Globalisation of counsellor education : a dialogic approach to preserving cultural identity along with intercultural dimensions in teaching.

In an increasingly interdependent world education in all fields plays an important role. Among the disciplines counsellor education is gaining recognition for its capacity to support those who encounter the complexities and confusion brought about in this era of rapid change and globalisation. In different societies varying degrees of global integration and dramatic internal change are impacting on the knowledge and values of cultures. While much has been written about multicultural counselling, very few writings speak of the processes that enrich reconceptualisation and transformation of knowledge and values in particular cultures. This paper enlarges on one of the authors’ recent PhD research that demonstrates that what begins as a natural unconscious process of reconceptualisation must be transformed into a conscious integration of ideas through dialogic encounters. The findings provide insights for intercultural dimensions in teaching across disciplines.