Topic
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X Role Skills
5
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" " LEARNING OUTCOMES
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" By the end of this topic, you should be able to:
" 1. Discuss the purpose of focusing, clarifying and supporting roles;
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2. Discuss the characteristics that differentiate higher-level responses
and lower-level responses on each of the roles;
3. State the examples of types of responses for each role being played;
and
4. Practise the skills in the appropriate situation.
X" INTRODUCTION
In the previous topics, you have been introduced to several basic communication
skills which are necessary for each counsellor. In this topic, we will look at how
those communication skills can be used in communicating with clients.
Topic 5 will explain how you, as a counsellor, should play the three basic
counsellor roles by using all communication skills mentioned before. First,
focusing role; second, explaining role; and third; supporting role. Several
examples on how these roles can be played effectively will be provided. At the
end of the topic, there are exercises provided for counsellors to practise and
eventually, differentiate the three different roles.
5.1 FOCUSING ROLE
Before we can help other people, we must pay full attention to the person that we
are trying to help and listen attentively to what he has to say. Focusing is the
process of giving full attention to the client with the intention of understanding
Copyright © Open University Malaysia (OUM)
,108 X TOPIC 5 ROLE SKILLS
"
and by not having any doubts towards the client. This can only be achieved if the
counsellor actively listens to the message that the client wants to convey.
Listening actively means the counsellor listens attentively to the client, accepting
and respecting the client and his thoughts without any condition. Other than
that, the counsellor uses appropriate words and gestures, as a signal that the
counsellor understands what the client says. More importantly, a counsellor
should be able to comprehend the implicit meaning hidden behind the lengthy
conversation of the client. Other characteristics that imply the counsellor is
listening actively are:
(a)" Being patient and open;
(b)" Focusing on the content of the conversation and the phrases being used;
and
(c)" Focusing on the implicit and explicit feelings, and non-verbal movements.
The most common way to do this regardless of the counselling approach used is by
giving focus on eye contact between counsellor and client, maintaining an open
posture and making the counsellorÊs presence felt by the client. Responses given to
the client must communicate its understanding through many ways, such as
nodding as a sign of agreeing, giving simple answer such as „Yes, go on⁄‰ until it
reaches the appropriate verbal responses. It is best to give answers that reflect the
clientÊs feelings, give the gist of the discussion up until the responses reflect the
counsellorÊs deeper level of comprehension of the clientÊs feelings.
The focusing role, which is the role of giving full attention to the client, involves
the acceptance and involvement process with other individuals. Thus, it is a must
for a counsellor to recognise and practise the focusing role skills. The focusing
role, if it is done accordingly, will be able to give signals to the client that the
counsellor is concerned and has interest in listening to the problems expressed by
the client.
There are four ways on how we can facilitate the attention focusing role skills:
(i)" Give some time to reflect before giving response to the client – think
thoroughly about the whole message that the client intends to give, and
then think of the appropriate response.
(ii)" Use simple and short responses, avoid elaborate ones.
(iii)" Use the appropriate words, phrases and terms which the client is familiar
with based on his age and background.
(iv)" Do not take too much time when making a response, because this can make
the client shift his attention to other things.
Copyright © Open University Malaysia (OUM)
, TOPIC 5 ROLE SKILLS W 109
SELF-CHECK 5.1
"
Explain the meaning of focusing role.
ACTIVITY 5.1
How does a counsellor show the client that he is interested in listening
to the clientÊs problems, can accept and respect the client?
5.1.1 Types of Focusing Response
Counsellors must be able to differentiate between types of verbal focusing
responses. There are four types of verbal responses used by counsellors. Each of
the response can give specific meaning to the client, if it is used accordingly.
(a)" Simple Response
These responses are short responses, such as „Yes‰ or „Uh huh‰ or „Mm-
hmm‰, which carries the same meaning as nodding in agreement. These
simple responses also show that the counsellor is listening and following
through the clientÊs story. The simple responses encourage the client to
continue his story.
(b)" Reflection of Content and Feeling
This kind of response reflects what the client said, which is what the
counsellor heard from the client. Counsellor makes responses on what has
been said, how it was said, including the hidden feelings and the body
language sent by client. The counsellor needs to understand and realise the
clientÊs feelings and attitudes which may not be expressed through his
words.
(c)" Emphasising
This simple response is taken from the clientÊs final words, and emphasis is
given on the words or sentences which stand out the most, by repeating
those words or sentences. It is done by emphasising it slowly and gently.
This is done to encourage the client to elaborate deeper on the matter that
the client is discussing.
