The 16 conference papers in this collection describe various ways in which counselling is used in distance education in Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Thailand, the United Kingdom, West Germany, and Zambia. Following an introduction by Alan Tait, the following papers are presented: (1) "Counselling in the Open University of the Netherlands" (Addie Birkhoff, Annette Douwes, and Claudia Ghijssen Cohen); (2) "New Developments in the Counselling of Students with Disabilities: Computer Databases" (Nigel Cutress); (3) "Stress Management at a Distance" (Sue Dorland); (4) "Self-Selection by Special Entrants--Does It Work?" (David Edge); (5) "Vocational Guidance Provision for Distance Students in Higher Education--Some Findings from an International Survey" (Judith Fage); (6) "Steps to Your Future" (Ruby Gervais); (7) "The 'Dual-Mode Professor'--the Subject Specialist as Tutor" (Sally Haag); (8) "Empathy as a Characteristic of Distance Education--Theory and Empirical Findings" (Borje Holmberg); (9) "Open Learning and the National Certificate in Scotland--Implications for Guidance" (Elspeth Johnson and Carl Togneri); (10) "The Support Needs for Older Students in Distance Education" (Patrick Kelly, Nigel Cutress, and Fiona Palmer); (11) "Telephone Counselling--the Case of the Thailand Open University" (Bira Ketkeaw); (12) "A Carrot for the Teacher: A Training Package Which Aims To Encourage Distance Education To Develop Appropriate Counselling Skills" (Jennette Newport); (13) "Counselling Open University Students in the Prisons of Ireland" (Diane Purcell); (14) "Study Skills and Personal Development" (Sylvia Rhys); (15) "Personal and Professional Development of Counsellors for External Students--A National Perspective for Australia" (Margaret Shapcott); and (16) "Towards the Integration of Counselling Services into Distance Education at the University of Zambia" (Richard Siaciwena). (CGD)