A counselor must attempt to facilitate a client to solve their
own problems yet demonstrate a genuine concern and compassion
for the clients dilemmas
The counselor must individualize interaction depending on
clients personality type. For example, does the client seem more
introverted or extroverted, does the client seem to talk more
logically or emotionally, does the client seem more cautious
or compulsive?
Initially the counselor can listen and at appropriate times
reflect by restating or rephrasing what the client had expressed.
This serves two purpose. First it allows the client to feel he
is being heard. And secondly, it allows for any misunderstandings
to be identified and corrected.
When the counselor feels he understands the just of what the
client is communicating, the counselor can proceed with questions.
These questions can pertain to feelings, thoughts, beliefs, expectations,
past experiences, preferences, or other details relating to the
issue.
The client may express a goal they wish to achieve. The counselor
and the client may want to explore the ultimate objective behind
the goal. They may explore other options in addressing the ultimate
objective and the real issues behind the desired goal.
After further discussion the counselor may choose explain
the benefits of holistic health, developing ones identity, and
the concepts of self-responsibility. The counselor must realize
that information given to the client may take time for the client
to effectively implement into their lives. The counselor and
the client should discuss how these concepts relate to the clients
issues.
The counselor should encourage the client to ultimately draw
their own conclusions and choose the direction the want to take
in resolving the issue. The counselor may challenge the client
to formulate a behavioral goal to address the ultimate objective.
The counselor may need to ask the client how confident they feel
in achieving the particular goal. The client will judge the plausibility
of particular behavior based on their perceived benefit of the
behavior and on their confidence of successfully achieving the
behavior. Goals may need to be scaled down, implemented in a
gradual manor, or modified altogether to optimize adherence.
Creativity should be exercised to make the new behavior as rewarding
as possible. Other techniques that may be implemented to increase
adherence include: behavioral logs and contracts, peer or family
support, friendly competition, and verbal recognition. A future
appointment can be agreed upon by the counselor and client to
reevaluate the outcome of the behavioral goal. Goals may be modified
and other issues may be discussed in these later sessions.
In summary, the ultimate goal as a counselor is to help others
understand themselves and their existence so they both
may live to fully experience what it is to be human.
