Self Concept In Counselling

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Notion of ‘Self’ – Reflective practices A recent search of literature on the notion of ‘self’ was conducted for this essay; in reviewing the literature various authors each giving their beliefs and concepts have written many theories and provided many discussions on ‘self’ over the years. However, to write about each of the authors would take some time, therefore within the essay, a few of the authors theories on what their beliefs and concept are to the view of self are included. The first part of the essay examine: (a) how the self is seen, structured, and defined; (b) the implications of self on the therapeutic process; (c) the counsellors’ self-awareness in assisting or inhibiting the therapeutic process; and (d) the role of the client’s …show more content…
Lead me to review, Fook & Gardner, (2007) who warned that it can be a challenge for students to be reflexive in their journal, and some students have problems examining their beliefs and actions and may tend to reflect at a more descriptive level. However, there are arguments on whether we should be learning reflection before theory so that we can utilise our views of the world and human beings as we see it. Schön (1995) argued ‘that teaching students’ theory before practice hinders the development of self-reflection because it encourages students to force situations into molds that fit their particular theory or theories’. If this is so then, when should we be learning reflection, whilst we are maturing, before we learn or have experience about theory and practice of becoming a counsellor and would this be of benefit in knowing and reflecting on our self? I have yet to find an answer, but I will get back to this and try to source some information.Two authors I reviewed wrote the following, ‘To make ‘meaning’ means to make sense of an experience, we make an interpretation of it. When we subsequently use this interpretation to guide decision-making or action, then making ‘meaning’ becomes ‘learning’. We learn differently when we are learning to perform than when we are learning to understand what is being communicated to us. Reflection enables us to correct distortions in our beliefs and errors in problem-solving. Critical reflection involves a critique of the presuppositions on which our beliefs have been built. Learning may be defined as ‘the process of making a new or revised interpretation of the meaning of an experience, which guides subsequent understanding, appreciation, and action’. Mezirow, (1987). In addition, ‘A reflection

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