Copyright © Open University Malaysia (OUM)
" " "
"
"
"
X Role Skills
5
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
" " LEARNING OUTCOMES
"
" By the end of this topic, you should be able to:
" 1. Discuss the purpose of focusing, clarifying and supporting roles;
"
2. Discuss the characteristics that differentiate higher-level responses
and lower-level responses on each of the roles;
3. State the examples of types of responses for each role being played;
and
4. Practise the skills in the appropriate situation.
X" INTRODUCTION
In the previous topics, you have been introduced to several basic communication
skills which are necessary for each counsellor. In this topic, we will look at how
those communication skills can be used in communicating with clients.
Topic 5 will explain how you, as a counsellor, should play the three basic
counsellor roles by using all communication skills mentioned before. First,
focusing role; second, explaining role; and third; supporting role. Several
examples on how these roles can be played effectively will be provided. At the
end of the topic, there are exercises provided for counsellors to practise and
eventually, differentiate the three different roles.
5.1 FOCUSING ROLE
Before we can help other people, we must pay full attention to the person that we
are trying to help and listen attentively to what he has to say. Focusing is the
process of giving full attention to the client with the intention of understanding
Copyright © Open University Malaysia (OUM)
,108 X TOPIC 5 ROLE SKILLS
"
and by not having any doubts towards the client. This can only be achieved if the
counsellor actively listens to the message that the client wants to convey.
Listening actively means the counsellor listens attentively to the client, accepting
and respecting the client and his thoughts without any condition. Other than
that, the counsellor uses appropriate words and gestures, as a signal that the
counsellor understands what the client says. More importantly, a counsellor
should be able to comprehend the implicit meaning hidden behind the lengthy
conversation of the client. Other characteristics that imply the counsellor is
listening actively are:
(a)" Being patient and open;
(b)" Focusing on the content of the conversation and the phrases being used;
and
(c)" Focusing on the implicit and explicit feelings, and non-verbal movements.
The most common way to do this regardless of the counselling approach used is by
giving focus on eye contact between counsellor and client, maintaining an open
posture and making the counsellorÊs presence felt by the client. Responses given to
the client must communicate its understanding through many ways, such as
nodding as a sign of agreeing, giving simple answer such as „Yes, go on⁄‰ until it
reaches the appropriate verbal responses. It is best to give answers that reflect the
clientÊs feelings, give the gist of the discussion up until the responses reflect the
counsellorÊs deeper level of comprehension of the clientÊs feelings.
The focusing role, which is the role of giving full attention to the client, involves
the acceptance and involvement process with other individuals. Thus, it is a must
for a counsellor to recognise and practise the focusing role skills. The focusing
role, if it is done accordingly, will be able to give signals to the client that the
counsellor is concerned and has interest in listening to the problems expressed by
the client.
There are four ways on how we can facilitate the attention focusing role skills:
(i)" Give some time to reflect before giving response to the client – think
thoroughly about the whole message that the client intends to give, and
then think of the appropriate response.
(ii)" Use simple and short responses, avoid elaborate ones.
(iii)" Use the appropriate words, phrases and terms which the client is familiar
with based on his age and background.
(iv)" Do not take too much time when making a response, because this can make
the client shift his attention to other things.
Copyright © Open University Malaysia (OUM)
, TOPIC 5 ROLE SKILLS W 109
SELF-CHECK 5.1
"
Explain the meaning of focusing role.
ACTIVITY 5.1
How does a counsellor show the client that he is interested in listening
to the clientÊs problems, can accept and respect the client?
5.1.1 Types of Focusing Response
Counsellors must be able to differentiate between types of verbal focusing
responses. There are four types of verbal responses used by counsellors. Each of
the response can give specific meaning to the client, if it is used accordingly.
(a)" Simple Response
These responses are short responses, such as „Yes‰ or „Uh huh‰ or „Mm-
hmm‰, which carries the same meaning as nodding in agreement. These
simple responses also show that the counsellor is listening and following
through the clientÊs story. The simple responses encourage the client to
continue his story.
(b)" Reflection of Content and Feeling
This kind of response reflects what the client said, which is what the
counsellor heard from the client. Counsellor makes responses on what has
been said, how it was said, including the hidden feelings and the body
language sent by client. The counsellor needs to understand and realise the
clientÊs feelings and attitudes which may not be expressed through his
words.
(c)" Emphasising
This simple response is taken from the clientÊs final words, and emphasis is
given on the words or sentences which stand out the most, by repeating
those words or sentences. It is done by emphasising it slowly and gently.
This is done to encourage the client to elaborate deeper on the matter that
the client is discussing.
Copyright © Open University Malaysia (OUM)
