Chapter 7 - Working in a Counselling Relationship (SEVEN)

Question 1

Counsellor Skills in the Understanding and Action Phases

Answer 1

Changing Perceptions
Leading 
Multi-focused responding
Accurate empathy
Self-disclosure
Immediacy
Hope and Humor
Confrontation
Contracting
Rehearsal

Question 2

What is functional fixity and what methods can counselors use to address a client with this problem?

Answer 2

• seeing things in only one way or from one perspective or being fixated on the idea that this particular situation or attribute is the issue, ex. HCI
• reframing: offers the client another probable and positive viewpoint or perspective on a situation; the changed point of view gives the client a different way of responding
  1. Redefining the problem
  2. Altering the behavior in certain situations
  3. Perceiving the problem in a more manageable way and acting accordingly

Question 3

3 Types of Multi-focused Responding

Answer 3

1. Affective Responses; focus on a client’s feelings
2. Behavioral Responses; focus on actions
3. Cognitive Responses; focus on thought

Question 4

define: Self-disclosure

Answer 4

-conscious and intentional technique in which counselors share information about their lives outside the counseling relationship

Question 5

3 elements of effective self-disclosure

Answer 5

brief and focused
does not add to the client’s problems
used frequently

Question 6

define: immediacy

Answer 6

• involves a counselor’s and a client’s understanding and communicating at the moment what is going on between them in the helping relationship
• particularly feelings, impressions, and expectations

Question 7

3 Kinds of Immediacy:

Answer 7

1. Overall Relationship Immediacy - “How are we doing?”
2. Immediacy That Focuses on a Particular Event in a Session - “What’s going on right now?”
3. Self-Involving Statements - “I like how you did…”

Question 8

What is the role of hope in a client’s understanding and action phase?

Answer 8

• the feeling that something desirable, such as the achievement of a goal is possible
• clients do best in counseling when hope is instilled in the process
• hope can increase a client’s motivation to work on a problem

Question 9

What is the role of humor in a client’s understanding and action phase?

Answer 9

• involves giving an incongruent or unexpected response to a question or situation to the amusement of those involved
• requires both sensitivity and timing
• should not be used to be demeaning, but rather to build bridges between counselor and client
• can circumvent clients’ resistance, build rapport, dispel tension, help clients distance themselves from psychological pain, and aid in the increase of a client’s self-efficacy

Question 10

What is the role of confrontation in a client’s understanding and action phase?

Answer 10

• challenges a client to examine, modify, or control an aspect of behavior that is currently nonexistent or improperly used
• not an attack but rather an invitation and dialogue

Question 11

define/explain: the MUM effect

Answer 11

-avoiding confrontation of a client’s behavior, results in counselor’s being less effective

Question 12

What are the advantages of using written contracts in counseling?

Answer 12

• Provides a written record of agreed-upon goals and the course of action to be taken.
• The formal nature of a contract may motivate a client who tends to procrastinate.
• If the contract is broken down into definable sections, a client may get a clear feeling that problems can be solved.
• Places responsibility for change on the client and has the potential to empower the client.
• By specifically outlining the number of sessions to be held, the contract ensures that clients will return to counseling regularly

Question 13

Approaches to Setting up Contracts

Answer 13

• Counselor indicates that the purpose of counseling is to work not talk.
• Focus change in the client rather than someone not present who exists in the client’s life (that would be consulting like with a teacher about how to help a student).
• Avoid including client’s con words such as try or maybe.
• Avoid shoulds or musts that are goals directed toward pleasing others. Ask what the client really wants.
• Define behaviorally what client wishes to achieve through counseling.
• Contracts focus on change in client’s behaviors, thoughts, or feelings.

Question 14

define: SAFE (4 elements of a good contract)

Answer 14

S = specificity: What are the treatment goals?
A = awareness; knowledge of procedures, goals, and side effects of counseling
F = fairness; balance of information in the relationship between client and counselor
E = efficacy; client believes they can make choices and decisions; in other words, believes in their ability to achieve counseling goals

Question 15

Two Types of Rehearsal:

Answer 15

1. Overt rehearsal; requires the client to verbalize or act out what he or she is going to do
2. Covert rehearsal; is imagining or reflecting on the desired goal.

Question 16

Types of homework for rehearsal in CBT:

Answer 16

Paradoxical (an attempt to create the opposite effect)
Behavioral (practicing a new skill)
Risk-taking (doing something that is feared)
Thinking (mulling over select thoughts)
Written (keeping a log or journal)
Bibliotherapeutic (reading, listening, or viewing literature)
Not doing anything (taking a break from usual habits)