I began to love me and know that I am wonderful being who I am and most of all being real with myself. My experience has taught me that becoming an effective counselor; you will make some decisions that are good and not so good all in the desire to help others. At this stage of my career and with the help of my educational journey I have learned and still learning to first nurture myself and use techniques along with tools to met the participants where he or she is at. Most of all it is essential to institute a cooperative relationship and to create and sustain consistent but flexible
A further element is the managerial or normative aspect of supervision and this could explained to some extent as maintaining standards.An awareness of the need to keep up with CPD, personal blind spots and prejudices that affect the the way how both trainee and counselor look at themselves which in turn influence how they see others and the way how they work, so the requirement to contiunaly learn about oneself increases knowledge and understanding which is vitaly important for personal development and growth that will enevitbly enhance thier work with clients. Casework supervision plays an important role as it provides support for the student or practising counselor.They have an
I found that using certain skills such as paraphrasing, reflecting feelings, summarising, challenging and asking open questions to explore options were required to form a therapeutic alliance between my client and me. Despite using these skills effectively, certain situations evoked anxiety during the session. Hovarth and Symonds (1994) believe teamwork between therapists and client is the key element of a therapeutic alliance. It provides a safe environment for clients to explore themselves, a relationship where the client’s key issues are explored,
Important of Reflections Reflecting on my own practice is important because it allows me to assess what i am doing well, identify areas where you might like or may need more training or guidance in to ensure am performing to the best and meeting all standards and expectations within the care setting. It also helps me to think about what I am doing in the setting and always be aware of how I am working with others. Reflecting on my work practice can enhance and improve my confidence and self-esteem because I can look at what I am doing well, the things I have learnt and achieved and feel good about myself especially if I have been able to do something with ease which I use to find it difficult to do in the past, if I have been able to do something that I have never tried it before. This then gives me confidence to continue to work well and aim to try new things or use what new skills or knowledge I have gained in my care practices. Reflecting on my activities can help me learn from other people’s strategies.
The skills a social worker should have are verbal, nonverbal, listening, communication, advocacy and assessment therapeutic. Having good communication skills is a great component to have so the client can feel comfortable with you while counseling. Nonverbal skills are also important to have so the client is aware that you are engaging in the conversation at hand, and actually care on an emotional level. Listening is important, so you can understand and assess what the client is going through. Social workers need to be advocates for their clients that are unaware of the resources out there to help them in their time of need.
Gaining reassurance and acknowledgement is another form of communication it is always admirable to gain and give compliments. When one is acknowledged for the work that they have done it will impact into the work that is being done. Other reasons why people communicate are to discuss a situation, make a point or outline a concern and develop learning. 1.2 Explain how effective communication affects all aspects of own work Effective communication is a two way process. The person communicating has to make sure they are giving the right message, but also needs to make sure that it is being correctly received and understood by the other person or people.
If the communication between a service user/colleague and me is effective then this helps to build trust and improve the relationship. My own development and skills benefit from effective communication; this is down to fully understanding what I am being taught and not misconstruing any of the information. 1.3 Explain why it is important to observe an individual’s reaction when communicating with them Observing somebodies reactions when engaging in a conversation with them is a crucial part to making sure the other person fully understands the message being conveyed to them. A conversation is a two way process, and relies on both parties to be fully engaged, it’s possible to identify if the other person is not understanding or listening to what’s being said by observing their body language and how they communicate back verbally. Tell-tale signs of someone not listening or understanding are their facial expressions; eye contact; gestures; silence; tone and pitch.
Rapport brings forth a sense of trust and understanding needed to help a client feel comfortable and maybe even optimistic enough to disclose personal issues/concerns. It is extremely important for a counselor to listen attentively and compassionately. This effective listening is demonstrated through a counselor’s eye contact, body language, non-intrusive questioning, paraphrasing and reflecting on what the client is saying/feeling, and reviewing/recapping the focus. It is also important for a counselor
I find that my closest and best relationships are those who have common values, way of living, and ideals about living life. Once I find a relationship that is trusting, I try to maintain it to my best ability. I am very easy to talk to, however my best communication is with others that have the same values. I express my liking for the other person by showing some generosity and kindness. Part II: Impact On Management Style The manager sees their role as that of a guide or coach, to show staff what to do and how to do it, and then get out of their way and let them do it.
. . Acceptance and respect for the client are essentials for a counsellor and as the relationship develops, so too does trust between the counsellor and client, enabling the client to look at many aspects of their life, their relationships and themselves which they may not have considered or been able to face before. The counsellor may help the client to examine in detail the behaviour or situations which are proving troublesome and to find an area where it would be possible to initiate some change as a start. The counsellor may help the client to look at the options open to them and help them to decide the best for them.’ 2.1 Explain the key features of one recognised ethical framework for counselling and psychotherapy used by qualified trained counsellors The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy set guidelines and ethical codes of practice for counsellors and Psychotherapists to follow.