Attributes & Skills of a Counsellor_Mar 2022.pptx

Attributes & Skills of a Counsellor

1. The attributes and skills of Counsellors’ Marie Banu

2. What is counselling? Counselling is a process in which two people meet to explore personal problems and to identify solutions. Counselling is a method of identifying practical solutions to life or work related problems

3. Counsellor Qualities Compassion: It is very important that your clients sense you truly care about them. You may not be able to relate to every issue that is shared with you, but you need to be able to have compassion for how it feels to be in their shoes. Confidentiality: The client should first trust you so that you can develop an effective rapport. Patience: As a Counsellor you need to have patience with your clients as they process the discussion. It may take them time to accept certain things and to move towards positive changes. It may also take time for you to see large changes. Empathy : Being able to understand the client's problem from their perspective is an essential skill. Empathetic counsellors can quickly help a client overcome their problems.

4. Counsellor Qualities Encouragement You should have the ability to encourage and instill hope in the client. Self Awareness Be aware of their own feelings and see that it does not react defensively to what a client shares Open Mindedness You will hear all kinds of private information and encounter all types of people. Do not personally judge the client.

5. Counsellor Qualities Flexibility Working as a counsellor, you will have to be accommodating. Some clients will be late or may cancel, along with clients that are seeking an emergency session. Possess a flexible attitude to ensure your clients feel safe and understood. Sometimes ask questions; other times listen Good Listener Be intuitive in discerning what the client is really saying and “read between the lines”. Translate their dialogue into goals that the client can work towards, in order to reach resolution. Ability to care for self. You should recognise personal limits, boundaries and actively seek to sustain a life of personal care.

6. Skills of a counsellor

7. Confidence Whether you’ve been a licensed professional counsellor for 20 years or you’re new to the profession, you must maintain confidence in your work. A client is looking to you for help, so use your education and experience assuredly. Good clinical supervision is also suggested.

8. Unconditional positive regard An expression of caring and nurturance as well as acceptance. Convey acceptance by responding to the client’s messages (verbal and nonverbal) with nonjudgmental or non-critical verbal & nonverbal reactions. Respect – Convey that you sincerely believe that the client possesses the inherent strength and capacity to succeed in life

9. Show Warmth and Understanding Conveying warmth through body language – using posture, maintaining eye contact and personal space – encourages a client to trust. Counsellors should also be aware of the way they speak – the tone of voice, speed of speech and delivery – as the words used should be in agreement with the way their body language provides reassurance.

10. Attending and active listening  Attending is the art of being in someone else's company and being able to give them your full attention, with no distractions. It makes clients feel supported and important and it's crucial to a counsellor building a therapeutic relationship with the client, as is active listening. The client needs to feel that their problems and issues are recognised and understood by someone empathetic but impartial. By actively listening you not only take in what the client says but also encourage them to keep talking.

11. Self Awareness Eye contact:  Maintaining eye contact with a client showcases that you are listening to them and they have your undivided attention. Gestures and body language:  Your body language and gestures talk a lot about whether you want to build a professional relationship with the speaker. Shifting restlessly and sitting with crossed arms can give an impression of disinterest. So, working on your body language and gestures is critical for becoming an effective counsellor. Facial expression:  Your facial expressions can help you create a warm, friendly and supportive environment for your client. So, avoid sitting with a frowning face and have a warm smile to build trusting relationships.

12. Listening Researchers estimate that about 80 percent of communication takes place non-verbally. Verbal listening Active listening

13. Listening - Types Verbal listening:  It is the audible demonstration that you are listening to the concerns or problems of your client. Using verbal cues or affirmations like,  "I understand…" ,  "Go on" ,  ”…I see" ,  "I agree"  or repeating important points that your client said is a great way to make the client comfortable and show that you are listening to them. Active listening:  Active listening is when you focus completely on what the client is speaking, understand their message, comprehend information and respond thoughtfully. Observing - capturing and understanding the verbal and nonverbal information communicated by the client

14. Active listening  Strike a balance between talking and listening and know when each action is required.  Methods include eye contact; nods; not moving around, being distracted, encouraging verbalizations; mirroring body postures and language; leaning forward, etc. Pay attention to the clients body language, listen to pauses and silences, maintain eye contact to demonstrate to clients that you value what they have to say and moderate your tone of voice so clients don't feel rushed.

15. Communication Sometimes, it is not what you say but how you say it can affect your client's comfort level. When a counsellor responds to a client's question with clarity in their thoughts, they can better handle the client. Clearly communicating your ideas to the client is an essential counsellor skill.

16. Paraphrasing content Listen & recall - The entire client message to ensure you recalled it in its entirety and do not omit any significant parts Identify the content - part of the message by deciding what event, situation, idea, or person the client is talking about. Rephrase - in a concise manner the key words and ideas the client has used to communicate their concerns in a fresh or different perspective. Perception Check – “Let me see if I understand this..”

17. Concreteness Keeping communications specific. Focus on facts and feelings. Avoid tangents, generalizations, abstract discussions.

18. Reflecting Client’s feelings Effective reflection in an open-ended, respectful manner. Important to think carefully which words to choose while communicating feelings back to the client. “very angry and depressed,” instead of the client saying “irritated” could be counterproductive to the process of change.

19. Be respectful and non-judgmental According to the  ACA Code of Ethics , “Counsellors are aware of — and avoid imposing — their own values, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours” (A.4.b). As a counsellor, you must respect each client’s beliefs and struggles, and never assert your personal values or beliefs.

20. A non-judgemental approach A counsellor's job isn't to pass judgement or give advice on a client's actions or feelings; instead through talking therapy they aim to help clients see things clearly, from a different, more optimistic viewpoint. To do this client's must feel free to express their thoughts and feelings without judgement, criticism or rejection. As a counsellor you need to contain and manage your own reactions in a supportive and professional manner.

21. Open Questions Avoid asking too many questions, or assuming an interrogatory role. Follow a response to an open-ended question with a paraphrase or reflection which encourages the client to share more and avoid repetitive patterns of question/answer/question/answer, etc.

22. Genuiness Ability of counselor to be freely themselves. Includes congruence between outer words/behaviors and inner feelings; Non-defensiveness; non-role-playing; and being unpretentious. For example, if the counselor claims that they are comfortable helping a client explore a drug or sexual issue, but their behavior (verbally and nonverbally) shows signs of discomfort with the topic this will become an obstacle to progress and often lead to client confusion about and mistrust of the helper.

23. Resilience, patience and humility The work of a counsellor can be very intense and demanding. You'll support clients through emotional issues on a daily basis, which can lead to burnout if you let stress, performance pressure and overwork build up. You need to develop sufficient emotional robustness and a capacity for self-care, as well as a willingness to recognise your own limitations.

24. Contact: Mobile: [phone] Email: [email protected] www.mariebanu.com Thank you!