COUNSELLING PROCESS KNEC NOTES
Introduction At the end of the chapter you will be able to define what counseling process is. You should be able to mention the various models, and describe in detail the stages of counseling as well as the challenges of the counseling process an dhow to deal with them. Meaning of counseling process The Oxford dictionary defines a process as connected series of actions, methods and changes. It is a forward movement where progress is observed. A process is an identifiable sequence of events taking place over a period of time. Imagine what goes on in a manufacturing plant. Material in put in the machine in one form – what is called raw form or raw material. It undergoes conversion through different stages and finally comes out in a totally different and improved form – what we call a finished product. In counseling as a process as a term implies continuous change and changes that take place (or should take place) in the counselee and that promote personality changes in a desired direction. This change includes counselee self awareness, behavioural change in a desired direction which will lead to goal achievement and understating of potentialities and limitations and how to utilize them best in achieving his/her goals both now an in future. Successful and effective counseling may take 30mins, a few second or months. The sequence of events, the dynamics involved and the nature and extent of exploration differ with each individual counselee. The Process of Counseling The traditional counseling process includes the following six important, yet separate components. Opening: The opening process is perhaps, one of the most important parts of the interaction with your client. It is your chance to get to know your client and for them to get to know you. It is also where you will set the tone for the rest of the therapeutic relationship. Exploring Client Understanding: The exploration process is where you will begin to understand your client. You will explore their past and evaluate their current concerns. Here, you will together establish goals and set expectations. Understanding: Important in developing a strong relationship with your client, you can demonstrate understanding by using verbal and nonverbal cues, as well as reflections and paraphrases. Intervention: The intervention process is about choosing the appropriate counseling techniques that will encourage growth within your client. Exploring Problems: Exploration is the process of learning more about your client and why they have come to counseling. Exploration is necessary in truly understanding a client’s thoughts and feelings in relation to their pressing problem. Empower to Create Own Solutions: Empowering your client is not about providing them with all the answers. It is about empowering them, with your counseling skills, to find their own solutions. Stages in counseling process Steps of counseling process: Identify the problem and make sure that you really know the problem. Analyze the forces influencing the behavior and determine which of these forces you have control over which of the forces the employee has control over. Determine if the force has to be modified, eliminated, and enforced. Plan, coordinate, and organize the session. Determine the best time to conduct the session. Conduct the session using sincerity, compassion, or kindness. This does not mean you cannot be firm or in control. During the session, determine what the employee believes causes the counterproductive behavior, what will be required to change it. Maintain a sense of timing as to when to use directive and non-directive counseling. Using all the facts and make a decision or a plan of action to correct the problem. If more counselingis needed, set a firm date and time for the next session. Different writers have different views about the number of steps involved in the counseling process. Some writers advocate for a three step process, others a four step process, a five step process and so on. In this unit we shall confine ourselves to the three step process. In the three step counseling process there are three stages. These include exploration, understanding and action. We shall look into each of these stages separately. The Exploration stage What is to explore? According to the Oxford dictionary, to explore is to look for, to search in order to discover, to try and find out something. In counseling the counselor helps the counselee to articulate their concerns, to go far and deeper in order to find out what is hidden. He helps the counselee to search within themselves for hidden motives, thoughts and feelings that have been pushed away unconsciousness. The counselor helps the counselee to talk about themselves and their concerns specific and focused way. What are the aims of the exploration stage? Firstly the counselor needs to establish a working relationship with the counselee. For this happen the counselor needs to accept the counselee unconditionally, reflective of how offensive his behaviour might be. The counselee needs to feel valued and experiences will appreciate and valued. The counselor also needs to be genuine empathic with the client. As the counselor you need to show some expertness, attractiveness and trustworthiness. These are discussed in greater detail previously the counselor-counselee relationship. It would be helpful for you to revisit the section once more and ensure that it is clearly understood. Secondly, exploration aims at clarifying and defining problems. The counselor and counselee need to know clearly and precisely what issues and concerns they are about addressing. As the counselor you will seek to establish how the counselee view themselves and their problems – what do they believe? What do they feel? Who else involved? Help them to clarify what concerns them. Another aim of exploration stage is to enable the counselor to make an assessment through exploration that the counselor collects and processes information from which develop the counseling program. He determines the counselee’s goals and expectations from the counseling sessions. Using these he is able to plan the intervention and strategies to use to provide effective treatment. It is during exploration that a contract is negotiated. A contract is a
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