CN100 Study Flashcards
Why must counsellor have high levels of unconditional positive regard?
So the client sees that they are open, nonjudgmental and have high levels of acceptance
What are some of the professional attributes of a counsellor
Culturally sensitive, knowledgeable and informed on the subject matter , have the correct level of awareness. They must be patient and a good listener , can maintain confidentiality. Must be able to actively listen
What does it mean for someone to actively listen?
Maintain eye contact, nodding, listening to the full story without interruptions, not coming up with responses in your head of what you can do before listening fully, paraphrasing the information that was heard
What are some ineffective counselling skills
Poor listening habits, assuming that the subject matter is unimportant; having preconceived ideas of the clients issues, mentally criticising, pretending to be attentive, hearing what is expected, being defensive, listening for a point of disagreement, rehearsing what you will say
Why is it important for counsellors to reflect on their feelings
Recognising the clients feelings and letting them know you have understood what they are feeling- DONT have to had experience of the feeling, asking open ended questions allows for more depth, paraphrasing- repeating in your words heat client has said to give clarity, interpretation- giving back to the client the core idea that they are struggling with
What are the three core values
- Respect for the human rights and human differences of individuals
- second core value( attitude): respect, integrity, authority, responsibility,autonomy, confidentiality, competence
- third practice( delivery skills): contracted, boundaries, explicit, open, monitored, privacy
What is the therapeutic relationship
The relationship between therapist & client is at the core. Personhood of the therapist is a key factor: gives a successful outcome, allows for more quality within the relationship
What are the elements of a therapeutic relationship
Goal of a healthy relationship is rapport which leads to desired change; effectiveness of the relationship is related to mutual respect and trust; caring, respect & trust create environment for clients to share deepest concerns. Clients will act if the environment and relationship is safe. Counsellors need to be empathic rather than sympathetic
What is empathy and the difference between the two types of empathy
Empathy: understanding the clients experience as if it were your own through emotional reasoning
Empathic report: accurately sensing and being able to see the clients world the way that they do
Communicative attunement: verbally sharing understandings with the client
What does empathy achieve?
Allows therapist to accurately sense and communicate feelings back to client. These feelings may involve: personal meanings of the client, the narrative and it’s meanings, significance of the story and it’s meaning in the life of the client. Comes in two stages primary and advanced empathy
What is primary empathy
Accurately articulating back to the client their experiences & feelings from a client that is seen as overt based on their statements and behaviour
What is advanced empathy
Accurately articulating back implied feelings and behaviour from incomplete client statements
What is cultural and rational empathy
Considers the impacts of gender and client cultural heritage
- cultural empathy includes context in which counsellor and client live.
- working with clients from ethnic minorities- important counsellors can look at life in different ways
- relational empathy: empathy for oneself, other people and the counselling relationship
What makes an effective counsellor?
Personally integrated and self aware, hold value for clients as unique people, understand how and what the client is experiencing
What role does the emotion of shame play in the counselling relationship
Shame is a component of the counsellor/client relationship; important to be alert for any signs of shame; important to help client work through shame as issue; avoid overlooking shame as an issue- by passing opportunities to look for shame; inadvertently adding judgments to clients shame
Describe the counselling relationship
- counsellors must have positive regard in all sessions with clients
- positive regard: therapist expresses client as unique & worthwhile person
- therapist embraces clients ethnic self & other experiences that have helped to shape clients world view
Describe the counselling relationship
- therapist must provide acceptance,support and overall sense of protection
- respect means: do not harm, become competent and committed; be for the client; don’t rush judgment;don’t assume good will; keep clients agenda in focus
What does it mean when a counsellor is genuine
- refers to the counsellors state of mind and their ability to baseless analytical; distinguish between cultural assumptions and those held by client; overcome prejudice, stereotypes and biases; become culturally self aware, therapists are real with their clients; they don’t have a false front; openly express feelings and attitudes; inner & outer experiences match;
What are the importance of balance shared feelings
Be honest and helpful- not in destructive ways; must not impulsively share every thought and feeling;counsellor feelings cannot take precedence over the feelings of the client; the less self threatening the counsellor is- the more likely the client will open up; counsellor is who they are without pretences, fictions, roles
What is self disclosure
Important way to let the client know you as a person; done at a moderate level it is regarded more highly be client; moderation can be helpful to disclose facts if it’s necessary for the client/ session.
- self disclosure comes in four levels: counsellors personal problems,facts about counsellors role, counsellors reactions to the client( feedback), counsellors reactions to the counsellor/client relationship- 3&4 are most helpful
How do you know when to use self disclosure and how to use it?
