In a therapeutic relationship, the helper embarks on a journey with the client to help him explore thoughts and feelings, obtain insight and make changes (Hill, 2014). In order for a therapeutic relationship to be successful, the three components of the helping process ,namely, skills, facilitative conditions (warmth, empathy and congruence) and self-awareness need to be present (Hill, 2014). This essay addresses these three components through analysing a selected 10 minutes of a 20-minute role-play conducted between a client, a helper and an observer. The emphasis of the analysis will be on the exploration skills including the skills of attending, listening, observing, and exploration of thoughts and feelings. Other factors of therapeutic
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line 3, 11, 19). As Geldard & Geldard (2012) discuss, minimal encouragers are not only an acknowledgment that the person is being heard, but also they can communicate other messages depending on the tone and intensity of voice and non-verbal behaviour accompanying them. When the content of what the client was saying was sad, I used a low tone of voice and sad facial expression to communicate my empathy to her (e.g. line 105, 108). One limitation in the use of minimal encouragers was a lack of variety. Varying minimal encouragers can be a subtle way of demonstrating that you are completely engaged in the client’s story (Geldard & Geldard, 2012). It also implies that you are using minimal responses intentionally rather than on an automatic pilot (Egan, 2010).
Another way of listening, attending and observing to the client is through non-verbal behaviour (Hill, 2014). As it was apparent in the video, I had appropriate eye contact with the client. My facial expression and tone of voice matched the client’s story content. As Brew and Kottler (2008) argue, when the helper’s non-verbal behaviour matches the content of the story even if the client is being incongruent, it can show clients how to be congruent and accept their feelings. The client mentioned that my facial expressions helped …show more content…
According to Tolan (2012), the therapist needs to listen to two levels of the content and the feelings behind the words carefully to pick the most important issue in what is being shared. This takes the dialogue to a deeper level of exploring blind spots and if successful can foster a deep awareness and understanding for the client. The client and the observer mentioned that the open question and restatement used in line 79-82, was a turning point and the most helpful skill used in our session. The client accepts my invitation and explores a very personal aspect of her life and experience (line 83- 109). However, the restatement used in line 110-112 is not very helpful and places the focus of our conversation on the client’s sense of responsibility for the cousin rather than facilitating a deeper exploration of her own
line 3, 11, 19). As Geldard & Geldard (2012) discuss, minimal encouragers are not only an acknowledgment that the person is being heard, but also they can communicate other messages depending on the tone and intensity of voice and non-verbal behaviour accompanying them. When the content of what the client was saying was sad, I used a low tone of voice and sad facial expression to communicate my empathy to her (e.g. line 105, 108). One limitation in the use of minimal encouragers was a lack of variety. Varying minimal encouragers can be a subtle way of demonstrating that you are completely engaged in the client’s story (Geldard & Geldard, 2012). It also implies that you are using minimal responses intentionally rather than on an automatic pilot (Egan, 2010).
Another way of listening, attending and observing to the client is through non-verbal behaviour (Hill, 2014). As it was apparent in the video, I had appropriate eye contact with the client. My facial expression and tone of voice matched the client’s story content. As Brew and Kottler (2008) argue, when the helper’s non-verbal behaviour matches the content of the story even if the client is being incongruent, it can show clients how to be congruent and accept their feelings. The client mentioned that my facial expressions helped …show more content…
According to Tolan (2012), the therapist needs to listen to two levels of the content and the feelings behind the words carefully to pick the most important issue in what is being shared. This takes the dialogue to a deeper level of exploring blind spots and if successful can foster a deep awareness and understanding for the client. The client and the observer mentioned that the open question and restatement used in line 79-82, was a turning point and the most helpful skill used in our session. The client accepts my invitation and explores a very personal aspect of her life and experience (line 83- 109). However, the restatement used in line 110-112 is not very helpful and places the focus of our conversation on the client’s sense of responsibility for the cousin rather than facilitating a deeper exploration of her own