{"id":4244,"date":"2018-09-18T18:17:15","date_gmt":"2018-09-18T22:17:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.amyork.ca\/academic\/zz\/?p=4244"},"modified":"2018-09-18T18:33:49","modified_gmt":"2018-09-18T22:33:49","slug":"effective-counsellor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.amyork.ca\/academic\/zz\/psychological-counseling\/effective-counsellor\/","title":{"rendered":"Effective Counsellor"},"content":{"rendered":"

What is counselling?<\/p>\n

An interpersonal relationship between someone actively seeking help and someone willing to give help who is capable or trained too help in a setting that permits help to be given and received.<\/li>\n
Different to a standard doctor-patient relationship\u00e0\u00e0 counselling relationship is more intimate and mirrors what a relationship is in real life<\/li>\n
It is a collaborative process<\/strong> and requires active participation<\/strong><\/li>\n
Counselling usually involves 1-15 sessions<\/strong>– process over time<\/li>\n
Counselling is creative- an art not a science<\/li>\n
Consists of a repertoire of skills<\/li>\n
Using yourself (the therapist) as the tool<\/li>\n
Its about a connection with the individual<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n
Is counselling effective?<\/p>\n
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The average treated person is better off than 80% of those without the benefit of treatment<\/li>\n
For most problems psychological therapy is more effective than alternative treatments like psychoactive medications.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n
Limitations<\/p>\n
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The drop out rate is high- about 47%<\/li>\n
It takes time- not a quick fix<\/li>\n
It requires commitment, insight, time and trust.<\/strong><\/li>\n
Some people perceive talking about emotions as weak- element of stigma.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n
Does training matter?<\/p>\n
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Evidence indicates the level of education and training one gets doesn\u2019t necessarily correlate with how good of a counsellor you are.<\/li>\n
There is a great different within professions rather than between.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n
History<\/p>\n
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Since the 60s the number of treatment has grown from 60 to 400+<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n
Different approaches<\/p>\n
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Psychodynamic<\/em> o Psychoanalytic therapy:<\/strong> based largely on insight, unconscious motivation, and reconstruction of the personality\n
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Adlerian therapy:<\/strong> focuses on meaning, goals, purposeful behaviour, conscious action, belonging and social interest. Accounts for present behaviour by studying childhood experiences but it does not focus on unconscious dynamics.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
Experiential and relationship-oriented therapies<\/em> o The Existential approach:<\/strong> stresses a concern for what it means to be fully human. This approach is not a unified school of therapy with a clear theory and a set of techniques. o The Person-Centred approach:<\/strong> rooted in humanistic philosophy, places emphasis on the basic attitudes of the therapist. Maintains that the quality of the client-therapist relationship is the prime determinant of the outcomes of the therapeutic process. Clients have the capacity for self-direction without active intervention by the therapist.<\/strong>\n
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Gestalt therapy: <\/strong>Offers a range of experiments to help clients gain awareness of what they are experiencing in the present. Gestalt therapists take an active role, yet they follow the leads provided by clients.<\/li>\n
These approaches emphasize emotion as a rout to bringing about change– <\/strong>they can be considered emotion-focused therapies<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
Cognitive behavioural approaches<\/em> o Reality therapy:<\/strong> focuses on clients\u2019 current behaviour and stresses developing clear plans for new behaviours\n
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Behaviour therapy:<\/strong> emphasizes on doing and on taking steps to make concrete changes<\/li>\n
Rational emotive behaviour therapy and cognitive therapy: <\/strong>highlight the necessity of learning how to challenge inaccurate beliefs and automatic thoughts that lead to behavioural problems.<\/li>\n
These approaches are used to help people to modify their inaccurate and selfdefeating assumptions and to develop new patterns of acting<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
Systems and postmodern perspectives<\/em> o Feminist therapy<\/strong>: contributed an awareness of how environmental and social conditions contribution to the problems of women and men and how gender-role socialization leads to a lack of gender equality.\n
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Family therapy<\/strong>: not possible to understand the individual apart from the context of the system.<\/li>\n
Postmodern approaches<\/strong>: include social constructionism, solution-focused brief therapy and narrative therapy.<\/li>\n
These focus on how people produce their own lives in the context of systems, interactions, social conditioning and discourse.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n
The factors of effective therapy<\/p>\n
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The therapeutic relationship o Shared understanding of the problem o Feeling understood o Trust, compassion, connection, rapport etc.<\/li>\n
The intervention- techniques used (15%)<\/li>\n
Client expectations of therapy<\/li>\n
Extra-therapeutic factors- things we cannot define- something in a patients life changes outside of therapy, which helps them get better (40%)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n
Micro-skills<\/p>\n
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Micro-skills are observable actions of therapists that appear to effect positive change in the session in which active listening involves both receive and sender<\/li>\n
Psychologists that are effective apply these skills – Core skills:\n
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Attending skills- nodding, leaning in, eye contact o Listening skills- summarizing o Confronting- gently bringing out about awareness o Focusing- themes and keep on track<\/li>\n
