Read the following extract from a journal that a counsellor uses as a method for self-reflection.
| KB was late again. I felt really annoyed and frustrated with her so I told her “you’re always late for sessions – you’re obviously not committed to changing your situation.” She got very defensive. Not a great start!
I haven’t been taking any notes as KB talks so fast (she’s very stressed out which makes me all stressed out as well!) so we had to spend a bit of time reviewing the previous session. We used the visual charts which seem to be working well for her. KB said she hadn’t attended her job interviews last week. I told her that I thought claiming from Centrelink for such an extended period wasn’t right and that she needed to really focus on getting work. She went a bit quiet after that. Her boyfriend Matt seems to be important to her so I thought it might help to focus a bit more on her relationship with him. She seemed to be a bit more engaged then – sitting upright and making a bit more eye contact. Matt thinks that working is “for fools” apparently and she spoke about how dismissive he is sometimes. She got a bit upset at that point. I showed her that I was listening and helped her identify some of her emotions using the ‘feelings wheel’. I felt we were on the same page then. KB said that actually there had been a job which sounded quite interesting but Matt talked her out of applying for it. She then said that talking things through in the session had made her realise that Matt had his own issues about work and that she would apply for the job as soon as she got home. KB also mentioned that she is having problems with her landlord as her flat is full of stuff and she just can’t bring herself to throw anything away. It sounds to me like she might have a problem with hoarding which I don’t know much about. I summarised the session for KB including the goals for the week, I made a note to look up some information about the hoarding and ended the session there. |
a) Identify three (3) examples of things that the above counsellor did effectively within their work with KB. (Your response should be approximately 100 words)
b) Identify three (3) opportunities for counsellor improvement within this scenario. (Your total response should be approximately 150 words)
Use of Visual Charts: The counselor effectively employed visual charts during the session, which proved beneficial for KB. Visual aids can enhance understanding and engagement, particularly when working with clients who may struggle to express themselves verbally or are dealing with high stress levels. This approach demonstrates the counselor’s adaptability and commitment to finding effective communication tools.
Active Listening and Empathy: The counselor demonstrated active listening and empathy when KB mentioned her boyfriend Matt’s dismissive attitude toward work. By showing understanding and using the ‘feelings wheel’ to help KB identify her emotions, the counselor effectively validated her feelings. This fosters trust and rapport, facilitating a deeper connection between the counselor and client.
Goal Setting and Summarization: At the end of the session, the counselor summarized the discussion and set goals for the week. This practice helps clients like KB gain clarity about the session’s outcomes and their next steps. Setting specific goals empowers clients to take ownership of their progress and provides a clear roadmap for future sessions.
Judgmental Statements: The counselor made judgmental statements such as “you’re always late for sessions” and expressed disapproval of KB’s reliance on Centrelink benefits. This approach can be counterproductive, as it may cause clients to become defensive or less willing to open up. To improve, the counselor should adopt a more non-judgmental and empathetic tone, focusing on understanding the underlying issues driving KB’s behavior.
Note-Taking and Preparation: The counselor mentioned not taking notes during the session, which hindered their ability to keep track of important details. Effective note-taking is crucial for maintaining an accurate record of sessions and tracking clients’ progress over time. To improve, the counselor should prioritize note-taking as a standard practice, ensuring that essential information is documented and readily accessible.
Lack of Knowledge and Referral: When KB mentioned potential hoarding issues related to her living situation, the counselor acknowledged their limited knowledge on the topic but did not take immediate action to address it. To enhance their competency, the counselor should proactively seek information about hoarding disorders and explore potential referrals to specialists who can provide tailored assistance to KB. Ignoring or delaying addressing such issues may hinder the client’s progress.
In summary, the counselor in this scenario demonstrated effective use of visual aids, active listening, empathy, goal setting, and summarization. However, there are opportunities for improvement in terms of avoiding judgmental statements, maintaining diligent note-taking practices, and addressing potential issues outside their expertise through proactive referral and education. These improvements can enhance the counselor’s effectiveness in supporting clients like KB.
As a renowned provider of the best writing services, we have selected unique features which we offer to our customers as their guarantees that will make your user experience stress-free.
Unlike other companies, our money-back guarantee ensures the safety of our customers' money. For whatever reason, the customer may request a refund; our support team assesses the ground on which the refund is requested and processes it instantly. However, our customers are lucky as they have the least chances to experience this as we are always prepared to serve you with the best.
Plagiarism is the worst academic offense that is highly punishable by all educational institutions. It's for this reason that Peachy Tutors does not condone any plagiarism. We use advanced plagiarism detection software that ensures there are no chances of similarity on your papers.
Sometimes your professor may be a little bit stubborn and needs some changes made on your paper, or you might need some customization done. All at your service, we will work on your revision till you are satisfied with the quality of work. All for Free!
We take our client's confidentiality as our highest priority; thus, we never share our client's information with third parties. Our company uses the standard encryption technology to store data and only uses trusted payment gateways.
Anytime you order your paper with us, be assured of the paper quality. Our tutors are highly skilled in researching and writing quality content that is relevant to the paper instructions and presented professionally. This makes us the best in the industry as our tutors can handle any type of paper despite its complexity.
Recent Comments