Co-Counselling International (CCI) is not associated with and is different both in practice and organisation from any other association of co-counsellors.
If you are interested in re-evaluation counselling, founded by Harvey Jackins, see the RC website. If you did not know that there are two main networks of co-counsellors, there is an explanation here.

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For co-counsellors
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More information

Co-Counsellors only section

The site is primarily about CCI co-counselling in the UK. This site has information about CCI co-counselling generally and in other countries.

If you already are a CCI co-counsellor, or think you may be, there is a page for you here

What is Co-Counselling?

Co-counselling is reciprocal peer counselling:

• Reciprocal: co-counsellors take it in equal turns to be client and counsellor.
• Peer: everyone is equal, there are no "experts" trying to "sort out" other people.
• Counselling: it is a bit like other forms of counselling in that one person listens while the other talks (or "works" in other ways), but there the similarity ends. It is the person being client who is in charge of the session and the person being counsellor mainly just gives very good attention.

Co-counsellors make their own arrangements to meet up, usually in pairs, for co-counselling sessions.

Co-counselling sessions are free.

Co-counsellors in particular develop emotional competence, that is they become comfortable with emotions and the expression of emotion both in themselves and in others. Co-counsellors find that they can:

• Release pent up emotions in ways and situations that feel safe.
• Allow their emotions to do what human beings evolved them for, to help them to handle danger, aggression and abandonment more effectively, to have fun and feel more loving.
• Relate with other more clearly and effectively because they do not have to do all the things that people do to avoid emotions.

There is more information here.

There is a statement of the core principles of CCI here.

Who is it for?

Co counselling is for anyone who:

• wants and is ready to make changes in their life to realise their potential, increase their life skills and gain personal support.
• is willing to "open up" and take risks in order to do so.

You may not be ready for co-counselling if:

• you need alcohol, medicines or other substances which affect the mind.
• you are unable to give your undivided attention to another person, for example because you need a lot of attention yourself.

Co-counselling can be used to help us get better at most things and in most ways. It can be used to deal with day to day life problems or it can be used to deal with deep personal distress. It is for anyone, not just for people with "problems" - you do not have to be ill to get better.

Co-counselling is a highly effective tool for personal development. Somehow, perhaps because the client is in charge, no one is pushing the client to do anything they do not choose to do and everything is accepted unconditionally, co-counsellors move more quickly in dealing with issues than if they had, say, a skilled therapist trying to guide them in useful directions.

Getting Started in Co-Counselling

First take a co-counselling training with a co-counselling teacher, then find a co-counselling partner, join a co-counselling network through one of the Co-Counselling contacts or both.

People do not "join" CCI in the way that you can join most organisation, apply, pay a subscription etc.. People who comply with the core principles of CCI, chief of which is to have done the training, are automatically members of CCI.

What does CCI (UK) do?

CCI is a remarkable organisation. It is a peer organisation, that is everyone has equal status, and it aims to avoid all forms of authoritarian control. Much of CCI, particularly in the UK, has no formal organisation. Nevertheless, a lot gets organised, mainly on the basis of individuals and groups taking responsibility and getting things done. In the UK there is a wide range of activities to support co-counsellors and co-counselling.

There is more information here.

"client" - "counsellor"

"counsellor" - "client"