The Counseling Process

1
The Counseling Process

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Counseling is

• An intentional, systematic, and replicable skill
  based interactive process
• with a goal of client growth toward improved
  psychological health
• set up with the purpose of facilitating that goal
• established within specific focal, ethical and
  logistical parameters

3
Communication is key

• The message sent by the sender is the same
  message that is heard by the receiver
• It increases the level of understanding and
  empathy
• It reduces defensiveness
• It leads to joint problem solving and successful
  conflict resolution

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Guidelines for sender

• Speak directly to your partner
• Use I statements
• Dont confuse feelings with thoughts
• Dont accuse, blame, ridicule or put down your
  partner
• Dont attempt to mind read
• Speak in short concise statements

5
Guidelines for listeners

• Listen attentively
• Look at your partner
• Dont interrupt your partner
• If you are unclear about what partner said, ask
  him/her to repeat statement
• When partner is finished, repeat what he/she just
  said

6
Stages of Counseling

• Background events
• Establishing the therapeutic relationship
• Assessment
• Goal setting
• Initiating intervention
• Termination

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Elements that contribute to positive outcomes

• Emphasize supportive relationship
• Have a time limited assumption
• Decide cooperatively what will be worked on
• Identify strengths and coping skills
• Anticipate future stressors
• Treatment manuals
• Know how medications might enhance treatment with
  your client

8
Remember

• The therapeutic relationship is crucial to
  successful therapy
• Know your weak points
• Theoretical orientation is not as important as
  skillful application of strategies
• Therapists can cause clients to get worse
• Depression, phobias, GAD, PD, and PTSD
  characterize the majority of people in therapy.