(P3) Counselling is an interaction between a counsellor and a client that leads to changes
from a less adaptive state to a more adaptive state when it comes to the client’s feelings,
thoughts and behaviours. Counselling is not an interaction where the counsellor advises
the client and tells them what to do or make any recommendations as the counsellor’s
responsibility is to listen and ensure the patient doesn’t say or do anything that could
harm themselves or others.
Carls Rogers concept of a counselling relationship includes 2 people which are
psychologically in contact. This includes a person who is vulnerable or anxious and is in a
conflicting state and is known as the client. The other person included is a person is a
neutral and mentally stable person known as a counsellor. The overall experience must be
positive unconditionally and must contain empathy as you will be communicating with the
client about past experiences.
Counselling is important as it helps you develop your own skills such as your interpersonal
skills and communication skills.
There are 4 stages to counselling and they are the initiating, maintaining and developing
and lastly a conclusion. During my practical, I had to do counsel my client using those
stages and I will be explaining my strengths and weaknesses that was given as feedback to
me.
During the initiating stage, I used many skills one of them being listening skills. As a
counsellor I was listening to what my client had to say and what they were going through
by showing interest as I used active listening to assure my client that I was with them and
that I hadn’t lost interest. This meant that I wasn’t being distracted by my surroundings or
my own thoughts and was focusing and picking up on the key points of what my client was
being affected by. I also mentioned certain policies regarding privacy and confidentiality
may be breached if the client is in danger of harming themselves or others. Another one of
my skills I used very well was my non-verbal skills as I ensured my body language was
appropriate by sitting upright and professionally. I was also relaxed and maintained eye
contact when it was necessary to help the client warm up to me and feel more
comfortable.
One of my weaknesses was my questioning skills as most of my questions were very
personal and were digging too deep too soon. This made my client a little uncomfortable
as they didn’t answer the question but instead brushed it off but was shown through a
change in their body language. I also felt like I was being too intrusive towards the client’s
personal life instead of mainly focusing on their current state and feelings.
During the maintaining and developing stage, I used many skills including my paraphrasing
skills. As a counsellor I was retelling the client what they were telling me which showed
that I was listening and paying attention to what they were saying and confirming with
them to show you understood where they were coming from and what they meant. This
meant that I was fulfilling my role as a counsellor as their main job is to listen and help
the clients feel better just by being a shoulder to lean on or someone who they talk to in
confidentiality and freely without being judged. I also used good summarising skills to
gather all the information the client told me which led me to clarify and confirm what I
gathered from the client and ensure all the information is correct and I as a counsellor,
know what to ask and what to focus on more in order to get to the main cause of their
feelings and problems.
One of my weaknesses was my non-verbal skills as I failed to show enough empathy, which
meant that the client wasn’t getting enough from me as a counsellor. This client could
obviously sense that I wasn’t really putting myself in their shoes which led them to hold
back and limit what they were telling me and opening up about. Lack of empathy means
that the client will feel less inclined to open up because they will have the mentality that
you won’t understand them as you haven’t been through what they’ve been through.
from a less adaptive state to a more adaptive state when it comes to the client’s feelings,
thoughts and behaviours. Counselling is not an interaction where the counsellor advises
the client and tells them what to do or make any recommendations as the counsellor’s
responsibility is to listen and ensure the patient doesn’t say or do anything that could
harm themselves or others.
Carls Rogers concept of a counselling relationship includes 2 people which are
psychologically in contact. This includes a person who is vulnerable or anxious and is in a
conflicting state and is known as the client. The other person included is a person is a
neutral and mentally stable person known as a counsellor. The overall experience must be
positive unconditionally and must contain empathy as you will be communicating with the
client about past experiences.
Counselling is important as it helps you develop your own skills such as your interpersonal
skills and communication skills.
There are 4 stages to counselling and they are the initiating, maintaining and developing
and lastly a conclusion. During my practical, I had to do counsel my client using those
stages and I will be explaining my strengths and weaknesses that was given as feedback to
me.
During the initiating stage, I used many skills one of them being listening skills. As a
counsellor I was listening to what my client had to say and what they were going through
by showing interest as I used active listening to assure my client that I was with them and
that I hadn’t lost interest. This meant that I wasn’t being distracted by my surroundings or
my own thoughts and was focusing and picking up on the key points of what my client was
being affected by. I also mentioned certain policies regarding privacy and confidentiality
may be breached if the client is in danger of harming themselves or others. Another one of
my skills I used very well was my non-verbal skills as I ensured my body language was
appropriate by sitting upright and professionally. I was also relaxed and maintained eye
contact when it was necessary to help the client warm up to me and feel more
comfortable.
One of my weaknesses was my questioning skills as most of my questions were very
personal and were digging too deep too soon. This made my client a little uncomfortable
as they didn’t answer the question but instead brushed it off but was shown through a
change in their body language. I also felt like I was being too intrusive towards the client’s
personal life instead of mainly focusing on their current state and feelings.
During the maintaining and developing stage, I used many skills including my paraphrasing
skills. As a counsellor I was retelling the client what they were telling me which showed
that I was listening and paying attention to what they were saying and confirming with
them to show you understood where they were coming from and what they meant. This
meant that I was fulfilling my role as a counsellor as their main job is to listen and help
the clients feel better just by being a shoulder to lean on or someone who they talk to in
confidentiality and freely without being judged. I also used good summarising skills to
gather all the information the client told me which led me to clarify and confirm what I
gathered from the client and ensure all the information is correct and I as a counsellor,
know what to ask and what to focus on more in order to get to the main cause of their
feelings and problems.
One of my weaknesses was my non-verbal skills as I failed to show enough empathy, which
meant that the client wasn’t getting enough from me as a counsellor. This client could
obviously sense that I wasn’t really putting myself in their shoes which led them to hold
back and limit what they were telling me and opening up about. Lack of empathy means
that the client will feel less inclined to open up because they will have the mentality that
you won’t understand them as you haven’t been through what they’ve been through.
