Corey (2017) mentioned that the human aspect is one of critical influence to the therapeutic process and many types of research have shown the centrality of the person of the therapist as the main factor of effective therapy. The personal qualities of the therapist influence his ability to create and sustain a healthy therapeutic alliance with the client (Norcross & Lambert, 2011) and it is important to identify what are the qualities a therapist or counsellor should have. This paper identifies five significant personal qualities that the writer feels are important for a trained counsellor. The first three characteristics would be a) congruence, b) unconditional positive regard and c) accurate empathetic understanding which Carl Rogers believed are integral to a successful therapeutic relationship (Corey, 2017). The fourth important characteristic will be multi-cultural awareness as the author will be practising in a multi-ethnic environment has many different social and racial sub-cultures. The last characteristic would be the ability to self-reflect, which also includes the awareness to learn from mistakes and to self-heal.
Professional counsellors provide diagnosis, assessments, as well as counselling to individuals going through psychological problems and stresses (Rodica, 2015). In order to be effective in their roles, counsellors possess various qualities. To begin with, we have congruence. Congruence in Car Roger’s definition means realness and genuineness. It is the most important characteristic that must be present for all 2-way relationships to work, and being real means the outer expression of a therapist fits his inner experience of the feelings that are present during therapy (Corey, 2017). Kolden et al. (2011) mentioned that therapist should aim to achieve congruence with their clients and this meant to be open about the feelings and attitudes during therapy and not to hide behind the front of a professional.
Being real will also mean that the therapist needs to have self-awareness of his internal feelings during therapy and communicate these feelings effectively to the client without affecting the therapeutic relationship. (Tudor & Worrall, 1994). The therapist should take note that they should not fake acceptance if they do not agree with their clients or appear to be over-enthusiastic to look genuine because this could constraint the therapy process (Corey, 2017). In order to develop congruence, a therapist needs to hone communication skills, especially active and engaged listening skills so that he can provide honest responses of self-disclosures to the client’s thought, feeling or emotion (Kolden et al. 2011).
Secondly, we have unconditional positive regard. Unconditional positive regard and acceptance forms an integral part of a therapeutic relationship (Corey, 2017). Unconditional positive regard and acceptance means that the therapist should provide real care to the client without judging whether the client’s feelings, actions or thoughts. The author feels that it is important for the client to feel accepted and understood during the therapy session, especially in scenarios where the clients are unsure about whether they would be judged for their actions and feelings. Showing unconditional regard for the client would allow him to feel accepted and supported by the therapist (Cherry, 2018) and clients would feel more comfortable to discuss and explore solutions for the issues they face in a therapeutic relationship.
Rogers (1957) mentioned that unconditional positive regard has no prerequisites for accepting the client and this care must be non-possessive and should not be manipulated for the therapist’s own needs. However, Rogers also shared that it is not possible for therapists to show unconditional positive regard and acceptance for all clients (Corey, 2017), especially in cases where the client continues to engage in negative actions that are incoherent with the therapist’s moral beliefs. In order to develop competence in showing positive regard, the author felt that it is important to look back at the client’s current psychosocial development stage and empathise with his current developmental challenges and issues. This allows the therapist to look at the client beyond his surface behaviours and accept them for who they are (Hill, 2014).
Thirdly, we have an empathetic understanding. Empathy is described by Carl Rogers as one of the core conditions for effective counselling Rogers (1957). This section will look into the importance of empathy in therapy and how the author could develop an accurate empathic understanding to aid his training to be a therapist. In order to assist individuals undergoing stress or difficult times, counsellors display empathy to their patients which is the ability to feel what another individual is feeling or stand in the shoes of an individual. This attribute calls for a counsellor forgetting oneself so as to be direct and open to a patient.
According to a study on the importance of empathy in counselling, psychotherapy clients consider empathy to be essential in the professional and personal relationship they have with their psychotherapist (Selva, 2017). Empathy is crucial in counselling since it allows patients to feel connected, understood and heard. Besides, empathy builds trust between the therapist and client hence higher levels of security and happiness are assured. The treatment outcomes are also influenced by the level of empathy displayed by the therapists. Therefore, success in counselling sessions may be depended on the level of empathy directed towards the patients or individuals concerned.
