I agree with your statement of embracing the philosophy that views each client and situation as individual and unique. I have several friends who had negative counseling experiences during their childhood. They mentioned the counselor not relating or understanding them. Our professional philosophy should include positive reinforcement. However, another ideology counselors should engage in with their clients is to demonstrate how to agree to disagree in a nonjudgmental manner. This approach can facilitate clients developing future coping skills. A great example was at my former job at a residential treatment many of my students mentioned their counselors could relate to them and they were developing a relationship where that fostered open-communication.
