Theme 2: Relational Connection and Self-Congruence
Questions around building therapeutic relationships were a large part of my week during the family counselling portion of the course. Even though relationship building is one of the first lessons in counselling courses, for me, it has been the topic of many reflections. I have realized that perhaps these questions and uncertainties were related to not having found my counsellor style. Or, perhaps they were due to my natural inclination to play the role of an expert or leader as I do in my personal life. Having a self-congruent style was one of my goal during these practice sessions as I tried to be true to my personal qualities within the counseling experience (Hackney & Cormier, 2013). Furthermore …show more content…
During my practice sessions, I was able to demonstrate humility and accountability. In session 3, for instance, I showed humility by welcoming the clients’ suggestions and asking then from their thought while designing a compromise activity together. As I tend to have a more controlling or directive style in counselling, this was an opportunity to show modesty and allow the clients to take control. Additionally, I believe that I was able to remain accountable to both Leigh and Sam throughout the sessions, by being present during our sessions, by critically reflecting, and by utilizing the basic verbal skills of counselling. Throughout the sessions I focused on doing proper reflection, paraphrases, and often asked for clarifications (Hackney & Cormier, 2013). I believe that this allowed me to remain accountable to my clients and allowed then to remain accountable to themselves. My clients and peers did, however, bring to light that although I was able to accurately and appropriately reflect thoughts, I struggled to reflect implicit …show more content…
In my opinion, hope is found my working within a strength-based perspective. Madsen and Gillespie (2014) state that hope is “[believing] in people’s resourcefulness and the possibility of change” (p.14). Identifying and believing in my clients’ resourcefulness is, in my opinion, the definition of a strength-based practice. During my sessions with Leigh and Sam, I made efforts to outwardly recognize each of their strengths and progresses. For instance, I highlighted Sam’s academic achievements and Leigh’s love for her daughter (beginning of session 3), and in at 7:45 and again at 20:55 in session 3, I reminded Sam and Leigh of their progress. In doing so throughout the sessions, I believe that this gave this family hope that the issue might be resolved and that they had the strengths and resources needed to enter a change process together. In fact, hope is one of the key factors that is part of the transtheoretical model of change and has become an essential theme in various counselling approaches (Larsen & Stege, 2012). Helping clients find hope in their moment of crisis and process of change is something that I want to embrace as part of my counselling style. As a Child and Youth Care practitioner working with individuals and family’s strengths and hopes is a sure way to make relational connection and help clients’ through their issues, stresses and
Questions around building therapeutic relationships were a large part of my week during the family counselling portion of the course. Even though relationship building is one of the first lessons in counselling courses, for me, it has been the topic of many reflections. I have realized that perhaps these questions and uncertainties were related to not having found my counsellor style. Or, perhaps they were due to my natural inclination to play the role of an expert or leader as I do in my personal life. Having a self-congruent style was one of my goal during these practice sessions as I tried to be true to my personal qualities within the counseling experience (Hackney & Cormier, 2013). Furthermore …show more content…
During my practice sessions, I was able to demonstrate humility and accountability. In session 3, for instance, I showed humility by welcoming the clients’ suggestions and asking then from their thought while designing a compromise activity together. As I tend to have a more controlling or directive style in counselling, this was an opportunity to show modesty and allow the clients to take control. Additionally, I believe that I was able to remain accountable to both Leigh and Sam throughout the sessions, by being present during our sessions, by critically reflecting, and by utilizing the basic verbal skills of counselling. Throughout the sessions I focused on doing proper reflection, paraphrases, and often asked for clarifications (Hackney & Cormier, 2013). I believe that this allowed me to remain accountable to my clients and allowed then to remain accountable to themselves. My clients and peers did, however, bring to light that although I was able to accurately and appropriately reflect thoughts, I struggled to reflect implicit …show more content…
In my opinion, hope is found my working within a strength-based perspective. Madsen and Gillespie (2014) state that hope is “[believing] in people’s resourcefulness and the possibility of change” (p.14). Identifying and believing in my clients’ resourcefulness is, in my opinion, the definition of a strength-based practice. During my sessions with Leigh and Sam, I made efforts to outwardly recognize each of their strengths and progresses. For instance, I highlighted Sam’s academic achievements and Leigh’s love for her daughter (beginning of session 3), and in at 7:45 and again at 20:55 in session 3, I reminded Sam and Leigh of their progress. In doing so throughout the sessions, I believe that this gave this family hope that the issue might be resolved and that they had the strengths and resources needed to enter a change process together. In fact, hope is one of the key factors that is part of the transtheoretical model of change and has become an essential theme in various counselling approaches (Larsen & Stege, 2012). Helping clients find hope in their moment of crisis and process of change is something that I want to embrace as part of my counselling style. As a Child and Youth Care practitioner working with individuals and family’s strengths and hopes is a sure way to make relational connection and help clients’ through their issues, stresses and