BUILDING RELATIONSHIP IN COUNSELLING. EDPY 442: Intro to Counselling Sophie Yohani, Ph.D. R. Psych

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1 BUILDING RELATIONSHIP IN COUNSELLING EDPY 442: Intro to Counselling Sophie Yohani, Ph.D. R. Psych

3 Process of Counselling 1. Development/Building Phase Establish therapeutic relationship Information Gathering Goal Setting 2. Understanding & Action Phase 3. Termination Phase

4 Counselling Relationship if an individual should experience only unconditional positive regard, then no conditions of worth would develop, self-regard would be unconditional, the needs for positive regard and self-regard would never be at variance with organismic evaluation, and the individual would continue to be psychologically adjusted and would be fully functioning. C. Rogers, 1959, p.227

5 Functions of a Therapeutic Relationship Creates an atmosphere of safety and trust necessary to reduce client cautiousness, hesitancy, and fear Provides a medium for intense affect (emotion) Provides a model of a healthy interpersonal relationship Provides motivation to achieve goals -- change can be difficult, frightening and requires great courage

6 Characteristics of an effective therapeutic relationship Empathy Genuineness Congruence Respect

7 Factors in the Counselling Process Seriousness of Presenting Problem Structure Initiative Physical Setting Client Qualities Counsellor Qualities

8 Seriousness of presenting problem Focus is on intra- and interpersonal concerns related to finding meaning and adjustment in a variety of setting including schools and home settings. Approach is to facilitate choices and change, through resolving developmental or situational problems. Addresses prevention, growth, and remediation across all stages of development.

9 Structure Structure a joint understanding between the counselor and client regarding the characteristics, conditions, procedures, and parameters of counseling Time, fee, format, credibility, rights, methods The issue of confidentiality and exceptions Goals, responsibilities, roles, expectations Ethical and cultural issues Balance between too much and too little structure Structure is more important in the early stages

10 Initiative Client s motivation to change and inclination to make an effort to move towards change in response to interventions used in counselling. Initiative is impacted by reluctance and resistance. Reluctant clients are individuals who have not made the choice to seek professional help and who do not really want to work on themselves. Resistant clients are those who are not fully ready, willing, or able to make changes in their lives even though they have sought professional help.

11 Prochaska s Stages of Change 1. Pre-contemplation 2. Contemplation 3. Preparation 4. Action 5. Maintenance

12 Stages of change in counselling PRECONTEMPLATION This stage involves denying one has a problem or becoming defensive in holding onto one s current ways of being Common defences are denial or minimization of the problem, rationalization or making excuses for oneself, and turning outward and displacing the problem onto others Common responses to help are negative, such as telling helpers to mind their own business or to get out of the client s life

13 Stages of change in counselling PRECONTEMPLATION :COUNSELLOR S TASKS - Consciousness-raising Counsellors can help people acknowledge their problems and become more open to change at this stage through consciousness-raising processes Consciousness-raising involves increasing the client s knowledge of the risks and consequences of continuing their current behaviour(s) or situation Involves helping them become aware of the main defences they are using to cope with their problem(s)

14 Stages of change in counselling CONTEMPLATION Involves the development of a willingness to change, paired with some barriers to going ahead with it. This stage is characterized by ambivalence about changing. Common ways of dealing with the problem include waiting for the right time, wishful thinking, or prematurely taking action and having a negative result.

15 Stages of change in counselling CONTEMPLATION: COUNSELLOR S TASKS - : Emotional arousal and Self-Reevaluation Emotional arousal involves using different ways to bring up the feelings that the problem invokes in the client. Self re-evaluation involves examining the pros and cons of adderessing/not addressing the problem(s). Reluctant clients are often in the pre-contemplation stage, whereas resistant clients usually are in the contemplation or preparation stages

16 Stages of change in counselling PREPARATION Involves feeling ready to move towards change but not being totally clear on one s goals or not being fully committed to changing Characterized by some confusion or hesitation rather than ambivalence. Individuals in this stage may have made some small changes

17 Stages of change in counselling PREPARATION :COUNSELLOR S TASKS- Goal Setting & Motivating Help clients set clear goals for counselling and help them commit to those goals by motivating them The goals chosen provide a road map for how and where the counselling process will go. Goal setting can be challenging when people present with unfocused or unrealistic goals Effective goals are relevant, explicit, observable, behavioural, and measurable

18 Exploration and Identification of Goals Ineffective Goals: Unfocused (too broad) Unrealistic (desire to be happy or perfect) Uncoordinated (conflicts with other goals or client personality)

19 Exploration and Identification of Goals Effective Goals: Mutually agreed Relevant to issue of concern Explicit, observable, behavioural and measureable Success oriented Strategies to increase commitment to achieving goals: Contracting with client Setting time-frame for goal achievement Encouraging client to share goals with others

20 Moving into Action As clients move to the action stage of change, it becomes increasingly important that they act form a sense of self liberation. That is a belief that they have the autonomy to change their lives. The Action and Maintenance stages are stages where clients are already committed to change and are exerting maximum effort in the counselling process.

Person-centred Therapy

Person-centred Therapy A GUIDE TO COUNSELLING THERAPIES (DVD) Published by: J & S Garrett Pty Ltd ACN 068 751 440 All Case Histories in this text are presented as examples only and any comparison which