Ch 1: The Speech-Language Pathologist and Counseling

• To assist patients with developing goals related to communication or swallowing disorders

• To increase a person’s ability to use new skills related to his / her goals

• To assist in individual in making changes that will reduce barriers to meeting his / her goals

• Referring patients who exhibit symptoms of mental illness, such as anxiety or depression, to the appropriate mental health professional

What is the purpose of counseling?

Interviewing

This is a mechanism to glean in-depth information and to clarify elements discovered in a patient’s case history

Counseling

This creates interpersonal, helping relationship in which the goal is to support the patient and his / her family who experience emotional distress related to a communication disorder

Informational Counseling

This is a type of counseling activity that provides patients and caregivers with an understanding of the communication disorder and its consequences

Personal Adjustment Counseling

This is another type of counseling activity that helps and assists the patient and caregivers with how they react to the communication impairment, attempting to reduce the emotional impact of the problem on the individuals

Supportive Counseling

What is another name for personal adjustment counseling?

Educational Counseling

This is similar to Sanders’ informational counseling, but this idea adds emphases on prevention and management

Rehabilitation Counseling

This is the idea that helps the patient fulfill occupational and personal goals in life

Rehabilitation Counseling

You provide this type of counseling when working with school-aged students to help them meet the demands of the school’s academic and social environments

Empathy

• This is the idea where you as the clinician attempts to connect with the patient and caregivers view the situation or circumstances from their perspective

• This requires you to use higher levels of thinking and be more imaginative, even if you haven’t experienced this situation personally

Sympathy

This is where you feel pity or sorry for another individual, without necessarily understanding what the person is likely to be feeling

Objectivity

• This is where you do not pass judgement on the patient and caregivers

• You listen to all sides of an issue with an open mind

Trustworthiness

This is the basis for a solid and successful relationship because patients and caregivers must be able to connect and trust you

Competence

This is when you meet and maintain the standards of the speech-language therapy profession and you stay current in your knowledge of the discipline

Flexibility and spontaneity

This is where you are mentally flexible and you can adapt to the various individuals you encounter as well as to the different clinical situations that arise

Emotional stability

• This is where you strive for your overall emotional equilibrium by maintaining and safeguarding your own good mental health

• Balance the challenges and stresses of life with the successes, and keep a health perspective

• You cannot optimally improve the patient’s and caregivers’ mental health if your own is in jeopardy

Honesty and openness

Be open, honest, and tactful in communications with the patient and caregivers

Positive attitudes

• Make realistic prognostic statements

• Focus on the patient’s abilities and his capacity to improve or build on them

Motivation

• The desire for better outcomes for the patient

• Seek to help them improve their condition and level of functioning as well as his quality of life

Concentration

The ability to maintain focus on the issues at hand and prioritize them

Self-awareness

Continuously monitor yourself and your clinical abilities, and strive to improve and hone your skill and artistry as a clinician

Dedication

• The patient and caregivers, in some form, arrive at a treatment facility desiring change

• Believe in their capacity to improve, and help them to achieve these results

Wisdom

• This is where you develop a deeper understanding of yourself and your profession

• With time and experience, appreciate mor fully the circumstances of patients and their loved ones

Communication skills

Event though you are a communication professional, do not take for granted the need to communicate clearly, honestly, tactfully, and compassionately with individuals whom you serve