Reflective essay -Counselling session Essay

In this reflective essay I pull up stakes add an analysis of the direction academic term I conducted and recorded. This exit embarrass a summary of the academic term. I will besides describe the micro and advanced counselling skills utalised, as well as a critical evaluation of their effectiveness. A discussion of my application of these skills, as well as areas of possible improvement will supported by reference to relevant literature.Summary of the session.Leesa is a 37-year-old woman who I have seen to a greater extent or less four months antecedently. At the previous session Leesa spoke of her defeats at meet and of her hopes of securing a promotion. Leesas introduction was one of lethargy consistent with someone who was suffering tinctures of depression. I began the session by welcoming the invitee and reminding her of the confidentiality agreement. Leesa had previously inclineed in the hospitality industry but explained that had decided to terminate her practic e later being lose for a promotion. She also explained that she had mat up a escape of fairness and respect from her employer and fellow employees. Since leaving her placement in hospitality Leesa had sought employment through an agency that provides office work opportunities. Leesa explained that she had had four opposite jobs in the past three months and that she was experiencing a similar feeling of being disrespected.Leesa spoke of experiencing a lack of self-confidence at the moment and a feeling of being stuck as well as frustration and uncertainty around her future direction. However the knob was suitable to identify that she would equal to be more financially secure, feel respected at work and to earn a greater sense of confidence. Leesa spoke of a time when she enjoyed her work and private biography more, and was able to relate some of the key differences that contributed to her feeling more respected and confident in general. The lymph node identified that she would like to seek alternative employment that allowed her to take on grater responsibility and that involved less travel. Leesa believed that her employment agency may be able to assist her, but admitted that she had not been discerning about the kinds of roles that she took recently due to herfinancial situation.She also unwrap that she had been isolating due to her present-day(prenominal) state of mind. Accepting a homework challenge Leesa agreed to come near some friends to see if she could catch up with them at the next weekend. She also agreed to compile a diagnose of the sorts of jobs that she snarl she was qualified for and believed that she could achieve a greater feeling of responsibility and respect. Leesa express that she would onward motion her employment agency to see if they could help, and that she would bring her list to the next counseling session.Counselling skills application.Reflecting upon the counseling session it is clear that I utalised a range of con versational micro skills.Attending BehaivourHackney & Cormier (2009) & McLeod (2007), explain that a counsellor leads by following the client, which is done by encouraging the client to tell their story employ verbal and non-verbal encouragers. Another musical mode to explain what attending is that it allows the client to continue talking with token(prenominal) opening (Armstrong, 2006). When watching the recorded session I could observe numerous occasions where lessons of attending behaivour are endue. For modeling my potency was relaxed and I leant forward. My tone of voice was moderate and consistent, and I maintained eye contact. I constantly nodded my head and aid mm hmm or, oh really. This combination of skills conveyed that I was interested and empathetic to what the client was saying. in like manner Egan (2010) describes an effective guideline for turning into clients as represented by an acronym SOLER, which is important in the beginning of each counselling sessio n. This meansS face the client squarelyO maintain open postureL lean towards the otherE good eye contactR relaxed and natural in these behavioursMinimal receptions.Throughout the session I used a range of minimal responses that let the client know that I was interested and engaged in what she had to say. It also conveyed that I was empathetic towards her situation. Geldard and Geldard (2009) explain that minimal responses not only convey that the counselor is listening, they dirty dog also be used to convey a message, such as surprise, agreement or even to challenge what has been said. The meaning of these minimal responses is also influenced greatly upon the delivery of them. Tone of voice, facial expression, posture and eye movement all help to determine the way in which these messages are received. An example of a minimal response I do that conveyed empathy would have been when the client was describing her feelings of not being respected in her workplace and I responded by saying sounds horrible. This con response did not interrupt the flow of conversation, and encouraged the client to continue. My tone of voice and facial expressions were also congruent with someone who empathized and was interested in what was being said.Reflective Listening.Summarising, paraphrasing and reflection of feelings are all examples of counselling micro-skills that let the client know that the counselor is listening and understanding them correctly. Although it is important to try to respond accurately it is not essential as an incorrect response can encourage the client to re-think what they have said and then clarify it, possibly resulting in a better understanding for both parties. Geldard and Geldard (2009) explain that these reflections also serve as deepening the therapeutic descent. And that the most important to be genuinely yourself and aim to fashion a real, trusting, caring empathetic relationship with the person seeking help. Examples of when I utalised reflective listening techniques would include When the client had explained the reasons why she had left over(p) her previous employment, I reflected back by saying So youve left there you werent happy with that job, you felt up like you were unfairly treated, is that..? Another example would have been after the client had explained that she had experienced a number of negative employment situations within a short full point of time. I