internet site CCI World News Service:
'CCI stands for a range of shared practices, based on individual responsibility and self direction. It is used to manage our emotions, to grow in self understanding, and to develop our human potential. We create a peer-based culture of validation and respectfulness to support, discover and express our actual beings as well our human spirituality.
These two wordings try to capture some of the features that make CCI co-counselling distinct.
*  The method is non-directive. In sessions, the counsellor has only a supportive role to play and the client is
    always in charge of his/her own process.
*  There is room for the 'non-rational', for intuition inventions, creativity, play.
*  The organisation is non-hierarchical, based on equality of peers. This is an expression of the importance of  autonomy, self-responsibility, and respect for individuals.
Besides, in the first CCI Newsletter in 1975 are the first CCI guidelines published (see ‘definitions’). And the wording of the core of CCI has been actual until today! Especially also, because since – already in the very beginning – the phenomenon of CCI co-counselling has been ‘transformed’ from co-counselling into the interpersonal and spiritual accepting CCI co-creating. In which CCI co-counselling is incorporated as ‘the starter’.

development of CCI

Within CCI it was John Heron especially who contributed to the development of theory and culture. John produced the original CCI co-counselling manuals: how to practice the method, how to become a teacher, and suggestions for exercises. His later writings helped develop the theory and practice, including his views explaining 'Original theory of co-counselling and the Paradigm Shift' (a discussion of spirituality and CCI) and 'Catharsis in Human Development'. These publications are freely available . [John's other publications, more academic in nature, include: 'Helping the Client (1990), Feeling and Personhood (1992), Co-operative Inquiry (1996) and Sacred Science (1998)
An important contribution to the understanding of the historical beginnings of CCI was the dialogue between John Heron and Dency Sargent in 1997 at the international CCI meeting held in Auckland, in Aotearoa/New Zealand.¹  Much of the information in this section of this article comes from that meeting.
The American contribution to the development of CCI co-counselling was more practically orientated. They paid special attention to issues of community building - for example, to decision making by consensus. The 'mini' was another good invention, a session that takes only one or two minutes each way, used to handle any distracting emotions that may suddenly arise during a business meeting, or elsewhere. In some cases the Americans developed their own terminology. For example, they offer each other 'caring and aware attention' during sessions, while the rest of the world uses the term 'free attention'. Their phrase, 'culture of validation' is a lovely expression of CCI's unconditional appreciation and respect for individuals. In their sessions the Americans developed the practical emphasis of 'life actions', a planning method to help implement their new insights into practical behaviour. Dency Sargent and Carol Driscoll (among others) are those most strongly connected with the development of these highly effective and practical activities.
In 1998 the American CCI co-counsellors were 'incorporated' as CCI-USA, INC. i.e. registered and recognized as an official entity by the state of Connecticut and the United States government.

worldwide contributions

Thanks to the contributions of many participants and especially of John Heron, CCI co-counselling - culture, theory and practice - has spread throughout the world. It is practiced in the USA, in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Hungary and New Zealand. True to its peer based, non-hierarchical values, the structural organisation of the various communities differs from country to country. This diversity honours individuality and cultural differences.
The origin of the German community in the university city of Münster is an interesting case in point. Siglind Willms, a psychologist, founded the Centre for Psycho-therapeutic and Social Work in 1969, based in the Haus Kloppenburg on the outskirts of the city, a building nearly 400 years old! Siglind first heard of co-counselling in 1973 and she thought 'that could be the missing link for me!' and for her clients. She attended two introduction courses by John Heron in Germany in 1974 and a year later a five days' training by him in England. One of her colleagues at the Centre, the Roman Catholic priest and pastoral therapist Johannes Risse, embraced CCI co-counselling in 1977.
The policy at the Centre is that people wanting therapeutic treatment are advised (if they are fit to do so), to learn and practice co-counselling. 'This offers them the possibility to co-create their own therapeutic process, and also to own the responsibility for that', says Siglind. 'Besides,' she continues, 'it is an excellent way to handle our own emotions in our daily lives.'
Siglind lost all contact with Co-Counselling International for more than 20 years. Then in 1995 she and Johannes visited John Heron (who was very surprised to meet them again after all that time!) in Italy, and they spent three days together discussing and sharing information. 'It was impressive to discover how much our experiences connected and how many views we shared, so we decided to firmly contact the CCI World in the future', Siglind states. And this they did, attending international CCI meetings in the USA, the Netherlands, and Scotland. In 2004 the annual CCI-Europe international gathering was for the first time in Germany, hosted by the  Münster community.  That meeting was a great success and they repeated that at the European CCI meeting 2009 in Germany, where they celebrated the 35th anniversary of CCI. Their long term experiences with the CCI co-counselling approach and their commitment to it inspired Siglind and Johannes to write and create a book also about their experiences. At a memorable celebration of the 25th anniversary of the founding of CCI the CCI-USA continuity persons Carol Driscoll and Dency Sargent handed over 'certificates of appreciation' to the by them invited CCI trainers of that time. It says: ' We recognize that the growth and development of co-counselling in both our individual countries and the world depends on competent teaching'. That meeting on April 18th 1999 in Hartford CT was also attended by Tom Sargent, one of the three founders of CCI.
John Heron moved from Italy to Aotearoa (New Zealand) and founded the South Pacific Centre for Human Inquiry. At that spot, together with his partner Babara Langton and other members of the Aotearoa CCI community, CCI co-creating developed. In his personal account of the core of CCI he writes on October 7th 2009: ‘This is my vision of what CCI has the potential to be, and is, in my view, in the process of becoming: I see CCI as a worldwide federation of independent local self-help communities whose members are trained to become competent in whole person development.’ And: ’This development includes at least six dynamically interrelated paths’.(see also documentation/definition)
So CCI is not a static movement or method. It has grown and developed, and it continues to evolve. It is open to all kinds of growth methods which explore or develop human potential, including the spiritual dimension. How to integrate those growth methods, ideas, feelings, discoveries, belief systems, into a progressive CCI framework, while maintaining key values, is the great challenge for continuing development!

On request of the Israeli representative in a letter published in May 2010, we all, at the CCI USA 2011business meeting on April 15th, enthusiastically welcomed the Dror Community into CCI after a process which began in 2005. The same happened in the CCI European business meeting in Hungary (August 6, 2011).

notes
¹  John Heron and Dency Sargent, Dialogue about CCI, (1997). Transcript of Taped Dialogue, de Beukehof (2000)