HN 430 Advocacy for Families & Youth Unit 9 Seminar

Announcements Our last seminar together – no seminar for Unit 10 No graded assignments in Unit 10 Final reflections in the discussion board are encouraged and appreciated Unit 9 Final Project due by midnight on Tuesday, February 15

Final Project Reminders PLEASE get it turned in on time Read the project description carefully Read the grading rubric carefully SYNTHESIZE AND APPLY what you have learned throughout the course Make sure you are very detailed and specific Use adequate support

Final Project Reminders Incorporate as many concepts from throughout the course as possible Use the Kaplan Library or other academic resources (NO WIKIPEDIA) Use at least 3 resources – at least one from the library (not all websites) Points will be deducted if your APA formatting is not accurate.

Chapter 8 of text Additional Information & Reading on DB Unit 9

The Use of Consultation and Supervision in Counseling Consultation: Experienced counselors respond to requests from individuals, groups or organizations to help solve problems when the resources or knowledge at hand are not adequate. Supervision: Counselors use their expertise and advanced skills to train new and emerging counselors, assuming responsibility for and clinical authority over their work with clients. Consultation tends to be collaborative, while supervision tends to be authoritative.

Consultant Roles Because consultation is a multi-faceted activity, consultants must fulfill a number of different roles in order to be effective. – Different consultation situations call for different consultation roles, several of which may be synthesized into the professional presence of a single consultant – These roles are: expert, advisor, researcher, program evaluator, teacher/trainer/educator, advocate, process specialist, and collaborator

Consultant Roles Expert: A consultant serves as a source of expertise, both in knowledge and in skill, that the consultee does not have. Advisor: Supportive guidance in the right direction provides the solution needed by the consultee who is seeking assistance. Researcher: Consultants function as fact finders, collecting data for use in program evaluation, to aid in decisions about organizational change, or to develop awareness of community and social trends.

Consultant Roles Program evaluator: Consultants document program outcomes or make recommendations for program improvement when the program staff members do not have the time or the ability to conduct such an evaluation themselves. Teacher/trainer/educator: The consultant develops curricula if needed, presents instructional materials, and facilitates learning experiences germane to the subject area. Advocate: Consultants advocate for a person or position.

Consultant Roles Process specialist: The consultant facilitates constructive interaction among participants to help resolve the problem at hand while enhancing their understanding of the interpersonal dynamics at work in their setting. Collaborator: The consultant and consultee share a mutual contribution to problem identification and solution development

Consultation Settings Consultation performed by professional counselors usually occurs in one of three settings: human service agencies, schools, and a broad category of business, government and other organizations. Many counseling professionals serve as consultants to organizations that are unrelated to the human service or educational fields. – The primary purpose of most organizational consultation is to strengthen the effectiveness of the organization

Consultation Skills An effective consultant must have: – Strong interpersonal skills – Skills in professional writing and public speaking – Problem-solving skills – An understanding of people, their motives, needs, shortcomings, and strengths – An awareness and consideration of racial and cultural diversity issues – Objectivity – Group process and team-building skills

Characteristics of the Effective Human Service Professional/Advocate 1. Relationship Building 2. Empathy 3. Genuineness 4. Acceptance 5. Open-Mindedness 6. Cognitive Complexity 7. Psychological Adjustment 8. Competence

Relationship Building May be most important factor in creating client change Exists throughout counseling relationship All counselors must deal with it on some level, regardless of theoretical orientation Establish rapport, build trust, foster the relationship throughout Multicultural competencies

Empathy One of the most important characteristics To understand the inner world of the client “Getting into the shoes” of another Sensing the private world of another To show empathy is to identify with another's feelings. It is to emotionally put yourself in the place of another. The ability to empathize is directly dependent on your ability to feel your own feelings and identify them.

Genuineness Also called “congruence”; Being transparent Feelings, thoughts, and actions are “in sync” Refers to willingness of the therapist to be authentic, open, and honest within the helping relationship at the right time The more the therapist is himself or herself in the relationship, putting up no professional front or personal facade, the greater is the likelihood that the client will change and grow in a constructive manner.

Acceptance Unconditional positive regard is being able to accept clients “without strings attached.” Professional listens in a non-judgmental warm way to the client. There are no conditions put upon the relationship. Doesn’t mean you like everything a person does, but you accept the person through deep understanding

Open-Mindedness Being non-dogmatic – Dogma is characterized by assertion of unproved or unprovable principles or a code of beliefs accepted as authoritative Allowing others to express their points of view Not trying to convince the client of a certain point of view Being open to feedback a Not imposing your own personal biases

Cognitive Complexity Understanding world and people in complex ways – view individuals individually and systemically – understand knowledge is not fixed – receive feedback, and see different points of view – are good with empathy – are more self-aware – are able to see client’s predicament from multiple perspectives – Multicultural competencies

Psychological Adjustment Between 64% and 84% of helpers have been in counseling Counseling and Therapy: – Prevents countertransference – Fosters insight – Helps one see what it’s like being a client – Good role model experience – Assures one is providing unimpaired services

Competence Counselor expertise shown to be a crucial element for client success in counseling Perceived competence chosen by helpers as most important factor in picking a therapist These individuals have a “thirst for knowledge” Protects you ethically and legally if you are competent Lifelong process Education, colleagues, experience, conferences, reading, researching, exploring, etc. Professional Organizations

Purpose of Professional Associations in the Human Services and Related Field Provide a Political Base Offer Conferences and Workshops Publish Newsletters and Journals Provide a Process That Encourages Networking and Mentoring Offer Grants for Special Projects Related to the Field Provides lots of information about careers including job postings, salaries, outlook, etc.

The Associations NOHS: National Organization of Human Services NASW: National Association of Social Workers ACA: American Counseling Association APA: American Psychological Association American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists APNA: American Psychiatric Nurses Association Others by specializations Lower memberships for students