reflected back Would I be right to suggest that perhaps you are feeling a bit stuck, youre not really sure what you are doing? .Questioning Techniques and AdvancedCounselling Skills.During the session I used a range of open and closed questions. I opened the session by referring back to the subject of her difficulties at work covered in the previous session and then asked How has that been button? Later I asked the client Can you tell me a picayune more about the situation, what was breathing out on for you? Overall I was happy with the mix of open and closed questions. It felt like I was getting the learning I needed, without interrupting the client. The counseling modality I used was root focused. I tried to structure the session with Egans Three Stage Model in mind. Egan (2010) provides a structured and solution focused approach that can be broken into 3 major atoms. The initial part of the session saw me ask a range of questions designed to ascertain what was going on? For the next section What do I want instead? I used a range of questioning techniques. For example scaling questions. At a point in the session it had been identified that the client had become stuck and was uncertain of what direction to take due to a series of negative experiences at work.The client had agreed that a pattern had emerged she felt disrespected at work. At this point I also felt a miniature stuck. It felt as if I should explore this as a theme and try to help the client to identify her blind spots. However I also felt like it mig ht be harmful to challenge the client at that coiffure, as she appeared to have a low self-image. At the time, although uncertain it felt a little dangerous to examine her role in the situation. In order to firstly pay that the clients self esteem was low, and to then help her to identify what would have to change for her to feel better I asked her to rate her level of self-esteem, or confidence on a scale of one-to-ten. Her response was a three. This outline was useful in establishing that the client was unhappy and felt stuck in her situation, and therefore provided a platform to work with.However it was not successful in helping the client to identify what she wants instead (Egan 2010). I was faint at this point as to weather the client was genuinely uncertain of what she would like to change or if she was reluctant to say. It was this feeling that led me to self-disclose. This gave me the opportunity to express empathy indirectly and to help the client feel like the relatio nship was equal. Geldard and Geldard (2009). It was also usefulin clarifying that she felt frustration and not the anxiety that was present in my disclosure. In an effort to move to Egans second make up I chose to ask a variation of the miracle question. De Jong and Berg (2008), propose that the miracle question allows the client an opportunity to step out of their current situation for a moment and consider the possibility of something better (as cited in Corey 2013). Although the clients response was not immediate she could identify that she wanted to be more financially stable, to have more confidence, and to be respected.I then asked the client Has there ever been a time in your working like, that you can remember where you felt respected and happy at work? This question had an almost immediate compulsory reaction, as evidenced by the clients change in posture and facial expression. This coincided with what might have ordinarily been the negative situation of a refrigerator making a loud noise. However this situation added a useful element of humor that would probably not been possible. Both clients and counselors can enrich a relationship through humor (Corey 2013 p.31). Having identified that there was a time when things were different, coupled with the comfortableness achieved through humor, it felt like I had permission to ask what was different in her personal life at that time. The responses gave me the information I needed to begin to help the client verbal expression at Egans (2010) third stage of how do I get to what I want? This also gave me the opportunity to work with the immediacy that was explicit in the change of mood when the client reflected upon a time when her life was going well. This person-centered approach added a real sense of genuiness to the relationship and allowed the client to identify emotionally connect with the difference in her life at that time (Corey 2013).During a summary of what was different, when the clients lif e was going well invigorated information was disclosed that the client had not been discerning about the jobs that she took due to her financial situation. I made the comment that that was understandable, we all have to pay our bills, thus normalizing the clients experience, Normalising a clients experience can help them to look at their situation more positively Geldard and Geldard (2009). This was useful as the session moved into the third stage of the framework provided by Egan (2010). During this stage we brainstormed ways in which the client could access alternative employment, and also how to achieve greater life balance throughrecreational activities. The client agreed to continue to develop this list and to approach some employment agencies. She also agreed to contact some friends socially the following weekend as a homework tasks. Tompkins (2006) suggests that there are clear advantages to the counselor and client working in a collaborative manor in negotiating mutually ag reeable homework tasks. (as cited in Corey 2013). I felt that overall the session went well. At times I think I could have injected more power into my responses. It is strange, as I felt more enthusiastic inside than what was conveyed. I was happy that I could work to a framework and I found that I enjoy the positivity of the solution-focused modality. It did seem a little too perfect at times, which is difficult to avoid in a role-play situation.References.Armstrong, P. (2006). The practice of counselling. Melbourne Thomson Higher pedagogy Corey, G (2012). Theory and Practice of Counselling and Psychotherapy. 9th.Ed. Melbourne. Canage Learning. Egan, G. (2010). The Skilled Helper 9th Ed. Belmont, USA Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning.Geldard, G & Geldard, K (2012) 7th Ed. Basic Personal Counselling A Training manual for counsellors. N.S.W Australia. Pearson.