Fourthly, we have multicultural awareness. This attribute is crucial to counsellors since individuals in the quest of seeking counselling often come from various backgrounds and walks of life (10 Multicultural Factors, 2017). Therefore, the need for multicultural awareness in counselling is increasing as populations are becoming much diverse. Multicultural awareness in counselling refers to a form of counselling where counselling is conducted through the client’s world. This by considering factors such as bias and cultural values. Through these factors, counsellors are able to assist individuals in underserved communities hence allowing them to gain knowledge, disposition, sensitivity and personal awareness (10 Multicultural Factors, 2017). Multicultural awareness allows counsellors to respect their client’s values, languages, religious views, beliefs, and indigenous practices. Therefore, by possessing knowledge and familiarising themselves with various people from various cultures, counsellors are able to recognise the multidimensionality of all patients in a respectful, integrative and comprehensive manner.
Lastly, we have self-reflection. In counselling, behaviour and personality are crucial aspects that make a difference when employed by counsellors. These aspects work for the purpose of increasing self-reflection and awareness (Wosket, 2016). Counsellors employ this attribute in ensuring they are mindful of any personal factors that may impede their judgment or ability to provide objective and effective services. Self-reflection/awareness allows counsellors to develop mechanisms for evaluating reactions, beliefs, actions and thoughts.
Reflective counsellors are able to understand their limitation and strengths. Therefore, they are able to take time in analysing and refining their performance hence ensuring counselling sessions are effective and efficient as possible (Wosket, 2016). Self-reflection/awareness incorporates various processes in order to ensure effective reflective practice. They include; ensuring adequate self-care, analysing own performance, monitoring potential burnouts, and development of self-awareness. By being able to understand their performance, limitation and strengths, counsellors are able to ensure the outcome of the counselling sessions is accurate and not driven by other personal agendas.
Counselling is an important aspect that I appreciate so much since it focusses on helping individuals make changes by giving advice and counsel. Besides, I believe the duties of counsellors vary in regards to their speciality since the setting in which they work on is determined by their speciality. As a future counsellor, I believe I possess three significant qualities that may assist me in being an effective counsellor. To begin with, I have excellent communication skills. Counselling revolves around successful communication, and therefore, I believe communication with patients helps to understand and evaluate what they are going through much better and effectively. Through communication skills, therapists are able to work together with patients hence assisting them in developing ways of resolving their problems (What Personal Characteristics Would Make Me a Good Counsellor? 2019)
Understanding a patient’s needs and experiences requires better communication skills such as listening skills since patients may not always understand their problems. Therefore, through asking them questions about the interpretations and perceptions of themselves, events and other people, a counsellor is able to explain the reasons why they undergo what they do. For instance, if I would be counselling a bereaved family, I would have to take the family members through the stages of grief and reinforce feelings such as anger and denial as well as explain why these feelings are normal especially after the loss of a loved one. This would assist me in being able to impact their actions positively. In addition, through excellent communication skills, I would be able to connect with people from various backgrounds and cultures.
Secondly, I have empathy. In my quest to understand my friends’ issues, I like entering into their “frames” or walking in their shoes so as understand what they are going through in their perspective. I am able to relate to their emotions, feelings, and thoughts and be able to strategize a way to guide them in conquering what they are going through. By learning various aspects revolving counselling, it has come to my attention that clients/patients resonate well with counsellors or therapists who show them empathy. It helps patients feel understood and accepted (Della, 2012). In situations where I have to attend to my friends’ issues, I have learnt how to enhance my attention by employing body language, intuition, facial expression, gestures, and silence where need be. I believe this attribute will assist me in being able to connect to my future patients much effectively hence being able to support them through any concerns, problems or issues.
Lastly, I love confidentiality. When it comes to health matters, I believe confidentiality is important even though it doesn’t apply in all situations. Many patients/clients highly regard the security of their information since most of them openly talk about their problems which may be embarrassing to other people. Besides, confidentiality in counselling allows patients to speak about everything and anything without the fear of penalty, embarrassment or judgement (Why are counselling services private and confidential? 2019). As a personal value, I respect the confidentiality of private information since it gives a sense of freedom of expression. Individuals discuss various events and experiences that may include sexual abuse, substance misuse, and illegal behaviour and therefore, by disclosing such information to wrong people, the individuals in question can break down or even give themselves to suicidal tendencies. I believe confidentiality will be crucial in my future counselling career since I’ll be able to handle people’s information respectfully hence gaining their trust in assisting them to overcome their problems.
