3) Chapter 8: Focusing the Session: Exploring the Session from Multiple Perspectives (Ivey et al., 2024)

Focusing

A skill that enables multiple perspectives on the client's story and helps you and your client understand contributing factors and think of new possibilities for change. Clients often come to counselling with a one-dimensional perception of their issues.

What are the benefits of focusing?

- Helps clients clarify their issues, engage in more holistic restorying, and find more satisfying decisions and actions
- Encourages you to think about alternative frames of reference, broader systems, and cultural issues that might affect the client

It is best when the session empowers clients to resolve their own issues?

True

Why is it important for the therapist to be aware of their conscious and unconscious patterns of selective attention?

If you only talk about individual issues, clients will talk about themselves and their frame of reference.

Self-in-relation

Defines the "individual self" as existing in relationship to others. It expands the former view of an "independent self-constructing self."

Being-in-relation

Is similar to self-in-relation but points out that all of us are beings who grow in the here-and-now moment as we interact with others.

How to personalize a session with a client?

Integrate the word "you" and use the client's name for acknowledgment.

Person-as-community

It points out that our family and community history lives within each of us.

Community venogram

It is a visual map of the client's relationship to the environment, showing both stressors and assets in the person's life. It is useful to understand your client's history and identify strengths and resources. It can be used by itself or to supplement the family genogram.

What questions should the counsellor or therapist ask to focus the session and help the client see their web of relationships?

- Identify significant others (partner, spouse, friends, family, etc)
- Other key figures affecting the client (teacher, employer, medical staff, etc)
- Cultural/environmental context (the client's unique RESPECTFUL multicultural background as broader issues)

Mutual focus

Carefully share experiences similar to the client to discuss the here-and-now relationship between you and the client.

Instead of focusing solely on the client's issues, what should the therapist do?

Try to recognize the total context of the client's concerns.

Counselling is more effective if you help the client focus together on one thing at a time.

True

Family genogram

It is a visual map of the client's family and brings out additional family history details. It can be used by itself or to supplement the community genogram.

What are the benefits of a community genogram?

- Chance to learn about the developmental history and cultural background of the client
- Search for images of strength and awareness of past and present resources

Advocacy

Is speaking out for your clients. Working in the school, community, or larger setting to help clients, and also working for social change.