Week 2: Position of Counsellor & Feedback

Question 1

Epistemology

Answer 1

the theory of knowledge, especially with regard to its methods, validity, and scope, and the distinction between justified belief and opinion

Question 2

Modernist Epistemology

Answer 2

Pro Structuralism perspective
Counsellor is the expert
Language represents true experience
Client’s problems are caused from internal and external deficits & pathologies

Question 3

Postmodernist Epistemology

Answer 3

Counselling theories are social constructs generated by current context
People’s problems are patterns of attention & meaning that are individually & socially constructed
Change can be initiated by co-constructing new meanings and attentional patterns through language & relationship
Language distorts client’s original experience
Objectivity as a counsellor is impossible - avoiding bias is impossible
Focus is on client & their ability to generate new meaning
Client positioned as expert

Question 4

De-centred & influential worker position

Answer 4

invigorating for the worker

Question 5

De-centred & non-influential worker positioning

Answer 5

Invalidating for the worker

Question 6

Centred & influential worker positing

Answer 6

Burdening for the worker

Question 7

Centred & non-influential worker positioning

Answer 7

Exhausting for the worker

Question 8

Four key components of giving feedback

Answer 8

1. Invited
2. Specific
3. Identifies impact
4. Invites collaboration

Question 9

Three things to avoid when giving feedback

Answer 9

1. Absolute statements
2. Blame & judgement
3. Applause & cheerleading

Question 10

Structuralism

Answer 10

search for the underlying ‘structures’ which govern phenomenon

Question 11

Postconstructionalism

Answer 11

Questions the assumptions of structuralism

Question 12

Integrative approaches are possible within which three epistemologies?

Answer 12

1. individualising
2. systems
3. poststructuralism

Question 13

What are the three key points of social constructionism?

Answer 13

Knowledge is socially constructed.
Language is central to social construction.
Knowledge construction is politically driven.

Question 14

Critiques of social constructionism

Answer 14

Anti-realist perspective - assert knowledge socially created and not obtained through observations

Opposes traditional scientific assumptions which assert the nature of phenomena’s can be revealed through observation