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How does what you read in TA chapter 4 support the effectivenessof addiction counseling is more about who you are as a person and howwell you develop a working relationship with a client, and not asmuch about how much you know about addiction, or how many years youhave in recovery, the credentials you have or the techniques you use?
For addiction counseling to become successful, it puts a focus on theindividual that is the counselor, as one part separate from hisclient. These means that regardless of the councilors own experience,thoughts and pieces of advice, at no point is he allowed influencinghis clients’ decisions. Their thoughts are only allowed after aclient is allowed sufficient time to explore all his feelings andthoughts.
The other point is how well a counselor develops a workingrelationship with their client. Carl Rodgers, 1980, came up with asimple strategy that helps counselors guide their clients withoutinfluencing with their personal issues.
Rodgers highlighted the importance of being empathetic. With these,he meant that the client is allowed ample time to air their views.The fact that it is not an easy task to undertake, empathy calls fora lot of understanding and total interest to focus on what the clienthas in store.
Rodgers, however, helps expound on focusing on what the client needs.This means that, from the client’s scenario, they can come up withbetter solutions without any help from outside only through theguidance from their counselors. These happen with a little piece ofadvice and suggestions from counselors because they are the ultimatereason why the client came for help.
According to Bohart and Greenberg, 1997, they supported Rodgersresearch by adding that, empathy proves an evidence-based kind ofresearch. Where the client presents with a problem, and under minimalguidance, they are able to find solutions that best fit them.
What specific characteristics of a Client-Centered Foundationmight be most challenging for you to maintain? Why?
One of the most challenging client- centered characteristic to bemaintained is the reflective listening. These may happen because oneallows the client ample time as they give an ear in the wholesession. It to a great extent depends on the client`s nonverbalcues, and the counselor may end up missing on some key points ,making addition statements that are out of the context or omittingthe vital parts needed.
These at times happens due to biases, when one feels they wereexactly in a similar situation back then and since what they didwork, they tend to influence their clients, or even due to the factthat the human concentration span is short-lived, other counselorsmay end up doing guesswork in places they never understood and end upadding their own imaginations or thoughts not intended by the client.
Reference
Connolly, M. (1999). Empathy Reconsidered: New Directions inPsychotherapy . Arthur C. Bohart & Leslie S. Greenberg (Editors)(1997) Washington: American Psychological Association, 477 pages,$49.95. Psychotherapy Research, 9(2), 248-249.doi:10.1080/10503309912331332721
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