Self Evaluation In Counselling

Self-Evaluation on Counselling Session (One)

Session start with a warmth greeting, by asking client ‘How can I address you?”, to be honest I felt nervous at the beginning of the session, too focus or particular on the name of client, client actually felt uncomfortable. I can just follow the flow and address whatever name client point out and start with small talk will be a good idea such as asking about his experience of travelling to the centre for his counselling session. Thereupon, I briefly explained the length of time of the session, confidentiality and the limitation. I believe that I deliver a clear message to the client.

Questions need to be appropriate to the situation and Armstrong (2006) offers ways of applying different types of

Non-verbal encouragers I used were; I looked focused by leaning forward, I made constant eye contact and distance moderate. Example of verbal encouragers I used were; ‘erm’ while nodding my head. These encourage client to continue talking and let him know I was focused.

Client presenting problem was hard to express his real feeling, his workload and felt tired about it. I am using minimal encourager, that actually allow client to elaborate more, I am also able to used minimal encourager with different intonation which help me to deliver different message such as listening and understanding. Minimal encourager that I used help client reach certain levels of insight such tiredness largely because of over responsible attitude and not assertive enough to reject unnecessary jobs. Client also realizes that he like to avoid conflict.

Listening is an active process which involves being both physically and psychologically present (McLeod, 2007), as with Egan (2010) who directs a counsellor to listen not just to verbal experiences and words but to their feelings and non-verbal messages. An example I used with listening to non-verbal messages was when client laughed a few times when talking about his working condition which was a tense laugh and clearly not funny. I shared my observation with client effectively with this behaviour and helped client explore why such as describe what I observed

At the beginning of the session, is appropriate to used more minimal encourager, but depending of client situation, paraphrasing also assists counsellor gaining accuracy in understanding. Paraphrasing in this session actually lesser, I just allow client to share without limit, it may lose precious moment to allow the client to “hear” their own thoughts and to focus on what he say and feel, which is very important to help client to gain