Chapter 3: Counseling Skills and Qualities

How can you ensure that you continue to grow as a counselor?

- Regular supervision or case presentations.

- Personal Counseling for Counselors.

- Professional Development: workshops, conferences: keep up with best practices.

What are 7 major categories of professional competencies learned in class?

1) Knowledge about Counseling Theories

2) Skills in Counseling Strategies

3) Knowledge & Skill concerning diversity

4) Assessment Skills

5) Diagnostic Skills

6) Sound Ethical Judgment

7) Professional Collaboration

What are personal qualities of successful counselors?

Well adjusted with good self esteem, Open to new ideas, Self aware, Respect, Congruence, Unconditional Positive Regard, Keep appropriate boundaries.

What is being self-aware as a successful counselor?

Knowledgeable about own feelings, thoughts, culture, strengths & weaknesses & how that affects others.

What is respect as a successful counselor?

Regard client's worth as person, aware of power difference & not abuse it.

What is congruence with a successful counselor?

Being genuine, straightforward, authentic, transparent, give up roles/facades.

What are boundaries of successful counselor?

Not get too close or too distant from client. Not share too many personal details about therapists own life (not a friend or client to the client), not give client home phone number, meet with client outside therapy, have sex with client, etc.

What is burnout?

Become tired of counseling, cynical, overwhelmed, unable to relate & ineffective with clients.

What does the ACA recommend with burnout?

Clearly recommends suspension of counseling activities.

What leads to burnout?

- Unresolved personal issues

- Overly demanding, poor, negative work environment

- Inadequate dealing of countertransference

What is countertransference?

Counselor's projected emotional reaction onto client.

How do you avoid burnout?

- Attempt to change working environment (refer client, cut down on hours, find new job, ask boss for help).

- Set limits with others (say no to some work, like supervision, new case).

- Consultation/Supervision/Counseling

- Participate in Professional Development

- Broaden interests beyond work

Why is it important to have knowledge of counseling theories?

Important to have a theory, or case conceptualization, as this provides an explanation for problems and a plan of attack.

Why are counseling strategies important?

Based off theory, gives you interventions to help client become self aware and change.

Why is knowledge of diversity important?

People from different cultures and environments show symptoms differently, expect different things from therapist.

Why are assessment skills important?

In order to help client, you first need to know what is wrong. Assess through interviewing and tests and behavioral observation.

Why are diagnostic skills important?

- Five axes: 2 for diagnose mental dx, learn prior medical dx, environmental stresses (probs family, friends, work, school, legal system), functioning.

- Provides direction for how to treat a patient, allows reimbursement from insurance, b/c prob is legit, serious enough, that need help.

Why is sound ethical judgment important?

Allow client have autonomy, informed consent, confidentiality, respect, nondual relationship. Keeps client from getting hurt. No sex with client, let them know limits confidentiality, not make decisions for client.

What is empathy?

Recognize, feel emotions of another.