The process of building intimate relationships involves taking risks and revealing oneself to the other, when risks are taken and acceptance is received, trust is built and so the relationship deepens. Yalom describes it beautifully.... ”The more you can be truly yourself, can share yourself fully, the deeper and more sustaining the friendship. In the presence of such intimacy, all words, all modes of comfort, and all ideas take on greater meaning” (Yalom, 2009, p. 131). Intimacy is a primary human need, it’s not something that is
Although one ethical limitation of a counselor is that they are not able to prescribe medication, the counselor still plays a major role in the clients overall treatment, to include medication. The role of the counselor is to offer recommendations to the physician for medication use, constant consultation and screening of the client for the need for medication, monitoring and evaluation of effects of medication, education to clients and family members, and advocating for the client to the physician. It is also a counselor’s responsibility to inform the client of available treatment methods (King & Anderson, 2004). For example, if I am seeing a client for depression I would be legally responsible for informing the client about antidepressant medication used to treat depression in addition to possible counseling treatments to ensure the clients right to effective treatment. Because counselors are responsible for assisting physicians in ensuring the best possible care for the client, it is important that I familiarize myself with psychotropic medication.
If the client is in therapy then isn’t that what they are asking for – intervention? Does that depend on the client? I think so. Is it to be determined before therapy starts? Critics believe that Rogers only attracts limited number or range of clients that maybe so but his way definitely appeals to me and to others and has become entrenched into the basic foundations of therapy.
Developing a therapeutic, healing and growing relationship between counsellor and client depended on three important “core” conditions. These three “core conditions”, empathy, unconditional positive regard and congruence make it easier for the client to trust the counselling process and the counsellor (Mearns and Thornes, 2007). These three conditions are also necessary in facilitating and producing successful results when applied to psychotherapeutic intervention or techniques towards self- actualising (Seister and Wastell 2002). Congruence in particular is likened to “genuineness” and “realness” by Rogers and it is the notion of “transparency” by the Counsellor that captures the essence of this realness (McMillan, 2004). Mearns and Thornes 2007 stated: The more a counsellor is able to be herself in the relationship without putting up a professional front or a personal façade the greater will be the chance of the client changing and developing in a positive and constructive manner.
Attachment is the relationship between two persons, that forms a bond for a healthy relationship. It provides safety which can help in forming relationships in later life. Attachment contributes to a person having self value, this is a persons opinion of themselves. They will also know the value of respect and have that respect for others and themselves. Attachment can form at any age but early attachments are formed through being sociable from birth, this happens through interactions with people from the moment they are born.
Counselling and Self Awareness Because of the intimately private counselling work that qualified counsellors and psychotherapists do with clients, it is vitally important that a counselling professional is fully self-aware. Being able to self-reflect enables a counsellor to identify and develop personal awareness, and to remain emotionally detached from the relationship he/she is developing with a client. Relating to Others Counsellors will naturally draw their own conclusions about self-awareness. Their work with clients may present many personal challenges, but also an on-going opportunity to assess personal strengths, feelings, thoughts and limitations, as they relate to other people. Understandably a counsellor may also experience a sense of personal familiarity, whilst counselling clients, but must remain emotionally detached at all times.
So after further investigation of the theorists involved in the evolution of Family Systems, and their different styles and approaches, I found that they were all appropriate and relateable. Therefore I could conclusively say that Family Systems Theory would be a successful approach in treating an individuals issues, from a systemic approach. It can also be stated, that when born into this world, we are all born into a system (society), and sub system (family). It is how well we adapt and function within these systems which determines our connectedness to them. So when dealing with a clients problematic issues, it is crucial to consider them as being part of a system.
The lack of a definition is part of the problem. Some gerontology experts with dementia experience who recognize the ambiguity of the term care, target the social and emotional aspects of care with phrases such as “therapeutic Caregiving” as Barbara J. Bridge’s (1998) does in her book of the same title Therapeutic Caregiving: A Practical Guide for Caregivers of Persons with Alzheimer’s and Other Dementia Causing Diseases. Joanne Koenig Coste (2003) refers to a “habilitative “approach to care giving in her book; Learning to Speak Alzheimer’s. Using the terms social care and emotional care remind us that the everyday care that all of us already know and use holds power. At times, I will give social and emotional care separate attention in order to elaborate on the importance of each.
This will enable me to present my conclusion as to whether Person Centred Therapy offers the therapist all that is needed to treat clients. Counselling Course Assignment Can help client realise the solution but relies on them being able to be open and structured in their thinking and talking My experience in trying the person centred theory is that a client may not be able to structure their thoughts and just repeat themselves. An Introduced personality also does not always respond to open questions and clients may rely on counsellor for structure and some guidance. When practising this technique I found it limiting and the client (course colleague) was just repeating the same facts Advantages Client is given time to explore their problem and by articulating it they may become aware of aspects more clearly which can help them see a solution based on their experiences and lifestyle. Paraphrasing allows client to see that the counsellor is fully engaged and understand what they are saying.
Once I have discussed the key elements to this approach and the strengths and weaknesses of it. I will state my opinion of this approach as to whether I feel that it is all a therapist needs to treat a client. Although I do feel that this approach can be highly effective for most clients, but I am not sure that it’s a fair assessment to say it is always all that is needed. I feel that this would be too much of a generalization. I do however, feel that the person centered approach is very effective in more than just the therapy setting.