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Running head: EFFECTIVE COUNSELORS 1
Important Characteristics of Effective Counselors
Rachel Nunez
Liberty University
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EFFECTIVE COUNSELORS
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Important Characteristics of Effective Counselors
Counselors are trained professionals offering care for mental health through offering
assessments, diagnosis and talking to people who have psychological problems or issues such as
stress, anxiety, depression, etc. Counselors offer help people to deal or overcome persistent
challenges that deteriorate their mental health. Issues such as family problems, relationship or
marriage issues, job or business stress among others all which lead to mental health disorders
including stress and depression that rob an individual his or her happiness. To administer help to
these people, there is a need for effective counseling. While effective counseling is a two-way
process which requires cooperation and efforts from both the one receiving it and the one
offering it, effective counselors should have great communication skills, embrace acceptance and
have empathy for others.
For counselors to be effective in their work, they must possess great communication
skills. Excellent communication skills are key in talking and conveying messages to patients of
mental health. It is through great communication skills that a counselor can listen, understand
and succinctly explain his or her thoughts and ideas to their patients. Having gone to school has
honed my communication skills which I can use to become an effective counselor.
Effective counselors should be embracers of acceptance. It is crucial for one to be willing
to accept other people’s current situations without judging them, showing them you relate to the
situation and ready to walk with them (Miller, 2018). No one wants to tell their predicaments or
personal issues to someone who will then start to judge them and question their decisions of what
has already passed. I would cultivate this characteristic to myself though embracing diversity of
thoughts and respecting the fact that we all think and act differently. I would also try to relate to
situations people go though in day-to-day life.
Effective counselors should also be empathetic. Everyone wants to share their
psychological problems with someone who would should empathy and compassion (Miller,
2018). By showing empathy, counselors offer a chance for the patients to feel understood. I
would cultivate this trait by imaging and trying to put myself in the shoes of the patient so as to
show them my understand of the issue.
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EFFECTIVE COUNSELORS
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References
Miller, A. (2018, June 28). Top Eight Attributes of an Effective Counselor. Retrieved from
https://work.chron.com/top-eight-attributes-effective-counselor-22250.html.
