Stages and Skills of Counseling

[Audio] Welcome everyone! We will now be discussing Chapter 3 of our presentation which outlines the stages and skills of counseling. We'll take a closer look at the five stages of establishing a working relationship, assessing/defining the problem, setting goals, choosing/initiating interventions, and planning/introducing termination and follow-up. Let's take a look at the slides and learn more about the skills needed for each stage..

[Audio] This slide will look at the five stages and skills needed to successfully guide a counseling process. The first stage focuses on building a working relationship between the counselor and the client, such as establishing trust and rapport, and ensuring that both parties understand and agree on the purpose of the session. The second stage involves assessing the client's present problem by collecting relevant information. During the third stage, the counselor and the client will collaborate to identify and set goals for counseling. In the fourth stage, the counselor will choose and initiate interventions that will help the client reach their goals. The fifth stage includes planning and introducing termination and any follow-up actions required..

[Audio] It is essential for teachers in higher education to be familiar with the stages and skills associated with counseling. This slide will cover the essential elements when creating a successful relationship between the counselor and the counselee. Respect, trust and psychological security are imperative for making a strong connection between them. A mutual objective is also necessary to secure a successful therapeutic alliance and working alliance..

[Audio] Reflecting on the different stages and skills of counseling is crucial for counselors, as it is essential to be mindful of the ongoing process of transference and countertransference. It is important to have a style that effectively conveys knowledge, respect, and empathy with the client, as early impressions can have a lasting impact on the counseling relationship. The successful establishment of a working relationship between the counselor and client takes time and feedback from multiple contacts..

[Audio] In order to accurately assess a problem, an understanding of several factors is necessary. These factors include the counselor’s theoretical and philosophical views on human issues, the client’s current situation, the client’s cultural frame of reference, and the conditions that frame of reference instills in the client’s worldview. Gaining knowledge and insight into each of these elements is essential for a successful and precise assessment..

[Audio] Analyzing the stages and skills of counseling, we must focus on problem conceptualizations. We should consider needs, stressors, life conditions, misinterpretations and dysfunctional social patterns to detect our clients’ true motivation, so that we can provide the best counseling support..

[Audio] Observing a client for signs of anxiety or discomfort, taking the cultural context into account, paying attention to body language and the way a client frames their problems, and inquiring in an open-ended way to gain finer details are all part of the assessment process. This information should be organized, recorded, and used to form hypotheses to ultimately identify and set counseling goals..

[Audio] We will discuss the stages and skills of counseling, with a focus on setting goals. Goals are commitments to a course of action or outcome and, as counselors, it is important to set them so that we can measure the effectiveness of the counseling and decide when the sessions end. To do this effectively, it is necessary to have certain skills, such as inferential skills, the capacity to differentiate between ultimate, intermediate, and immediate goals, the capability to teach clients realistic thinking, the knowledge that goals are not permanent, and the ability to set mutually beneficial goals. Let's see how to use these skills in a counseling setting..

[Audio] Interventions are the tools we use to help initiate and bring forth desirable change in our clients. When engaging with a client, it is important to not only inquire about the change they would like to see, but to also ask what solutions or remedies they have already tried. As counselors, it is important to not only have competency in using a specific intervention, but to also have knowledge of when it is appropriate to use, what the typical responses to the intervention are, and to have observational skills related to the client’s response to the intervention. All of these combined skills will help counselors bring forth positive growth in their clients..

[Audio] Counseling is a meaningful journey that we take with our clients, and termination is an essential part of this process. We should plan for termination with sensitivity, intentionality and forethought, and by degree. It is important that as many sessions be set for termination as for rapport building. To ensure that our clients have the support they need, we should make sure they have a follow up appointment either 6 weeks, 3 months, or 6 months in advance. This way, we can give them the best chance of successful outcomes..

[Audio] We're looking at the Client Experience in Counseling and will be examining the Process Scale - how the client's experience with their counselor evolves over time. To begin, the client may focus on external events such as their work and family, and eventually begin to talk about their feelings. With the counselor's assistance, they can explore those feelings further before allowing themselves to experience them in the present moment. This can be a tough experience as the client may have previously denied or repressed these feelings. However, this will eventually lead to a better level of acceptance and comfort with their emotions..

[Audio] In counseling, fostering a sense of connection and trust is extremely important. From the start, the client may feel unsure, exposed or guarded and suspicious. It is essential for counselors to be deft in handling this anxiety so as to engender trust and assurance. To achieve this, counselors need to pay attention to their words and behavior as well as their verbal and non-verbal communications. Doing so will permit counselors to explain what to expect during counseling and demonstrate admiration and acceptance of the client..

[Audio] Assessment is a vital aspect of counselling and provides a comprehensive picture of a client's experience. Though the medical model may have led clients to expect assessment in counselling, it is important to note that understanding why one's issues exist does not guarantee that the issues will disappear. Furthermore, it is wrong for counsellors to assume solely internal causes of clients' problems. Clients may come to assessment with feelings of ambivalence; hence, it is important for counsellors to explain the assessment process early in counselling and to actively involve the client in it..

[Audio] The objective of counseling is to aid clients in uncovering solutions to their issues, which can be a complex procedure. It requires both the client and counselor to understand each other's point of view, and trust is essential. Without trust, it can be difficult to believe that problems can be solved, but experience can often be the way to dispel this distrust. As counselors, it is our responsibility to help our clients to identify suitable interventions and to foster the trust between us..

[Audio] Client experience plays a significant role in counseling as change is often a difficult process and the client may resist it. Being mindful that recovery from obstacles and difficulties can build up client self-assurance and impetus to cultivate new, constructive behaviors is also essential. Ultimately, it is these new behaviors that lead us through the counseling process from one point to another..

[Audio] As we come to the conclusion of our discussion on the stages and skills of counseling, it is essential to remember that counseling is not impervious to changes. In the event the counselor elects to terminate the session, ethical and personal considerations need to be addressed and, if the client initiates the termination, the counselor is obligated to aid in referral matters and address personal aspects. A difficult termination may occur when counseling attains partial success, but can no longer be continued. Clients may change their place of residence, postpone or cease counseling, for which the counselor is expected to assist the client until a suitable alternative has been found. Moving forward, let us examine the repercussions that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the world of development..

[Audio] It has been a reminder that throughout the counseling process, the client’s dependency on the counselor will shift from the counselor to themselves as they gain confidence and take on more responsibility for achieving their goals. Eventually, the client will reach the final stage of the counseling process - the point where they will be independent and ready to make the decision to terminate. Thank you for your attention..