PRINCIPLES AND TECHNIQUES Essays - Health, Therapy, Psychotherapy

PRINCIPLES AND TECHNIQUES IN COUNSELLING I. Nature and Functions of Counselling COUNSELLING - implies planned provision for serving unique need of pupils through the person relationship of counselor and counselee. - is a process where, by talking to a professional about how you're feeling, you can work out, or try to change, the things that cause you distress. - guidance offered by social workers, doctors, etc, to help a person resolve social or personal problems. - The task of counseling is to give the client an opportunity to explore, discover and clarify ways of giving more satisfyingly and resourceful. - something that provides direction or advice as to a decision or course of action - sometimes called "talk therapy," is a conversation or series of conversations between a counselor and client - usually focuses on a specific problem and taking the steps to address or solve it. -Problems are discussed in the present-tense, without too much attention on the role of past experiences. THE COUNSELOR The counselor has a significant effect on the outcomes of the sessions. Typically those who get a masters degree in counseling are the most successful. They first should encourage and support the client in taking a positive viewpoint about the treatment and the outcomes. A counselor who is warm and has an empathetic and positive regard for their clients, with a non-judgmental and accepting approach will be more likely to create the right conditions for success. The counselor should be expert in the methods that they practice, with a continuing concern for improving their ability in a discipline that is both science and art. CONTEXTUAL FACTORS The environment in which the counseling takes place can have a significant effect. If it takes place where the client feels uncomfortable, for example where a school counselor speaks with a child in a feared classroom, then this may negatively affect the session. Ideally the counseling takes place in a quiet, warm and comfortable place away from any distraction (including distant sounds) where the counselor and client can talk in comfort and safety. WHEN DO WE CONSIDER COUNSELLING? Do you have a single concern that you would like to get some feedback on? Are you typically satisfied with your life and relationships, and just looking for a sounding board? FUNCTIONS OF COUNSELLING A. Study the real life environment B. Define the problem situation C. Establish the parameter of the program D. Design a counseling model E. Pilot test model F. Introduce the system G. Operate the system H. Evaluate the system I. Eliminate the system II. Essentials of Counselling Counseling is not.. - Advice giving Opinion giving Sympathy. - Giving practical help, NOT simply interviewing, NOT simply listening COUNSELLOR'S MOTIVATION 1. The need for relationships 2. The need to control 3. The need to rescue 4. The need for information 5. Just fashionable SOME DON'TS IN COUNSELLING Don't moralize Don't compare with your experience Don't offer advice on personal and emotional issues Don't tell the client they don't feel a certain way- of course you are not depressed CHECKLIST OF ESSENTIALS Why does he need help at this time What has he already done towards solving the problem What help has he already received What help does he still need Spiritual needs Plan of action EFFECTIVE LISTENING BEHAVIOR 1. Sitting squarely 4. Eye contact 2. Open position 5. Relaxing 3. Leaning forward CHECKLIST OF LISTENING SKILL Be accepting Be concerned Be patient Be specific Be honest Be faithful III. Basic Process/Phases of Counselling PHASE -1 : Establishing Relationship The first step involves building a relationship and focuses on engaging clients to explore issues that directly affect them. It is where the clients is reading the verbal and nonverbal messages and make inferences about the counselor and the counseling situation. Counselor-offered conditions: The way the counselor influences the counseling process - Rogers (1957) identified what he believed were core conditions for success in counseling: empathy, unconditional positive regard, congruence, respect, immediacy, confrontation, concreteness, self-disclosure. Counselor and client offered conditions: Working alliance: another way to describe the counseling relationship. According to Bordin (1979) a working alliance is composed of three parts agreement between the counselor and client in terms of the goals of counseling, agreement between the counselor and client in terms of the tasks of counseling, and the