In addition I am going to explore how the client might feel in a session and the blocks, fears and uncertainties they may encounter. By way of background I will highlight person centred counselling which was pioneered by the eminent psychologist, Carl Rogers. Sincerity is key to being a good counsellor and the client needs to know that the counsellor has their best interests at heart, and are without a doubt sincere in what is said and what is professed. Courage in a counselling relationship is defined as acting in spite of known fears. Essentially, courage is strengthened with confidence in self and nothing can be achieved without courage.
Level 3 Counselling Skills T/601/7567 LEVEL 3 CERTIFICATE IN COUNSELLING SKILLS T/601/7567 Rob Stawell Defining counselling skills & definition. The definition from the BACP is:- A certain type of helping activity in which one person (the helper) respects the value, resources & capacity for self opportunity for them (the client) to work towards living in more satisfying and resourceful ways. ‘Also counselling (helping) is an activity freely entered into by the person seeking help, it offers the opportunity to identify things for the client themselves. It is clearly & explicitly contracted, and the boundaries of the relationship identified. The activity is designed to help with self exploration and understanding.
‘Compare and contrast the different ways the person-centred and cognitive-behavioural approaches to counselling understand and make use of the counselling relationship’ This essay will compare and contrast two of the many approaches to counselling available today. Firstly, we will briefly consider what counselling is and the relationship between therapist and client. We will then go on to consider the similarities and differences between the person-centred and cognitive-behavioural approaches. We will see how these two methods are used within the counselling relationship and consider their aims and objectives. In conclusion we will see why it could be argued that the latter approach is the most useful for many clients.
Additionally, developing self-awareness helps the client to rediscover meaning in life. Some clients will, however, need a more structured therapy than is typical in a humanistic person-centered approach. One of the strengths of using a humanistic/person-centered approach when working with clients is the warmth and caring of the relationship that (hopefully) develops between counsellor and client. The counsellors active listening and full emotional availability will provide them with a healing environment within which they can explore their emotional experiences safely and without judgment. Central to the therapist's role in client-centred therapy is respecting the clients values as well as maintaining a therapeutic nonjudgmental attitude.
They are delivered by trained practitioners who work with people over a short or long term to help them bring about effective change or enhance their well being” (bacp.co.uk). Counselling is a process that gives clients time and space to work through their problems and understand how they are feeling and why. Counsellors are there to facilitate this change and development. (1.2.) Explain their own philosophical approach to counselling Where I am in my training I feel that I have a good understanding of the person centred approach to counselling.
I would say that some of these characteristics that I carry include: a curious and sharp mind, empathy, perceptiveness, humility, and self-reflection. Counselors must be curious about what makes people, groups, and systems do what they do and I am definitely curious about all of that. This trait is important both for learning more about others, as well as doing therapy and staying abreast of the ever evolving, new treatments, that are being created in the psychology field. A Counselor's primary task is to listen to others with empathy, and I enjoy doing just that! I believe that listening to others and being able to put yourself in their shoes in order to understand what they might be feeling is very critical.
This is the ability to be you without pretence or façade. This is also called genuineness; it is the most important attribute in counselling according to Rogers, in this the counsellor is keen to allow the client to experience them as they really are, the therapist being authentic. Unconditional Positive Regard: (UPR) this is a non-judgemental, Respecting and accepting the other person as they are, Rogers believed that for people to grow and fulfil their potential it is important that they are valued as themselves. The counsellor has a genuine regard for the client, they may not approve of some of the client’s actions, but the therapist does approve of the client. The therapist needs an attitude of “I’ll accept you as you are.” The therapist must always maintain a positive attitude to the client at all times.
McLeod also suggests that counselling skills can be used in a range of self help groups such as sliming groups or Alcohics Anonymous or in life coaching – although this focuses on the promotion of positive effectiveness or achievement. Users of counselling skills often have dual responsibilities both to the recipient of their skills and the organisation that they are operating within. (Stokes in Aldridge and Rigby). This can be a cause of conflict. Counsellors can avoid this conflict by starting the counselling relationship with a contract that ensures confidentiality and helps create a safe environment that supports a client by setting down guidelines for a working/ professional relationship that includes boundaries, conduct, timekeeping.
As an approach towards counseling, it is especially effective because it calls upon the counselor to understand the client and his or her problems based upon cultural beliefs. The counseling field provides one of the most important services to society in terms of its ability to help individuals suffering from psychological and mental disorders to confront their problems and seek effective intervention so that they may go on with their daily lives without untoward consequences. The increase in people from different races, culture and
Also, an effective counselor implements compatibility and belief in their theory, along with competence and cognitive complexity in their theoretical approach (Neukrug, 2014). The nine characteristics are deeply intertwined into two common factors that result in a positive outcome in therapy (Neukrug, 2014). A strong working alliance and the theoretical approach of the counselor are essential when determining the effectiveness of counseling. Although, the counselor play a big role in the effectiveness of counseling the client as a responsibility as well when it comes to the attributes contributed to the outcome of treatment. The client must be ready for change, have psychological resources and social support in order to ensure a positive outcome in counseling (Neukrug, 2014).