Communication Skills Necessary to Improve the Therapist-Client Relationship

1447 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Client centered therapy formulation

People talk at a rate of 125–175 words per minute yet can listen to 450 (Carver, Johnson, & Friedman, 1971). Since a person speaks slower than what the brain can manage, the mind drifts off to thinking of other things rather than listening to the message at hand and communication can be lost. This barrier to effective listening causes one to miss or misconceive what the other is saying (Janusik & Wolvin, 2009). It is imperative as a psychologist to actively listen, ask questions, seek clarification and check for understanding of what others are saying for effective communication to occur. The interpersonal relationship between a psychologist and their client should focus on that person’s growth and change in their personal and professional development as well as social adjustment. It is the responsibility of the psychologist to contribute to these areas and problem solve with their client to assist them to meet these needs (Bordin, 1981).
Maslow (1943) describes people as being driven to achieve certain needs and once demand is met they seek to pursue the next, however Rogers (1951) took a softer side by suggesting a humanistic approach. Crucial core conditions of helping were emphasized to include empathy, warmth and genuineness. This aimed at supporting people in becoming who and what they aspire to be. Clearly Rogers described principles rather than stages, it is undoubtedly Egan’s (1998) skilled helper model that encompasses all of these, and is vital in a psychologist’s treatment of their client to facilitate a productive outcome. The helping process has two main objectives; to help the client manage their problems more effectively while developing untried or untapped opportunities more adequately, and becoming more efficien...

... middle of paper ...

...ing up problem solving. Journal of Memory and Cognition, 39(5), 902-913. doi:10.3758/s13421-010-0068-6
Payne, S. L. (1951). The art of asking questions. Oxford, England: Princeton U. Press.
Pollastri, A. R., Epstein, L. D., Heath, G. H., & Ablon, J. S. (2013). The collaborative problem solving approach: Outcomes across settings. Harvard Review of Psychiatry, 21(4), 188-199.
Reder, L. M., & Ritter, F. E. (1992). What determines initial feeling of knowing? Familiarity with question terms, not with the answer. Journal Of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, And Cognition, 18(3), 435-451. doi:10.1037/0278-7393.18.3.435
Rogers, C. (1951). Client-centered therapy: Its current practice, implications and theory. London: Constable.
Schwartz, N. (1999). Self-reports: How the questions shape the answers. American Psychologist, 54(2), 93-195. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.54.2.93

Show More
Related

  • How Clients Use Assessments In Counseling

    478 Words  | 1 Pages

    As a result, I am learning how to assist clients without labeling the client and developing a proper diagnosis. Assessing client problems should happen throughout the counseling process. In the beginning, counselors get background information on their clients to help the counselor develop a diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Correct diagnosis of clients is vital to receive reimbursement from insurance companies for counseling services. Assessments help the counselor determine an appropriate treatment for the client. Assessments can help clients realize their strengths and weaknesses (Whiston, 2017). Helping the client understand their strengths can assist the client in building confidence, reach the clients counseling goal, and implement healthy choices in the client’s

    Read More

  • Solution Focused Brief Therapy: Adlerian Therapy

    1170 Words  | 3 Pages

    These techniques include showing concern for clients through active listening and empathy, showing respect for and confidence in clients, focusing on client’s strong points and positive traits, resources, replacing discouraging thoughts with encouraging ones, and helping clients to develop a sense of humor about life. (Watts & Pietrzak,2000,p 443) Another method, as mentioned earlier is building a strong rapport with the client. Therapists use a variety of techniques to facilitate change in the client’s behavior. Therapists help clients to choose alternative behaviors to the behaviors that are maladaptive. The next method is getting the client to change how he or she views a situation. This is done inside and outside of counseling. Through this technique a client comes to realize their abilities and strengths. Last but not least, therapists help clients draw on their resources and strengths when faced with a situation that seems troublesome. (Watts & Pietrzak,2000,p

    Read More

  • Mindless Listening Importance

    2029 Words  | 5 Pages

    The Importance of Listening for Professional and Personal Relationships Listening is essential for communication, yet is a skill in which most are lacking. Though we are listening constantly, knowing what to listen to requires an enormous amount of discipline and practice, which is vital for communicating effectively. Learning to listen will benefit all relationships from professional to personal and not being able to listen effectively can cause these relationships to deteriorate. “Indeed, although aware of the instrumentality of listening, even trained communicators often fail to listen correctly or at opportune times” (Cline, 2013). In order for all of areas of communication in an individual to flourish, listening must be emphasized.

    Read More

  • Human Services

    1748 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the past century, the scope of practice and competency of Human Services has developed and devised astronomically alongside its counterparts who include Social Work, chemical dependency research, and most importantly; Psychology. There have been numerous of advocates, social workers, researchers, and psychologists that have contributed to the progress and functionality in this delicate but crucial field of work. Although all of these people influenced and shaped what the vast field of human services looks like today, there is one psychologist in particular that played an important role in the creation of his aiding work has evolved into today.

    Read More

  • Traits of a Successful Speech Pathologist

    746 Words  | 2 Pages

    Good interpersonal skills are vital for communication. Interpersonal skills not only include good spoken communication, but also non-verbal communication. Speech therapist are often one of the few people in the patient’s environment who serve as good role models for communication. Success in the field of speech therapy is rooted in the ability for the therapist to work in a team. For example, in the school setting therapist interact with students, teachers, counselors, parents, and administrators, who all form the ecological systems sorrunding the student. Interpersonal skills allow for clear, effective and positive communication minimizing communication breakdowns resulting in strong therapist-patient bonds, as well as professional bonds.

