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The use of counseling skills
Counseling skills self assessment paper
An essay about counseling skills
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In this part of the assignment, I will be reviewing the strengths and weaknesses that were shown when I was using counselling skills on my client. I believe that there were more strengths when I was showing counselling skills compared to the weaknesses that there were. The start of the conversation can be seen as a strength because the skilled helper introduced who they were and then they told the client about the confidentiality statement. This could be seen as a strength because the client would know what the boundaries are in the session and what the skilled helper has to do when they are aware that the client may be in danger of harming themselves. Making the client aware about the confidentiality statement can increase the chance of the …show more content…
Body language in a session is important because it allows the skilled helper to understand what the client is feeling by observing their body movements; this can help the communication in the session. This could help the skilled helper as they could note when the client is feeling discomfort which can lead to the session progressing because the skilled helper would ask them why they are feeling this way. It is important that the skilled helper had good eye contact in the session because it shows the client that the skilled helper is respecting what they are saying and it shows that they value what the client is saying. It is important that the skilled helper has good body language and good eye contact in the session so that the client knows that the skilled helper is there to help them and cares about what their problem is. The client should feel as though the skilled helper cares and by having good body language and good eye contact the client would know this because the skilled helper would be paying attention and listening to what they are saying. In the same way, it is important that the client has good body language and is not slouching so that the skilled helper knows that they want help. Good eye contact can show the skilled helper that the client is respecting what they have to say and is listening to what the counsellor is asking so that they can answer the question …show more content…
Being nervous was a weakness because I, as the skilled helper, felt that being nervous had led to me not giving enough eye contact. Due to the fact that I was nervous I would look at the client whilst they were talking but when it was my turn to speak I was looking away. Being nervous also had a negative effect on my confidence; I believe that the session would have been better if I was not nervous and my confidence was increased. It is important that the skilled helper is not nervous because if the skilled helper is nervous then the client may feel more worse than they already do and the session would not help the client as the skilled helper is not helping them as much as they
This method is grounded in the strengths perspective, a perspective in which the worker center’s their sessions around the clients’ abilities, gifts, and strengths (Shulman, 2016). Instead of focusing on what is wrong with the client, the worker highlights what is right with the client building on their strengths instead of emphasizing their deficits: the client already has what they need to get better or solve their problem (Corcoran, 2008). The role of the worker in this model is to help the client recognize their potential, recognize what resources they already have, and discuss what is going well for the client and what they have been able to accomplish already (Shulman, 2016). Techniques commonly used in this model, although they are not exclusive to this model, include an emphasis on pre- and between-session change, exception questions, the miracle question, scaling questions, and coping questions (Shulman, 2016). These questions are used for many reasons: for example, the miracle question is used because “sometimes asking clients to envision a brighter future may help them be clearer on what they want or to see a path to problem-solving.” (Corcoran, 2008, p. 434) while coping questions are used to allow the client to see what they are already accomplishing, rather than what they are transgressing (Corcoran, 2008). All
The one skill that I used more of was empathy; I wanted the client to know that I understood her situation as well her feelings. At the end of our conversation, I summarized everything that we talked about, especially her want to open up to her parents and express herself to them. She mentioned that she wants them to fell empathy towards her, because the lack of parental empathy that she felt when she was younger, has even affected her in her adult life (Kilpatrick,2005).
Weick (1992) states “every person has an inherent power that may be characterized as life force, transformational capacity, life energy, spirituality, regenerative potential, and healing power, which is a potent form of knowledge that can guide personal and social transformation” (p. 24). No matter the crisis or oppression, it needs to be brought to client’s realization that they are strong, resilient and can overcome. They may not be aware of this inner power due to the constant stress and overwhelming sense of impending doom in their lives, but with the help of the strengths perspective, we can assist clients in realizing that they have strengths as well as weaknesses. Clients want to know that they can rely on social workers to provide adequate resources and respect their current situation, no matter how difficult it may be. Clients want to know that we can empathize with their situation and provide support, care and concern for the issues they are going through; they need to know that we will help them achieve their goals and not give up on them as many may have before in their lives. Saleeby (2013) states “your cli...
...ing silence, paraphrasing and reflection of feelings, as well as non-verbal skills such as body-language and active listening are all used in order to allow the client to introspect and work with their problems in a safe environment, the role of the counselor within the relationship being to support the client and help them to reach their true potential by expressing emotions and thoughts that they can’t express outside of the helping relationship, whether it be for fear of rejection or some other reason.