I believe I have excellent characteristics that may assist me in being an effective counsellor. However, two of my minor personal qualities may impede my effectiveness as a counsellor. To begin with, I love being sarcastic. I like developing a connection with my friends through sarcasm. This helps me with my communication skills and therefore, it always seems easy to verbally connect with anybody. My sarcasm is not primarily founded on embarrassing people in regards to their problems but in creating a fun environment. However, I have got to understand that not all people love sarcasm and jokes since they may be offended and therefore, they may not be able to express themselves freely.
Secondly, I talk too much at times. I always believe in order to help clients express themselves much better, asking more questions can be beneficial. I am a good listener; however, at times I focus more on getting information so as to determine how I can help patients heal quickly. Therefore, since people respond differently, talking too much can impede my effectiveness as a counsellor. This is because other people don’t like speaking too much or being questioned much. In addition, I think some clients may feel uncomfortable and therefore, I am always trying to refine my speaking.
Conclusion.
Effective counselling is a two-way street; therefore, cooperation between the councillor and patient is of uttermost importance. Even if a councillor has excellent skills and the patient is unwilling to cooperate, no success can be achieved. However, a counsellor has a vital role to play since having self-reflection/awareness allows him/her to prevent personal judgements. This ensures counselling outcomes are successful and much better. Client confidentiality is also another ethical concern that counsellors should always encourage. By protecting client information, clients become more open and disclosing their problems becomes easy. In addition, by determining communication skills to be employed in counselling, reaching out to patients becomes easier and more efficient.
Counsellors should continuously learn since lack of commitment may affect their service. Through continual learning, various effective strategies can help counsellors be more efficient and more organised hence improving in a wide range of areas (11 Ways to Become a Better Counsellor, 2019). Examples of such strategies include; planning, goal-setting, emotional resilience, and time management skills. In addition, councillors should include responsiveness and flexibility when communicating with patients/clients. The counselling environment should also be accommodating since some clients may be resistant to cooperate. Lastly, counsellors should be flexible so as to be able to work under unique circumstances hence being able to help more people.
References
Books
Corey, G, (2017), “Theory & Practice of Group Counseling”. Boston: US, Cengage Learning
Hill, C. E., (2014), Helping Skills: Facilitating Exploration, Insight, and Action, NE:
Washington DC, American Psychological Association.
Wosket, V. (2016). The therapeutic use of self: Counselling practice, research and supervision.
Routledge.
Journals
Kolden, G. G., Klein, M. H., Wang, C., & Austin, S. B. (2011). Congruence/Genuineness. In C. Norcross (Ed.), Psychotherapy relationships that work (2nd ed.). New York:
Oxford University Press.
Norcross, J. C., & Lambert, M. J., (2011), “Evidence-based therapy relationships that work: Evidence-based responsiveness”, 2nd Ed, pp 3 – 21), New York, Oxford University
Press.
Rodica, G. E., (2015), “The Students’ Personal and Professional Development as Psychological Counsellors”. Procedia – Social and Behavioural Sciences 190 (2015) 250 – 259
Rogers, C. R., (1957). “The necessary and sufficient conditions of therapeutic personality change”, Journal of Consulting Psychology, 21, 95-103.
Tudor, K. and Worrall, M., (1994), “Research and Practice: Congruence reconsidered”, British
Journal of Guidance and Counselling, Vol. 22, No. 2, 1994
Websites
10 Multicultural Factors to Consider in Counselling. (2017). Retrieved from https://onlinecounselingprograms.com/blog/multicultural-counseling-model/
11 Ways to Become a Better Counsellor. (2019). Retrieved fromhttps://www.counsellingconnection.com/index.php/2009/09/02/11-ways-to-become-a-better-counsellor/
Cherry, K. (2018). “Unconditional positive regard”. Very Well Mind: Psychotherapy. Retrieved from https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-unconditional-positive-regard-2796005
Della, G. (2012). What is empathy? Retrieved from https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/counsellor-articles/what-is-empathy
Selva, J. (2017). Understanding Empathy: What is it and Why is it Important in Counselling. Retrieved from https://positivepsychologyprogram.com/empathy/
What Personal Characteristics Would Make Me a Good Counsellor? (2019) Retrieved from https://www.bestcounselingdegrees.net/faq/what-personal-characteristics-would-make-me-a-good-counselor/
Why are counseling services private and confidential? (2019). Retrieved fromhttps://hilo.hawaii.edu/studentaffairs/counseling/confidentiality.php
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