Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy
CHAPTER 2
The Counselor: Person and Professional
Introduction
The most important instrument you have is YOU.
oYour living example of who you are and how you struggle to live up to your potential is
powerful.
A good way to begin your study of contemporary counseling theories
oOpen to self-evaluation, you not only expand your awareness of self but also build the
foundation for developing your abilities and skills as a professional.
The person and the professional are intertwined facets that cannot be separated in reality.
The Counselor as a Therapeutic Person
Be authentic and don’t hide behind your role.
oLeaving your reactions and self out of your work may result in ineffective counseling.
Be a therapeutic person.
oBe willing to grow, risk, care, and be involved.
Abundant research indicates the centrality of the person of the therapist and therapeutic
relationship as key factors in successful therapy.
The contextual factors are the primary determinants of therapeutic outcome.
The Personal Characteristics of Effective Counselors
Have an identity
Are open to change
Make choices that are life oriented
Are authentic, sincere, and honest
Have a sense of humor
Make mistakes and are willing to admit them
Live in the present
Appreciate the influence of culture
Have a sincere interest in the welfare of others
Possess effective interpersonal skills
Become deeply involved in their work and derive meaning from it
Are passionate
Are able to maintain healthy boundaries
Personal Therapy for the Counselor
Personal therapy contributes to the therapist’s professional work in three ways:
(1) as part of the therapist’s training, personal therapy offers a model of therapeutic practice in
which the trainee observes a more experienced therapist at work and learns experientially what
is helpful or not helpful.
(2) a beneficial experience in personal therapy can further enhance a therapist’s interpersonal
skills, which are essential to skillfully practicing therapy.
(3) successful personal therapy can contribute to a therapist’s ability to deal with the ongoing
stresses associated with clinical work.
The Role of Values in Counseling
Assist clients in finding answers that are most congruent with their own values.
Bracketing can be used to help manage value conflicts.
Counselors should NOT refuse to render services to clients because of differing values.
Value imposition refers to counselors directly attempting to define a client’s values, attitudes,
beliefs, and behaviors.
Avoid imposing their own values, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors.
Seek supervision to learn to effectively manage value differences with your clients.
Becoming an Effective Multicultural Counselor
Become aware of your personal biases, values, or problems.
Seek to examine and understand the world from your client’s vantage point.
Understand the dynamics of oppression, racism, discrimination, and stereotyping.
Possess knowledge about the historical background, traditions, and values of your client, and learn
about their cultural background.
Become responsible for educating clients about the therapeutic process.
Seek out educational, consultative, and training experiences to enhance the ability to work with
diverse clients.
Incorporating Culture in Counseling Practice
Learn more about how your own cultural background has influenced your thinking and behaving.
Identify your basic assumptions, especially as they apply to diversity in culture, ethnicity, and race.
Remain open to ongoing learning of how the various dimensions of culture affect therapy.
Issues Faced by Beginning Therapists
Dealing with anxieties
Being oneself and self-disclosure
Avoiding perfectionism
Being honest about your limitations
Understanding silence
Dealing with demands from clients
Dealing with clients who lack commitment
Tolerating ambiguity
Becoming aware of your countertransference
Developing a sense of humor
Sharing responsibility with the client
Declining to give advice
Defining one’s role as a counselor
Maintaining Your Vitality as a Person and as a Professional
Take care of your single most important instrument—YOU.
oDevelop self-care strategies and a plan for renewal.
Learn to look within yourself to determine what choices you are making to keep yourself vital.
Wellness and self-care are being given increased attention in professional journals and at
professional
conferences.
Following are therapeutic lifestyle changes that promote wellness for individuals:
oPhysical activity
oDiet and nutrition
oBeing in nature
oRelationships
oRecreation
oReligious/spiritual involvement
oProviding service to others
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