Steps to Counseling

Question 1

First steps to counseling

Answer 1

1. Active Listening
2. Questioning
3. Clarifying
4. Giving Feedback

Question 2

Active Listening points

Answer 2

• Watching/hearing emotions – affect
• *FIT: Empathy Matching/Understanding affect
• *Give encouragement to counselee to share more, further HOPE
• Seek out clues to and for solutions, plans
• Make sure you have been asked to help

Question 3

Questioning points

Answer 3

Two questions you would ask: May I pray for you? May I pray for myself?
• Questions goals and objectives of counselee?
• *How is counselee managing? (feelings leading to action)
• *Any recent changes or exceptions to counselee’s issues?
• Others or your actions causal – both good & bad? (try to externalize)
• What is the future focus now?

Question 4

Clarifying points

Answer 4

Clarifying:
• Simplify, clarify goals, objectives and past progress
• Prioritize, make specific plans for specific goals (co-construct solutions)
• Scale objectives their importance and counselee’s desire and confidence in reaching goals
• Follow-up questions to be sure both understand – look to next sessions (change will occur in the counseling situation)

Question 5

Giving Feedback points

Answer 5

• Summarize issues and concerns
• Point out/remind counselee of exceptions to concerns/issues
• Give supportive encouragement and co-construct solutions
• Educate, add and give other potential solutions, if needed
• Homework – suggestions for counselee

Question 6

FIT (Active Listening)

Answer 6

• Means empathy, matching to some degree the emotion or affect of the individual being counseled
• Empathy is different from sympathy

Question 7

H.O.P.E. (Active Listening)

Answer 7

Give encouragement to counselee to share more; further HOPE
•	H- helpful, hopeful
•	O- optimistic, open
•	P- positive, potential
•	E- encouraging, enlighten

Question 8

Watching/hearing emotions-affect (Active Listening)

Answer 8

• When you are clearly demonstrating that you hear the words and you can reflect on them.
• You put in your own words what you believe the person is saying.
• It is not just repetition.