Foundations of Effective Counseling

Question 1

How do we maintain objectivity?

Answer 1

We focus on the client’s feelings, not our own

We don’t allow our own emotions to inappropriately influence the situation

Question 2

How do we increase our competence and knowledge?

Answer 2

continuously grow ourselves

read, attend workshops and conventions

Question 3

What may parents do (especially if they are higher income) when they come to a meeting with you?

Answer 3

Many parents with children with disabilities have TONS of information from the internet

They will bring this to meetings

Karen Fittinger: Keep up! Don’t let parents school you.

Question 4

What does Sheehan (Child neurology workshop) say about how we should approach parents who have a lot of “information” to bring to the table?

Answer 4

Be proactive—head parents off at the pass

Tell them, “If you go to the internet, you will see…”

Question 5

How can we appear knowledgeable?

Answer 5

By referring people to books, articles, websites

Appearing organized and prepared ahead of time

Having professional books and journals within view

Writing excellent reports

Have your diplomas displayed

Having a nameplate with MS, CCC-SLP on it

Giving people a great business card

Question 6

When is it especially helpful to appear knowledgeable?

Answer 6

If the SLP is young and the patient is old

Question 7

How can we maintain our flexibility?

Answer 7

We vary our approach with different clients

We look at age, gender, culture, religion, educational level

Question 8

not sure how to word this….

Openness and Honesty
o Hear and understand people without imposing our value system on them
o Acceptance vs. condoning

Answer 8

…

Question 9

How can we show empathy?

Answer 9

Enter into, share the feelings of others

Don’t EVER say “I know just how you feel.”

Better: “I can’t even imagine what you must be going through right now. How hard!”

Question 10

What is emotional stability?

Answer 10

Security with ourselves; being stable emotionally

Question 11

What are the two types of empathy?

Answer 11

primary empathy

Advanced Empathy

Question 12

What is primary empathy?

Answer 12

Communication of our accurate Perception of the client’s message

Question 13

What is advanced empathy?

Answer 13

Offering back unstated feelings that the listener picks up from tone or body language.

Question 14

What does Shames 2000, say about self-disclosure?

Answer 14

Sharing behavior may come easily to some of us, perhaps too easily. It is not designed to relieve the tensions or meet the problem needs of the counselor. Sharing should be relatively brief and should not involve a long or detailed description…It should be long enough to accomplish its designated function, which is to facilitate the processes of the client. It should not result in a prolonged or specific focus on the counselor by either the counselor or client.

Question 15

How can we maintain concentration?

Answer 15

Avoid distractions

Plan enough time for the meeting

Write things down

Visualize what the speaker is saying

Occasionally reflect back—rephrase, restate

Get your head in the game in advance

keep good eye contact with the speaker

make sure you are physically comfortable

pad to jot down extraneous things that pop into your head

Question 16

What does respect mean?

Answer 16

Means having regard for and showing appropriate courtesy to others

Question 17

How do we convey respect?

Answer 17

Address people by appropriate TITLES (esp. elderly)

Dress professionally

Be patient, even if they say stupid things

Ask for their input “What do you think?”

Thank them for taking time out of their schedule

Ask about their lives

Be respectful to retirees, full-time at home moms

Question 18

The next time you see a person what can you bring up?

Answer 18

something specific that they said last time you talked

Question 19

What values does our Western culture emphasize?

Answer 19

Individualism

Self-sufficiency

Autonomy

Competition

Early independence in childhood

Rehab—patient is brought back to as much independence as possible

Question 20

How may we broaden our world view?

Answer 20

Always be conscious that there are multiple realities

Remember that religion is central for some clients and families

Come from a “strengths perspective,” where we acknowledge how clients have used their strengths to solve problems

View things from a social justice perspective

View disabilities from a current 21st century perspective

Question 21

How can we view things from a social justice perspective?

Answer 21

We have a social responsibility to work for a more equitable distribution of resources, rights, and opportunities for all people

Question 22

In the 1900s to 1950s how were disabilities viewed?

Answer 22

they excluded and segregated

Children were the responsibility of families

Question 23

From 1950s-1980, what was the view on disabilities?

Answer 23

identify and assist

families still held most responsibility, institutionalized still common

Question 24

What happened around 1975?

Answer 24

increased federal funding for special education

lawsuits were filed and won

IDEA was introduced in 1975

Question 25

What was the disabilities perspective from 1980s to present?

Answer 25

Include and empower

parents have more rights

students with disabilities began attending school with typically developing students

by the late 1980s, some states closed all institutions and replaced them with community services; other states began doing this.

Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990 that prevented workplace discrimination against the disabled.

Full inclusion—formal movement

Question 26

What are some ways we can make a positive first impression?

Answer 26

find common ground

compliment people

Question 27

What are 3 ways to understand others?

Answer 27

secondhand (reports, talking to others)

our own from of reference

their personal frame of reference

Question 28

What are some hindrances to rapport?

Answer 28

Allowing interruptions

Showing shock

Frowning/looking disapproving

Fidgeting

Poor eye contact

Glancing at the clock

Question 29

What are 5 ways to improve someone’s motivation?

Answer 29

frequency of contact between parties

REWARDS experiences by working toward therapy goals

SHARED EFFORT and responsibility between clinician and clients

Goals that CLIENT thinks are important

Learn enough about something to have a MODERATE LEVEL OF ANXIETY about it

Question 30

What are the types of listening

Answer 30

listening for comprehension

listening for empathy

listening for evaluation

listening for resolution

Question 31

How do we listen for comprehension?

Answer 31

We try to receive, understand, and remember messages as accurately as possible

Goal: remain objective, not to make judgments or critically inspect information

We clarify and verify information

Question 32

How do we listen for empathy?

Answer 32

Goal: convey genuine concern, understanding, and involvement

Try to put ourselves in other person’s place

Reassure people, comfort them, express warmth, show unconditional regard

Question 33

How do we listen for Evaluation?

Answer 33

This is a means of judging what we hear and observe

This follows the first 2 types of listening because we are not ready to judge until we have comprehended and understood the other person

Question 34

How do we listen for Resolution?

Answer 34

This focuses on “us,” not “you.”

This is appropriate for situations when a problem needs to be solved

The focus is on solving it together, not us solving it for someone else

Question 35

How may we achieve “listening for resolution’?

Answer 35

Remain humble and open

Trust the other party to make significant contributions

Be open-ended in questions and responses

Encourage equal interchange between parties

Paraphrase and add to the other party’s ideas

Question 36

How can we improve our listening skills?

Answer 36

Overcome the “entertainment syndrome” where we tune out things that seem boring to us.