    Read More

  • Choosing Theoretical Orientation

    1507 Words  | 4 Pages

    Hill, C. E. (2009) Helping Skills: Facilitating, Exploration, Insight, and Action (3rded.). Washington D.C.: American Psychological Association

    Read More

  • My Emerging Theory

    740 Words  | 2 Pages

    This therapy would build and implement as Rogers did, a strong therapeutic relationship that is contingent on three necessary conditions; empathy (Mollica,2006, pg. 121), unconditional positive regard( Hornbacher, 2008, pg 160, Coleman. 2006, pg 158-159), and genuine( Coleman, 2006 pg. 166). In this way, the client could incorporate as “positive, forward-moving, constructive, realistic, and trustworthy, characteristics that are inherent to mankind” (Rogers, 1957, p 200).

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Reality Therapy And Existential Therapy

    1720 Words  | 4 Pages

    Furthermore, my goal is to let client fix their problems on their own through insight and guidance from the therapist. I envision a successful therapeutic process being when a client follows their goals and achieves positive outcomes in their lives. I seek to gain a therapeutic process with my clients by building rapport, trust, and helping them gain insight. When my clients are stuck and need motivation, I plan to remind them about their goals and the positive things that will come with change. If family is important to a client, informing the client about their family and their happiness may help motivate them to continue to

    Read More

  • Motivational Interviewing

    925 Words  | 2 Pages

    The counselor accomplishes the above by expressing empathy, developing discrepancies, going along with resistance and supporting self-efficacy. Moreover, the counselor guides the client toward a solution that will lead to permanent posi...

    Read More

  • J. C. Petersen: Why Don't We Listen Better

    1595 Words  | 4 Pages

    Listening is a vital and important part of communication. While speaking clearly and concisely is imperative, true listening is central to speaking with mindfulness and in the case of the counselor, this mindfulness has the possibility of leading clients to their own solutions to life’s tough circumstances. In his book, Petersen (2007) breaks down the communication cycle so that we can be aware of how we react when people share their emotions with us, and how to effectively communicate by listening and speaking in turn to build strong and supportive relationships, whether they are personal or professional.

    Read More

  • What Is Essential in the Helping Relationship?

    2151 Words  | 5 Pages

    Counseling skills has provided me with a valuable insight into the helping relationship and how it is both created and maintained in order to encourage growth and development in the client. The factors involved within the helping relationship include considering Roger’s core conditions, congruence, unconditional positive regard and empathy as the three main characteristics necessary in a helping relationship. In order to fully incorporate all three of Roger’s core conditions, I as the counselor must be self-aware, as a lack of self-awareness may inhibit truly listening and understanding the client; self-awareness can be enhanced through exercises such as Johari’s window. Counseling skills such as body language and active listening also plays a role within encouraging the client to open up and can help me as the counselor convey empathy.

    Read More

  • The Counselling Process for the Middles Stages of Helping a Relationship

    1290 Words  | 3 Pages

    There are multiple structures of that can be applied to the counselling process, ranging from the basic idea of a beginning, middle and end to a more structured approach as that proposed by Egan (1994). Although his initial structure offered three main components; Stage 1, exploring the situation, stage 2, identifying a new or desired scenario to strive for and stage 3, the action stage, in which methods of coping are devised of and implemented. Egan later devised a ten stage structure that still takes into account initial stages from the speakers perspective of identifying a problem and seeking help, within this structure stage 4 is the initial meeting of the counsellor and client and can be considered the beginning stage of the helping re...

    Read More

  • Rapport and Empathy: Important Skills for Communication in Health Services

    1320 Words  | 3 Pages

    In successful communication building rapport is one of the core second person skills. Rapport building is the establishment of a harmonic, comfortable work relationship between the counsellor and the client (Ramseyer & Tschacher, 2011). Rapport is the essential skill for a counsellor to build trust with the client. Hunt and Price (2002) suggest rapport should be additionally based on sincerity and respect and is never ending as it is a building stone to a productive long-term bond. Sharpley, Jeffrey and McMah (2006) state effective rapport building can be display through the counsellor’s interest and engagement with the client, but also the client’s involvement in the session and his or her enjoyment of sharing the experience and...

    Read More

  • Developing a Therapeutic Counseling Relationship

    1098 Words  | 3 Pages

    Understanding the counseling session from the client’s perspective is a very important aspect in the development of a therapeutic relationship. A clinician must be an excellent listener, while being to pay attention to the client’s body language, affect and tone. The dynamics in the counseling session that is beneficial to the client include the recognition of the pain that the client is feeling. The detrimental part of this includes a misunderstanding of the real issues, a lack of consideration of the cultural aspects of the client, and a lack of clinical experience or listening skills. In this presentation, we will discuss the positive and negative aspects of the counseling session from the client’s perspective which includes the client’s attitudes, feelings, and emotions of the counseling session. We will next examine the propensity of the client to reveal or not reveal information to the counselor, and how transference, and counter-transference can have an effect on the counselor-client relationship.

    Read More

  • A Comparison Between Freud and Erikson

    1947 Words  | 4 Pages

    Wedding, D., & Corsini, R. J. (Eds.). (2014). Current psychotherapies (10th ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole, Cengage

    Read More

More about Communication Skills Necessary to Improve the Therapist-Client Relationship

Open Document