Counseling Skills

Attending Letting the client know you are with them and listening “In some sense [attending and listening] means that you lay aside your self; this can only be done by persons who are secure enough in themselves that they know they will not get lost in what may turn out to be the strange and bizarre world of the other, and that they can comfortably return to their own world when they wish.” Carl Rogers

Attending Skills: SOLER Squarely face the client Open posture Lean in on occasion Eye contact Relaxed and natural behavior

Non-Verbal Cues Validates or invalidates verbal communication Bodily behavior Facial expressions Voice related behavior Observable physiological responses Physical appearance

Active Listening Listen where your clients are in their lives Use to detect gaps, distortions, dissonance and themes Listen to allow empathy Listen with appropriate interruption Listening with your questions Listen to oneself Listen without diagnosing

Empathy “It means entering the private perceptual world of the other and becoming thoroughly at home in it. It involves being sensitive, moment by moment, to the changing felt meanings which flow in this other person, to the fear or rage or tenderness or confusion or whatever that he or she is experiencing. It means temporarily living in the other’s life, moving about in it delicately without making judgments.” (Rogers) “It’s not what I would feel as me in your shoes, but what I would feel as you in your shoes”

Empathy Convey genuine warmth and caring Affirm client strengths in the midst of struggles Come alongside

Empathic Response Give yourself time to think before responding Use short responses, don’t over elaborate Don’t mimic, remain yourself but allow yourself to feel what they might be feeling

Empathy Don’ts No response A question A cliché’ (pat answer) An interpretation (diagnosis) Advice Parroting Sympathy (agreement)

Probing and Encouraging Don’t ask too many questions Ask questions that serve a purpose Ask open ended questions that help clients talk about specific experiences, behaviors, feelings Keep the focus on the client Ask questions that help clients move forward in the process Don’t hesitate to check in with patient about how they are handling the process.

Self Disclosure When do I use self disclosure? How much is too much? Why does the client want to know? How might it benefit the client? How do you feel about giving the information? Why do you feel you should or should not give the information?

Dealing with Resistance Address when recognized Put responsibility on client

The Stages of Change Taken from Changing for Good by James Prochaska, John Norcross, & Carlo Diclemente Pre-contemplation Contemplation Preparation Action Maintenance Termination