The Counseling Process: By: Ma. Aurora L. Garcia
The Counseling Process: By: Ma. Aurora L. Garcia
The Counseling Process: By: Ma. Aurora L. Garcia
To master the counseling process Neophyte counselors must develop a repertoire of helping skills as well as a theory of counseling that directs their application.
Developing an approach to counseling process is not an easy task. A counselor may use any of different counseling approaches (such as psychoanalytic, behavioral, and rational/emotive) but research has not shown superiority for any of these approaches. Most contemporary counselors describe themselves as integrative and eclectic. In short, it involves doing what works for the client. But the relationship between client and approach is not very clear which makes eclectic counseling weak, because it involves guesses.
In line with this, the author of this book has described 13 approaches to counseling derived from a mixture of research and counseling practice.
Counselors utilize these approaches to satrt and strengthen a helping relationship, and students who learn these steps will be able to gain a repertoire of basic helping skills.
Allow your client to lead the conversation in the initial stage of counseling in order to encourage development of trust.
Example: Counselor: Hi, Im Aurora. Im your counselor. Client: Hello, Im Terry. It certainly is snowing out there.
Counselor: Yes, it is. Did you have any trouble driving here?
( Making Contact ) Not Counselor: Lets talk about your problems, not the snow. ( Too Direct )
The task of the counselor here is to engage the client in such a way that both are working together to resolve the issues that brought the client to counseling.
Developing a working alliance is unsuccessful if the counselor attempts to force the client to change or when the client is unmotivated. To establish a working alliance, the counselor should exert understanding, respect, warmth, and he should be an attentive listener, and offer acceptance of clients. Through all of these, counselors develop a bond of trust and support.
Example: Client: Im at the end of my rope. Im so frustrated! Counselor: This is really a difficult time for you. Client: It feels good to hear you say that. None of my friends understand what Im going through.
Example: