Establishing the Counselling Relationship

314 Words2 Pages
EXPLAIN THE PROCESS INVOLVED IN ESTABLISHING A COUNSELLING SKILLS RELATIONSHIP: Developing a relationship where ones skills as a counsellor can be utilised begins with being your (flawed but contented) self. You have to be an emotionally healthy individual to understand that you are there to simply provide another (preferably informed) prospective. In order to do this one must be able to really listen to what is being said an offer a genuine level empathy – I used to believe that empathy means being able to say that you have lived through the same circumstance. However, I have come to understand that if the person you are offering empathy to really believes they are being heard, if they can feel a connection to them as a person, then any empathy offered by you will be accepted as it really stems from trust. If your client feels that you will listen without prejudice, hear what they have to say, keep their confidence AND offer a path to a real and achievable solution; you are on the way to establishing a counselling skills relationship. In short, you should be open, polite, respectful, set out the parameters of the relationship from the outset (what can and cannot be discussed in confidence and why, where you can and cannot meet and for how long, the exact confines of the relationship – professional NOT personal). This establishes the boundaries and it should be explained that these parameters exist for the safety and security of both parties. Prior to all of this the counsellor needs to be secure in their work environment. An understanding of the protocols and support (professional and emotional) they will have will provide a sound basis from which to operate. If the above is clear from the outset, both the counsellor and client can be themselves and form a real rapport that will benefit of the client.
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