Assessment is the term counselors use for the evaluation methods counselors use to better understand the characteristics of people, places, and things. The purpose of assessment in counseling is to help better understand and provide information for both the counselor and client so the counselor can better help the client and plan and evaluate programs (Hays, 2013, p. 6). “In addition, it can be therapeutic and can help clients understand both their past and present attitudes and actions as well as their plans for the future. Thus, assessments serve a diagnostic use, help to evaluate client progress, and are useful to improve or promote client awareness, knowledge, and skills” (Hays, 2013, p. 6). An assessment should be part of the
The essay then outlines and critically evaluates counselling skills such as body language, silences and reflective communication skills amongst others used during Eric’s third session while highlighting areas of improvement and identifying alternative options. The essay concludes with offering and exploring possible directions for future counselling sessions.
Values, Morals, and Beliefs are components that play a role in an individual’s self-identity. The establishment of these components shape human nature, behavior, and the development of an individual’s purpose. The basis of these fundamentals has contributed to my desire to become a counselor. This paper will discuss my views of human nature, factors of behavior changes, goals of therapy, the roles of a therapist, and the counseling approaches that I chose to incorporate in a practice.
Theoretical Perspective: This semester in procedures of counseling class we discussed a lot of different types of counseling theories. We also did a lot of practicing with each theory with our partners. I found that person-centered therapy best fits my personal attitudes and style of counseling. I think this would be a good style of counseling for me because I can see myself better helping people as a whole than trying to fix an actual problem.
I was able to talk to my client without being visibly nervous. I am proud to say I handled my client’s problems as they came up without fear that I may say the wrong thing. In the first video, I found myself repeating things, for what reason I do not know. I can say my nonverbal skills need improving. One specific aspect of the interview was my hand gestures and motions. I really got involved with my client’s problems, and the way I tried to help her understand what I was saying and to get an understanding what she was saying, so I used my hands. I tried to keep by body in a position that would let the client know that I was using attentive listening skills. I cared about why she came to the facility for help. Each session, I adjusted my seat to make eye contact so my client could like she could trust me with her information and that I cared enough to listen to her
In order to help client to felt at ease, I attempted to establish a safe atmosphere for client to disclose his issues and also to develop a sense of trust between us by conveying a non-judgmental and non-critical attitude. I use open questions, to invite client to elaborate on information. At the beginning of the session, I manage to use open question to explore more about client issue. Client presenting problem will be financial
Throughout this essay I will be explaining and exploring the benefits of counselling to young people, and how individuals can benefit from attending counselling sessions with myself.
But I had realized that I do not have to have all the answers and I am not here to give solution to the client. Instead, I am here to assistant the client in finding solution to their problems that would work for them. Therefore, when I am stuck I would have to paraphrased or summarized the client statement or conversation that the client had said to me. I would always keep in mind that I have to be an active listener and listen to my client with non-judgmental. This is only reason that I was able to continue with my session with my client (husband) and most of the time I did not let our relationship interfered with the counseling session. During the interview I had use the reflection of meaning, interpretation and reframing. Meaning is how my client feels about the situation. Interpretation is what I think he is feeling about the situation. As for the reframing I had assisted the client to find an alternative way for client to approach the
The counseling session began with the introductions where I introduced myself as the counselor and later introduced my client. This stage is important in any counseling session since it is the time of exploration and focusing according to Gerard Egan as quoted by Wright (1998) in his essay on couselling skills. It is in this session that I was able to establish rapport and trust with my client in order to come up with a working and fruitful relationship with him. During this stage I made use of skills like questioning, where I would pose a question directly to my client, sometimes I would choose to just listen to what the client wanted to speak out while in some instances I would be forced to paraphrase the question if I felt the client did not understand the question I had asked previously. There were also other times when I would reflect through silence. During such a period, I got time to study the client and the information he had given. This being a difficult area, since some clients may not be able to volunteer information to you as the counselor, I decided to assure the client of confidentiality of any information he was willing to share with me with a few exceptions which I also told him about. Being open to him about the only times the information may not be confidential was part of my building rapport and establishing trust with him. I therefore, decided to ask the client what information he wanted to share with me and lucky enough he was ready to speak to me about different issues that he was going through.
It is imperative to study counseling theories when beginning field based work. Counseling theories provide a foundation to be able to learn and develop my own techniques. Some ideas that exemplify the significance of counseling theories are; research, application of theories, and case studies.
The following essay will look at what it takes to be an effective and professional counsellor through discussing what counselling is, its processes, the setting in which it is undertaken, the characteristics, necessary skills needed and the ethics involved in counselling.