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Block 1 Unit 2 Process of Counseling

1. List out the things to be taken care of during the first stage of developing a relationship.

• According to the sources, the first stage of developing a relationship requires the counsellor to establish a safe, trusting environment.
• The counsellor should also establish confidentiality with the client, explaining that what they share will remain private unless there is a risk of harm to themselves or others.
• It is important to understand that young people may test the counsellor's care and trustworthiness.

2. Describe the different core conditions necessary for successful counselling.

• There are three core conditions necessary for successful counseling.
  • Empathetic understanding: This promotes rapport and a strong relationship.
  • Unconditional positive regard: This involves accepting the client as a person of worth, separate from their actions.
  • Congruence: This is when the counsellor is genuine in their interactions with the client.
• In addition to these three core conditions:
  • Respect: Which strengthens the focus of the counselling.
  • Confrontation: Which promotes a realistic and accurate view.
  • Self-disclosure: Which should be used carefully to promote positive perception and appropriate focus in the counselling relationship.

3. Describe the importance of providing structure to the counselling process.

• Providing structure to the counselling process helps the client to take appropriate action and responsibility for the consequences of those actions.
• The process of counselling develops in definable stages with recognisable transitions.
• Structure is one of the factors that influences the counselling process.

4. What is the SOLER technique?

The SOLER technique is an acronym to remind counsellors how to listen.

• S: Face the client squarely.
• O: Adopt an open posture.
• L: Lean toward the client.
• E: Maintain eye contact.
• R: Relax.

5. List qualities of a client needed for a successful counselling relationship.

• Clients should have an internal source of motivation and a drive to seek growth.
• Clients should be able to take responsibility for their actions.
• Clients should be willing to actively engage in the counselling process, both during and outside of sessions.
• Clients should be able to set clear goals and take action towards them.
• Clients should be able to work towards their goals.

6. What is transference and counter-transference?

• Transference is when a client projects feelings, thoughts, or desires onto the counsellor. It can be direct or indirect and will cause the client to react to the counselor as they would in a past or present relationship.
• The provided sources do not fully define Counter-transference, but it is mentioned that it is an issue that affects all forms of counselling, guidance, and psychotherapy.

7. Explain Empathy and its components.

• Empathy promotes rapport and relationship. The sources state that empathetic understanding is a core condition for successful counseling.
• The components of empathy, are being able to sense the client's feelings as if they were the counsellor's own without becoming lost in those feelings.
• Empathetic understanding also helps the counsellor to reflect the client’s experiences.

8. Discuss the significance of termination in the counselling relationship.

• Termination is the end of the professional relationship when the session goals have been met.
• It is a phase of counselling that can determine the success of all previous phases and must be handled skillfully.
• Counselling cannot be considered complete and successful without the follow-up procedure.
• Counsellors need to be aware that both clients and counsellors may feel resistant to the termination phase of the relationship.
• The timing of termination depends on if the client has achieved behavioural, cognitive, or affective goals.
• The end of the counselling relationship is when the client can show progress and that they are ready to face their life challenges.

9. Describe the different responding styles of the client.

Responding Styles of the Client

There are three different responding styles of clients that a counsellor may encounter:

• Affective Responding: This focuses on the client's feelings.
• Behavioural Responding: This focuses on the client's actions and behaviours.
• Cognitive Responding: This focuses on the client's thoughts and cognitions.

A counsellor will need to balance these different styles throughout the session.

10. Discuss the different issues related to terminating a relationship.

Issues Related to Terminating a Relationship

• Termination is a crucial phase of counselling that is often misunderstood or taken for granted, but it is vital for the well-being of both client and counsellor.
• Successful termination marks the end of the professional relationship when session goals have been achieved.
• It is important to handle termination skillfully as it can determine the success of all previous phases.
• A formal termination serves three functions:
  • It signals that counselling is finished, and the client is ready to face life challenges.
  • It confirms that changes made during counselling have become part of the client's normal behaviour.
  • It indicates that the client has matured and can think and act more effectively and independently.
• Timing of termination is not fixed and depends on various factors:
  • Whether the client has achieved their behavioural, cognitive, or affective goals.
  • Whether the client can demonstrate concrete progress.
  • Whether the counselling relationship is helpful.
  • Whether the context of the initial counselling arrangement has changed.
• Resistance to termination can occur in both clients and counsellors, often due to feelings about loss and grief or insecurities. This is something clients need to process and counsellors need to address in supervision.

11. When does premature termination occur? What are the things to be kept in mind during premature termination.

Premature Termination

• Premature termination occurs when a client ends counselling before all goals are completed. This can manifest as the client not making or resisting new appointments.
• When premature termination happens, the sources suggest the following:
  • It is advisable to try and schedule a termination/review session with the client to bring about closure.
  • A referral may be necessary.
  • Counsellors may sometimes have to end counselling prematurely for various reasons and need to address specific issues with the client.
  • If a referral is needed, the counselor needs to note the specific behaviours or actions which brought the need for a referral and have names of several counselors ready for referral.
• It is important for counsellors to remember that they cannot follow up with the new counsellor due to confidentiality issues.

12. Describe the different aspects related to the setting of counselling.

Aspects Related to the Setting of Counselling

The physical setting of counselling is important and should promote the process:

• The room should be comfortable and attractive with soft lighting, quiet colours, an absence of clutter, and harmonious and comfortable furniture.
• It should provide:
  • Privacy
  • Confidentiality
  • Quiet
  • Comfort
• The counsellor should be attentive both verbally and nonverbally, to show they are listening to the client.
• The average comfortable distance between counsellor and client is between 30 to 39 inches.
• Eye contact is important; looking away or down can suggest boredom or shame while looking at the person suggests interest and concern.

13. Differentiate between a reluctant and a resistant client.

Difference Between a Reluctant and a Resistant Client

• A reluctant client is one who has been referred by a third party and is frequently unmotivated to seek help, often not wishing to be in counselling.
• A resistant client is described as someone who is unwilling or opposed to change, may actively seek counselling but doesn’t want to go through the pain that change demands.