Counseling Techniques

Question 1

assurance

Answer 1

establish an environment that is safe and speaks confidentiality

• try to connect
• establish the difference between confidentiality and anonymity

Question 2

observe

Answer 2

• visual contact
• posture
• gestures
• body language

Question 3

listen with empathy

Answer 3

• attend to the needs of the counselee and what he/she is communicating
• avoid judging concerning what you hear
• detect verbal and nonverbal messages
• accept the counselee
• understand

Question 4

listen actively

Answer 4

discover what is the counselee/s agenda

• motivate the counselee to speak of his/her feelings
• assist him/her by paraphrasing, summarizing, reflecting, interpreting, focusing on feelings not events

Question 5

clarify

Answer 5

help the counselee to put his/her concerns into words

• what is actually the problem?
• what, who, how, which, when, where, why, etc

Question 6

respond

Answer 6

• direct the conversation
• reflect
• ask closed & open ended questions
• confront (i am confused…let’s analyze)
• inform
• interpret
• encourage
  give assurance

Question 7

filter

Answer 7

• what does the counselee really want or is seeking
• what does the counselee want from us
• are there any hidden problems the counselee is not talking about
• what is the short term need
• what is the long term need

Question 8

teach

Answer 8

• share information
• assist the counselee analyze
• present alternatives

Question 9

point to God

Answer 9

Jesus:
walked alongside
asked questions
listened
confronted
taught
took risks getting involved
encouraged independence