Counselling and Self- Awareness Mr. Lema, Isaac Clinical Psychologist (MSc) 11 th November 2015
Learning Objectives Increase personal awareness of sensitive line in counseling Describe different methods in personal assessment and awareness Recognize personal strengths and enhance self-image in therapeutic relationship 2
Outline Introduction Self assessment The self Integrated model of the self Self awareness Counselors and client qualities Touchy subject Non-helpful behaviors Self-disclosure Transference & counter-transference Conclusion 3
Introduction Self awareness is vital component in counseling Counselors acquire an extensive theoretical and practical knowledge as a basis for their practice Counselors also bring their human qualities and their life experience 4
Introduction Counsellors must be aware of self their own needs areas of unfinished business personal conflicts defences vulnerabilities Understand how they may interfere in their professional relationship 5
Introduction Counsellors do not use their professional relationships with clients to further their own interests With self awareness it is not possible to assume client has the same kind of problem 6
Self Assessment What makes me think I am capable of providing counseling to anyone? What do I personally have to offer others who are struggling to find solutions of their difficulties in life? Am I doing in my own life what I advocate others to do? 7
The Self View of self differs from school to school i.e. philosophers, psychologist Self may be defined as a hypothetical construct referring to the complex set of physical, behavioral, and psychological processes characteristic of the individual (Gross, 2010) There are many aspects of self 8
The Self Burnard 1994, in his counseling skills for health professional book, he listed five aspects of self as: 1. The physical self 2. The private self 3. The social self 4. The spiritual self 5. The self as defined by others 9
The Self Calhoun & Acocella 1990, five aspects of self include 1. Physical self body and its internal processes 2. Self as process constant flow of our thoughts, emotions and behaviors 3. Social self thoughts, and behaviors adopted in response to other people and to the society as a whole 10
The Self 4. Self concept mental picture of ourselves 5. Self ideal our image of what we would like to be Different aspect of self are dependant on one another 11
The Self Self can also be defined through types of knowledge 1. Propositional knowledge 2. Practical knowledge 3. Experiential knowledge OR notion of personhood what it means to be a person (Barnerd, 1994) 12
Integrated Model of the Self Model that bring together the notion of self Incorporate outer / public self and inner / private self Outer self: behavior, movement, speech, non linguistics, eye contact, touch, proximity to others, facial expression (Barnerd, 1994) 13
Integrated Model of the Self Inner self: thinking, feeling, sensing, intuiting, experience of the body (Barnerd, 1994) We communicate inner experience through the out 14
Self Awareness Sense of noticing and taking account of a wide range of aspects of self (Barnerd, 1994) Two methods of developing self 1. Introspection 2. Feedback from others (Barnerd, 1994) 15
Self Awareness Personal training and throughout counselor s professional career can increase the chances that counselors will be better able to focus on the welfare of their clients It is difficult to talk about the counselor as professional without considering personal qualities 16
Counselors and Client Qualities Counselors generally like to work with clients who are most like them They are influenced by the physical characteristics of the client Clients, depending on culture, initially like to work with counselors who are perceived as experts, attractive, trustworthy 17
A Touchy Subject Touching Touching a client is very problematic in today s society Touch appropriately can be a powerful way to communicate caring and empathy It can also be easily misunderstood, misconstrued, and damaging to the counseling relationship 18
Non-Helpful Behaviors There are several lists of non-helpful behaviors in counseling Most common among them include: Advice giving Lecturing Excessive questioning Storytelling Asking Why? Asking How did that make you feel? 19
Self-Disclosure Is making oneself known to another person (the patient) by revealing personal information Counselors self-disclosure is only necessary as it relates to the therapeutic process Too much self-disclosure hinders the counseling process, while not enough, may inhibit the patient from forming a bond with the counselor 20
Transference & Counter- Transference A concept as old as Freud, transference and counter-tranference are issues that affect all forms of counseling, guidance, & psychotherapy
Transference & Countertransference Transference This is the patient s projection of past or present feelings, attitudes, or desires onto the counselor It can be direct or indirect and will cause the patient to react to you as they would in the past or present relationship 22
Transference & Countertransference Counter-transference This is the counselor s projected emotional reaction to or behavior towards the client It can take on many forms, from a desire to please the client, to wanting to develop a social or sexual relationship with the client When this happens, supervision or counseling for the counselor is called for 23
Conclusion Professional who work intimately with others have a personal responsibility to be committed to awareness of their own life Self awareness set boundaries between counselors and clients Willingness to live in accordance with what counselors teach is what makes counselors therapeutic person 24
References Barnerd, P (1994) Counselling Skills for Health Professionals; 2 nd Edition. Stanley Thornes Publishers Ltd Fuster, JM (2003) Personal Counseling Gladding, Samuel T (2004) Counseling A Comprehensive Profession 5 th Edition Gross, R. (2010) Psychology the Science of Mind and Behaviors 6 th edition; Macmillan Company King, L.A (2008) the Science of Psychology, McGraw-Hill 25