- primary focus is client not counsellor
- avoid non selective & indiscriminate forms of self disclosure
- avoid role reversal by sharing problems with client
- ## think about whose needs are being met by you sharing the information
What is a safe client
Feels free to be open, disclose, wants to work for positive outcomes and has the desire to change
What is an unsafe client
Feels and acts self protective, guarded, subdued, may simultaneously want and resist help. Important for counsellors to be persistent and ongoing in their treatment- providing safe therapeutic environment
- safety is critical for: high stress families, abuse or incest, history of broken trust, lack of privileges and power, history of oppression and discrimination
What is the importance of ethical issues in the counselling practice
- Trend is on stressing values and behaviour of counsellor
- crucial that counsellor reflects on themselves and has awareness of themselves as person
- quality of client/counsellor relationship is the most important factor of fostering growth
What are the important qualities that a counsellor must have
- Transparency: being real,authentic
- congruence:genuine and integrated as a whole person
- empathy: feeling with the client or feeling of togetherness
- Unconditional positive regard: non judgemental regardless of strength or otherwise
- respecting the clients ability to set the agenda
What are the responsibilities of the counsellor
Responsibility to the client, responsibility to the counselling profession, to the clients family and to society
How can the counsellor make the clients experience more comfortable
- counselling profession can be very challenging when trying to be therapeutic
- help the client if the counsellor is: honest about personal limitations, dealing with uncommitted clients, developing ones own style, completing self care and supervision, using humour, being real: being alive, being a worthy role model
What are the issues that are often faced by beginning therapists
- achieving a sense of well being;questioning competency askew techniques are learnt or starting to practice without supervision; accepting limitations and acknowledging strengths;managing difficult and unsatisfactory relationships with clients; struggling to commit and personal growth;developing healthy helping relationships with clients; developing healthy personal boundaries in professional life
What are professional ethics
- systematised body of moral principles that guide or determine the counsellors behaviour in his relationship to the counselee, to the counselee’s relatives and to the general society
- professional ethics are values that determine counsellors behaviour
What are values and the difference between the types of values
Values: certain standards or general principles on which we determine our behaviour and judge it’s approval or disapproval
Social values: standards of behaviour that are determined by society
Moral values: based on dictates of right reason, ones conscience, innate knowledge of what is right and wrong
Religious values:based on the particular faith and vary according to the tenets of that faith
Why are ethical codes important
- fundamental component of effective counselling, guidelines that outline the professional standards of behaviour and practice,codes do not make decisions for counsellors; counsellor must interpret the codes;
What are the types of ethics to consider
Mandatory ethics, aspirational ethics,positive ethics
- principles that underlie professional codes; benefit others, teach them not to harm, respect each other’s autonomy, be just, fair and faithful
What are the role of the ethical codes
Educate about responsibilities, provide basis for accountability,protect clients,basis for improving professional practice.
Making ethical decisions: identify problem, review relevant codes, seek consultation, brainstorm, list consequences, decide and document
- client can be involved in ethical process to a degree
What is informed consent
Giving clients enough information about the counselling practice to make informed choices, educate clients about rights and responsibilities
Informed consent on areas such as: therapy procedures, risks/benefits and alternative, right to withdraw from treatment,costs of treatment,supervision, privileged communication and confidentiality limits
What are the limits of confidentiality
Confidentiality is seen as essential but not absolute
- exceptions of breaking confidentiality: duty to warn: client is danger to themselves or others; client is under 16 is victims of abuse;dependent adult or older adult is victim of abuse, client needs hospital care; information is made a court issue,clients request a release of record
What are the multicultural issues in counselling
Biases that are reflected when we: neglect social and community factors to focus unduly on individualism, assess clients with certain instruments that have been normed on populations they represent, judge as psychopathological- behaviours, beliefs or experiences normal for clients culture. Adheres to western counselling theories
What is assessment
Ongoing process that helps the counsellor evaluate key elements of clients psychological functioning.Practices are influenced by therapists theoretical orientation, requires cultural sensitivity, can be helpful in treatment planning
What is diagnosis
Process of identifying patterns of symptoms which fit in the criteria for a specific mental disorder as defined in the DSM IV TR, requires cultural sensitivity, counsellors can debate the utility’s understanding clients subjective world, helpful in treatment planning
What are the strengths of evidence based practices
Validated by empirical research,treatments are brief and standardised,preferred by insurance companies