Reflection of meaning \u2013 explore deeper understanding<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n
Attributes of effective practitioners<\/p>\n
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One study by Ricks (1974) followed adults who had been treated as children\u00e0\u00e0 he found a major difference in outcomes depended on who their therapist was.<\/strong><\/li>\n
Experience:\n
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Paul Clement found that it didn\u2019t matter how much experience he had his outcomes didn\u2019t improve<\/li>\n
Why don\u2019t psychologists improve with experience?<\/li>\n
\u00a7 Automaticity- do not connect with the client<\/li>\n
\u00a7 Lack of authenticity<\/li>\n
\u00a7 Focus on not making mistakes- taking the path of least resistance<\/strong><\/li>\n
\u00a7 Over confidence- the more confident you are the lower your outcomes\u00e0\u00e0 Dunning-Kruger Effect<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
Psychological health doesn\u2019t seem to be related to being an effective therapist.<\/strong><\/li>\n
Effective counsellors\u2026 o Have a willingness to become a more therapeutic person o Have a strong identity, sense of self, who they are\n
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Respect and appreciate themselves<\/li>\n
Open to change o Authentic, sincere and honest o Have a sense of humour o Make mistakes and are willing to admit them o Able to be in the present<\/li>\n
Appreciate the influence of culture-incredibly important o Have a sincere interest in the welfare of others o Have effective interpersonal skills o Become deeply involving in their work and derive meaning from it\u00a0 o Are passionate<\/li>\n
Are able to maintain health boundaries<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n
Effective counsellors in multicultural settings<\/p>\n
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Competencies in multicultural counselling involve three areas: beliefs and attitudes, knowledge and skills.<\/strong>\n
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Beliefs and attitudes:<\/li>\n
\u00a7 Ensure that their personal biases, values or problems will not interfere with people of different cultures.<\/li>\n
\u00a7 They are aware of their positive and negative emotional reactions towards people from different cultures.<\/li>\n
\u00a7 Seeks to understand the world from the vantage point of their clients. <\/strong><\/li>\n
\u00a7 They accept and value cultural diversity<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
\u00a7 Realizing that traditional theories and\/or techniques may not be appropriate for all clients. o Knowledge<\/li>\n
\u00a7 Study the historical background, traditions and values<\/strong> of the client and are open to learning from him\/her<\/li>\n
\u00a7 They are aware of the institutional barriers that prevent minorities from using mental health services.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
o Skills<\/p>\n
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\u00a7 They use methods and strategies that are consistent with the life experiences and cultural values of their client.<\/li>\n
\u00a7 They modify and adapt their interventions to accommodate cultural differences. <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n
Personal therapy for therapists<\/p>\n
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Personal therapy can contribute to therapists professional work in three ways:\n
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Therapist experiences the work of more experienced therapist and learns experientially what is helpful or not helpful<\/li>\n
Enhance their interpersonal skills<\/li>\n
Enhance their ability to deal with ongoing stresses associated with clinical work – Therapists learn what it is like to be a client<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
They can prevent their potential future countertransference from harming clients.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n
The role of values<\/p>\n
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Every psychologist their own values and this will influence how they will act in therapy<\/li>\n
It is not the therapists function to persuade clients to share the same values<\/li>\n
We aim to be objective, but we can get caught up in our own world view<\/li>\n
Client\u2019s responsibility to develop goals<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n
Issues faced by beginning therapist<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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Dealing with demands from clients<\/li>\n
Dealing with clients who lack commitment<\/li>\n
Tolerating ambiguity<\/li>\n
Countertransference<\/li>\n
Developing a sense of humour<\/li>\n
Sharing responsibility with your client<\/li>\n
Declining to give advice<\/li>\n
Defining your role as counsellor<\/li>\n
Learning to use techniques appropriately<\/li>\n
Developing own counselling style<\/li>\n
Maintaining your vitality as a person and a professional<\/li>\n
Dealing with anxieties<\/li>\n
Understanding silence<\/li>\n
Being oneself and self-disclosing – Avoiding perfectionism<\/li>\n
Being honest with your limitations<\/li>\n
Tolerating ambiguity<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
What is counselling? An interpersonal relationship between someone actively seeking help and someone willing to give help who is capable or trained too help in a setting that permits… Continue Reading Effective Counsellor<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[98],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.amyork.ca\/academic\/zz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4244"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.amyork.ca\/academic\/zz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.amyork.ca\/academic\/zz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.amyork.ca\/academic\/zz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.amyork.ca\/academic\/zz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4244"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.amyork.ca\/academic\/zz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4244\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.amyork.ca\/academic\/zz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4244"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.amyork.ca\/academic\/zz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4244"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.amyork.ca\/academic\/zz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4244"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}