Counseling & Practicum

Overview Traits of a Good Counselor Counseling Approaches Counseling Skills Referral Agencies Scenarios/Practicum

Traits of a Good Counselor Sincerity: interested in counselee & problem Integrity: confide in someone they can trust Good Listener: attentively & perceptively

Counseling Approaches Directive Counselor-centered Diagnosis/treatment with counselor Traditional approach Not effective with emotions/strong attitudes Nondirective Eclectic

Counseling Approaches Directive Nondirective Free counselee from hindrances to normal growth Feelings about situation paramount Counselor’s participation is minimal Eclectic

Counseling Approaches Directive Nondirective Eclectic Combination of directive & nondirective Cooperation/responsibility w/ both parties Flexible

Counseling Skills Watching & Listening Responding Guiding Eye contact Posture Head nods Facial expressions Responding Guiding LOQ: Do you believe you should take all the comments made by people you counsel at face value?   AR: No. Only part of the entire message is conveyed through the words that were said. The rest is conveyed through tone of voice, body language and facial expressions. That’s why we must learn to really read what people are saying to us. FUQ: If a person you’re counseling is sitting with their arms crossed and almost never making eye contact, what could this indicate? AR: It could mean they are feeling defensive by having their arms crossed and uncomfortable or ashamed by not looking you in the eye. There could be several reasons why people posture themselves this way, but all of them indicate something negative is occurring. LOQ: What are some things you can do to let a person know you are genuinely interested in what they have to say? AR: Maintain good eye contact, but don’t stare. An occasional head nod encourages the counselee to continue talking. You can also lean slightly forward in your chair, and maintain a relaxed body posture. LOQ: What are some techniques you can use as a counselor to follow-up with the watching and listening skills so that you will close the loop and ensure communication has taken place? AR: Summarizing, interpreting, informing, and confronting. FOQ: Let’s say the counselee is rambling. What technique would be appropriate to get them to stop talking? AR: You can use summarizing. This will bring closure to the point they were trying to make and let them know you understood what they were trying to express. FOQ: When should you use a guiding approach? AR: When the counselee is having difficulty solving the problem on his/her own and the counselor knows the solution the counselee is looking for. This will keep the discussion where it needs to be and work on solving the problem.

Counseling Skills Watching & Listening Responding Guiding Questioning Summarizing Interpreting Informing Confronting Guiding LOQ: Do you believe you should take all the comments made by people you counsel at face value?   AR: No. Only part of the entire message is conveyed through the words that were said. The rest is conveyed through tone of voice, body language and facial expressions. That’s why we must learn to really read what people are saying to us. FUQ: If a person you’re counseling is sitting with their arms crossed and almost never making eye contact, what could this indicate? AR: It could mean they are feeling defensive by having their arms crossed and uncomfortable or ashamed by not looking you in the eye. There could be several reasons why people posture themselves this way, but all of them indicate something negative is occurring. LOQ: What are some things you can do to let a person know you are genuinely interested in what they have to say? AR: Maintain good eye contact, but don’t stare. An occasional head nod encourages the counselee to continue talking. You can also lean slightly forward in your chair, and maintain a relaxed body posture. LOQ: What are some techniques you can use as a counselor to follow-up with the watching and listening skills so that you will close the loop and ensure communication has taken place? AR: Summarizing, interpreting, informing, and confronting. FOQ: Let’s say the counselee is rambling. What technique would be appropriate to get them to stop talking? AR: You can use summarizing. This will bring closure to the point they were trying to make and let them know you understood what they were trying to express. FOQ: When should you use a guiding approach? AR: When the counselee is having difficulty solving the problem on his/her own and the counselor knows the solution the counselee is looking for. This will keep the discussion where it needs to be and work on solving the problem.

Counseling Skills Watching & Listening Responding Guiding Adds structure & organization Helps subordinate to reach own solution LOQ: Do you believe you should take all the comments made by people you counsel at face value?   AR: No. Only part of the entire message is conveyed through the words that were said. The rest is conveyed through tone of voice, body language and facial expressions. That’s why we must learn to really read what people are saying to us. FUQ: If a person you’re counseling is sitting with their arms crossed and almost never making eye contact, what could this indicate? AR: It could mean they are feeling defensive by having their arms crossed and uncomfortable or ashamed by not looking you in the eye. There could be several reasons why people posture themselves this way, but all of them indicate something negative is occurring. LOQ: What are some things you can do to let a person know you are genuinely interested in what they have to say? AR: Maintain good eye contact, but don’t stare. An occasional head nod encourages the counselee to continue talking. You can also lean slightly forward in your chair, and maintain a relaxed body posture. LOQ: What are some techniques you can use as a counselor to follow-up with the watching and listening skills so that you will close the loop and ensure communication has taken place? AR: Summarizing, interpreting, informing, and confronting. FOQ: Let’s say the counselee is rambling. What technique would be appropriate to get them to stop talking? AR: You can use summarizing. This will bring closure to the point they were trying to make and let them know you understood what they were trying to express. FOQ: When should you use a guiding approach? AR: When the counselee is having difficulty solving the problem on his/her own and the counselor knows the solution the counselee is looking for. This will keep the discussion where it needs to be and work on solving the problem.

Referral Agencies American Red Cross Military Personnel Chaplain Staff Judge Advocate Inspector General Mental Health

Scenarios/Practicum

Summary Traits of a Good Counselor Counseling Approaches Counseling Skills Referral Agencies Scenarios/Practicum