The feminist counsellor's work as well as the feminist instructor's work is perhaps best understood in terms of facilitating growth. In counselling, a growth and development model replaces the traditional illness model. This helps create a positive and egalitarian atmosphere. The client does not have something "wrong" with her which the counsellor is supposed to "fix." Change is identified as an overall goal. The counsellor works with the client in increasing her self- awareness so that she has sufficient insight to work effectively in the personal sphere. Similarly, a feminist instructor can increase the confidence and security of her students, to facilitate their independent and self-motivated learning.

A feminist counsellor or instructor's work will also reflect the significance of external factors in women's lives. This is a radical departure from the focus on the internal common to most counselling approaches. Feminist counselling addresses both levels and how they are intimately related. Issues such as battering, anxiety, substance abuse, or depression must be examined in a socio-cultural context not only in counselling, but in teaching the realities of women's lives. Throughout, the counsellor/instructor strives for balance, ensuring that in addition to focusing on personal change, feminist political concerns are also addressed. Both counsellor and instructor must freely acknowledge her own perspective rather than claiming to be value free and objective.

In the C.W.C.P. classroom, the student has the freedom to examine her own value position and that of others in a safe yet challenging setting. I came to the program with a variety of feminist attitudes, and the positive learning experience has enabled me to clarify my position. I developed a more complete picture of the types of feminism. Radical feminism, especially, became more focused for me and I began to incorporate some of its tenets into my own beliefs. Today, my concept of feminism goes beyond the liberal feminist focus on equality of opportunity for women and men, to an amalgam of socialist and radical feminism. In looking at women's oppression, the former emphasizes economics and the class system while the latter focuses on structures built around sexuality. For me, both viewpoints contain essential elements. I also developed a greater appreciation of the many political realities of other women. The presence of classmates, instructors, and guests for whom racism, ableism, classism, or heterosexism are personal issues was a broadening experience.

No description of the C.W.C.P. would be complete without acknowledging the major contribution of the women who took the course. Many of us feel our shared experience to be the very best feature of the program. One woman said, "This is the group of women I've been looking for all of my life." As my learning experience continued, I began to realize that I wanted my relationships with women to be characterized by the empathy and acceptance displayed by many of the women I came to know. Whether one works with women in a crises centre or a classroom, a counselling office or a support group, there are many opportunities to work toward such an ideal. And this is certainly one of the areas in which the program has enhanced my personal as well as professional growth.