What makes a good counsellor essay

In order to be an effective counselor, there are many characteristics that one must possess. Effective counselors prioritize organization in their practice, which makes it much easier to provide effective counseling to both new and existing clients.. Organization of paperwork, scheduling, and proper storing of confidential information will give your clients peace of mind and confidence in your counseling process.

While providing your clientele with a greater sense of well-being from your organization, an effective and organized counselor will also experience a greater sense of wellness and balance within themselves, which will allow space for a more effective counseling process. Due to the power differential that may often be experienced in the counseling relationship, an effective counselor needs to be able to understand their duties as an ethical professional.

Beyond classroom education on ethics, there are many resources for counselors to understand the ethics of the profession. Alongside clinical experiences in the counseling field, counselor education helps mental health professionals be able to extend the scope of their work.

Another great way to gain experience is to attend a counseling conference, such as the ACA Conference. Study hard, ask a lot of questions, and get all the experience you can while earning your undergraduate, Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling , or doctoral degrees.

A client is looking to you for help, so use your education and experience assuredly. Good clinical supervision is also suggested and necessary to maintain competence, and to review situations that may happen in practice that can lead to further education and confidence in the application of counseling skills.

Self-disclosure must be used appropriately and in necessary situations to further build out the therapeutic relationship. Research shows that the therapeutic alliance or therapeutic relationship is one of the strongest predictors of success. A good therapeutic relationship is often defined as having trust, agreement on therapeutic goals formulated together on a treatment plan, and a collaborative approach to working towards those goals.

An effective counselor must understand that communication needs to be personalized to each client. Interpersonal skills go beyond the context of therapy itself.

It will also provide a self-reflection on my own characteristics and how these align with the desired Counselor characteristics and identify areas where self-improvement can be made in accordance with currently recognized techniques. Current research suggests that mindfulness techniques can enhance empathy in Counseling students. Whilst growing up I did not consider myself to be empathetic, I have since over time and upon self-reflection discovered that I actually possess a strong ability to recognize emotions in others through body language and facial expressions and this combined with my strong motivation to help people is the primary reason I am studying to be a counselor.

Self-awareness is a critical counseling skill due to the need for counselors to work with a diverse range of people.

As human beings, all counselors are subject to a range of cognitive biases which has the potential to harm therapeutic relationship. Therefor it is pertinent for counselors to be able to recognize and challenge these internal biases in order to remain attentive to the needs of the client.

In my own life I have challenged my personal biases through developing strong friendships with a diverse people from array of different backgrounds and cultures. Acceptance from the literature refers to unconditional positive regard of the client and their perspectives as a fellow human being. Rogers admits that this regard is transient and changes during the session between unconditional positive and conditional positive regard.

Others have noted that acceptance has now become embraced as such a core skill that it now forms the basis of several therapeutic methods.

From my own perspective, I feel I have frequently challenged and changed my own beliefs, this process has led to my acceptance that there are many different ways of viewing the world that are all valid. In my own life I feel that people have tended to open up to me with personal and private aspects of their lives, I attribute this to my openness and ability to demonstrate this accepting, non-judgmental positive regard. Congruence is presented as the helper providing accurate feedback to the client of how they are presenting themselves during the session.

Whilst a counselor may be genuine, empathetic and accepting, if the client does not feel adequately understood then therapy may not be well received. Amis lists a number of characteristics such as active listening, attendance, summarizing and paraphrasing which can be summarized as attentive communication skills. This I feel is an area that requires greater development in me, whilst at times I demonstrate these skills, I feel my attendance to conversations is dependent on my stress levels at the time.

Course training is suggested will expose me to these skills and therefore should foster these aspects of the therapeutic relationship. This essay reflects on the core characteristics of an effective counselor.

Whilst there are many different views in the literature commonly cited traits include empathy, self-awareness, acceptance, congruence and attentive communication skills as key to achieving successful therapy outcomes with clients. I have also identified how I perceive my personal qualities currently fit with the model of the ideal therapist and elaborated on a number of areas for continued development.

Instead, you want to focus on leading the client towards a future where they feel confident and empowered enough to make positive changes for themselves. If the client feels judged, it can put a major obstacle to the progress you can make together as a counselor and client. Instead, you want to nurture a relationship where the client feels comfortable being open.

Sometimes, as a counselor, you will encounter situations where people might not tell you the entire truth. Your powers of observation, however, can help you fill in the gaps and find ways to better help your clients. Learning how to read body language—such as signs of struggles with substance abuse and indications of domestic abuse—can also provide you with valuable insight into your client. It will help you guide conversations and treatment plans so that you can help them in the most effective way possible.

Knowing how to sit and really listen to what your client has to say can help to establish trust and understanding between you and the client. The patient will feel relaxed and able to share their thoughts, emotions, and experiences. The information you gain as a listener can help you better understand your client and what has brought them to your office, so that you can start to determine their treatment path and how to help them.

Clients who come to your counseling door suffer in some way. Whether they struggle in their relationships with others, have a mental illness, or have a substance misuse problem, for example, your clients have to know that the person they choose to open up to is worthy of their trust. As a counselor, you need to let your client know they can trust you by using good listening skills, creating a welcoming environment, and demonstrating your dedication to helping them.

Demonstrating your respect for important principles, such as confidentiality and showing that you prioritize them can also help build this trust. You also need to focus on showing your clients that you respect them as people. Shame can result in people being more at risk for mental health challenges, such as anxiety or depression. As a counselor, although you might not be able to prevent a person from being embarrassed by their actions, your response to such situations, and demonstrating respect regardless of their mistakes, can help guide them past their shame.

As a counselor, you also need to demonstrate an open and accepting attitude towards your clients. Everyone who comes into your office should know that you are ready to meet them where they are. You understand that they have experienced stress and trauma, but as an effective counselor, you accept them as they are and want to help them heal. As a counselor, you also need to be well aware of your own struggles.

For example, roughly 1 in 7 children experienced some type of abuse or neglect in the past year alone. When dealing with these common sources of trauma, the issues your clients struggle with may also be issues you have intimate experience with, either personally or through someone you are close to. As a counselor, you must have the self-awareness necessary to know how these stories might impact you and how to separate your own experiences so that you do not allow them to impact the care you provide.

Many counselors report that their own experiences have encouraged them to enter the field, so know how you can use these experiences to strengthen your own practice, rather than allowing it to become a hindrance. You will encounter clients from all walks of life.

They will likely come from a variety of different backgrounds culturally, ethnically, and socioeconomically. Differences in gender expression and identification, as well as sexuality, will also come through your door. As a counselor, you must be welcoming of this diversity.