week 7 mmf 4
Rapport and Relational Alignment
During these counseling sessions, the relationship between Brody and I have improved greatly. I now have a better understanding of his S personality, and has willingly shifted my relational style D to align and connects his style. He has developed more trust in me because he realizes that I have stuck with him throughout the entire process and has given him the necessary support and guidance through this difficult process. From the beginning of the counseling sessions I was already aware that Brody responses best to people who believe in him. He depends on others for affirmation. Therefore, throughout the sessions I have offered support and affirmation when needed.
Phase Two Distinctive Features
Purpose: Now that Brody has satisfactorily maintained forward progress, the purpose of phase four is to connect Brody to community.
Goal: Brody has responded well to counseling. He has made satisfactory progress. Therefore, as we move forward the goal is to consolidate and Support Change on the way through the pursuit of connecting well. The goal is for Brody to be connected to a community for follow-up. This is very essential in order for him to continue the process of consolidating gains. Kollar states, “Follow-up could include such things as church attendance, Christian education classes, supportive fellowship, men or women’s groups, and mentoring. It should also include one or two follow-up phone calls from the counselor over the next three months” (Kollar, 2011).
Chief Aim: Connect well. Connecting Brody to a supportive community is of vital importance. Even as I seek to get Brody connected through supportive fellowship or other classes. I will also seek to get him connected possibly in a youth group. Having young people in his age group who may have had similar experiences may help him in this process. Brody has always had an interest in music. Unfortunately, his father does not have an interest in music. Therefore, he gets no attention at from him. Hence, connecting Brody to a group of young persons who are musically inclined, will help him to relax and find solitude, calm and helps him to reflect.
Role/Responsibility: My responsibility as counselor is to continue to offer my support even as we draw close to the end of our sessions. I will continue to reinforce commitment to change through supportive feedback and by arranging accountability through pastoral care and small group ministries in soul-care context (SBPC handout). Until this process is complete I also will continue to make myself available and gives Brody the option to return for checkup at a later date (Kollar, 2011). I will ensure that Brody commits to a community of accountability directed at preferred story during and after the process of dishabituation of unhealthy patterns and re-habituation of healthy patterns (SBPC Handout).
Behavioral position: willingness and forward progress are maintained through meaningful support
Guiding Assumption(s) As the counselor I am happy for the changes that I have already seen in Brody. I will remind him of Kollar’s guiding assumption number four, “The counselee is always changing”(Kollar, 2011). I will commend Brody for the changes he has already made throughout our sessions and encourage him to keep moving forward. I will reassure him that “God sees him as a masterpiece.”(Nichols, p.18). Therefore, “Change in our lives is constantly occurring” (Kollar, 2011). I am aware that God is always doing a new thing and He will continue to bring about change in Body’s life and move him in the right direction according to his perfect plan.
Supportive Feedback Break: As Brody makes satisfactory changes, I have connected him with at least two support groups. However, I realize that this may not be easy for him to adopt to the changes of the group. This will require him to get out of his comfort zone. As a result, he may get a little discouraged and may even be hesitant to attend the support group sessions. However, I will continue to encourage him that being a part of these supportive communities will assist him in his healing process.
Throughout this I will ask Brody to explain where he is in terms of changes. I will listen attentively to Brody, as he explains how he feels about these support groups and also how he has been dealing with issues of unforgiveness etc. I will ask about the changes that he has experience. If after asking about helpful changes the counselee reports positive change in regard to his originally described goal, I will ask about I will highlight, support and consolidate the changes he has made so far (Kollar, 2009). I will remind him of the importance of being a part of these support groups and encourage him to continue taking steps forward by being a part of these communities. I am reminded that grief “Is a healing journey that can last anywhere from one to three years, and for some a lifetime (Clinton and Hawkins, 2009). Although our sessions are almost at the end I will assure him of my supported whenever need.
After listening attentively to Brody, I will suggest that we take a break. During the break, I will take the time to summarize what Brody and I previously discussed. I will Assess how he is functioning in daily life in order to see what help he might need (Clinton and Hawkins, 2009). After the break I will offer Brody feedback on my assessment and reassure him that the process will take time and that emotions he is experiencing are normal. I will remind him that everyone’s grieving experience is unique, Supportive compliments and encourage positive actions.
Phase Two Marker. A marker that will indicate that Brody is ready to move forward will be determined after my assessment of Brody’s willingness to forgive his dad. I will ask him questions such as; “On a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 standing for how things are the day after the miracle and 1 standing for how things were at the point you started counseling, where—between 1 and 10–are you at this point”(Kollar, 2011)?
I will also assess his willingness to and adaptability to his support groups. Grieving can take years. Therefore, if Brody has not settled or settling well in his group, that would be an indication that he is not yet ready to move on. However, if he expresses his willingness to forgive his dad and to become involved in communities, and above 6 on the scale, then that’s a clear indication that he is ready to move on.