Skilled Helper Summary

The book titled “The Skilled Helper” by Gerard Egan. The chapters three, six, and seven is to educate the reader about the importance of developing communication skills and recognizing the client and helper’s self-challenges. Primarily, as a helper, it is essential to know the psychological, socially, emotionally and physically present to the client. Therefore, using the concepts of listening actively, listening accurately, and listening for elements is vital to the client’s success. Also, using the guidance of SOLER is helpful too. This technique, called SOLER is the micro skills of attending, Squarely, Open posture, Lean toward the other, Eye Contact and Relaxed. Above all, avoid distorted listening by not being biased, using sound judgment

The helper must be flexible and support good behaviors that the clients might not have recognized. Since the helper’s self-disclosure is about sharing their experiences that are appropriate as well as culturally appropriate and is only for the purpose to serve the client. A helper should also avoid telling the client how they should behave because of some client’s desire more explicit instructions or challenges. Nevertheless, be careful that some clients need a specific, and a direct problem to address their tactics. Also, the helper needs to exercise caution and not to violate the empowerment value by challenging the client, even though; it’s not indirectly by forcing them to accept your values. The fact is challenging strengths help the client explore the assets and resources they have failed to use. As a helper, it’s important to make sure that self-challenging exercises do not become self-demeaning or self-destructive. The focus is to help clients challenge their strengths rather than their weaknesses. Therefore, it is also essential to know the source of reluctance is in the client, due to their history of experiencing an intensity of care, lack of confidence, fear of disorganization and even

According to professor Bannan Perspective-Taking is the importance of to know thyself and to listen to all forms of communications shared by others. Therefore, as helpers, we gather Information about what we don’t understand including the knowns and the unknowns which include body language, rushing, talking fast, anxieties and nervousness. In fact, we must test the grasp of their perspective, as well as, listen and refine our viewpoint further. The importance of using brutal basics is for the purpose to ask open-ended questions for the best explanation, for this reason, avoid closed-ended questions like Yes or No as well as the “why?” questions. As professionals, we give reflective statements with specific questions to the client. Moreover, Also, a helper needs to convey what they heard; they can also imply a question and the importance of staying on topic accordingly. To understand is to only be focus on understanding and analyze is clinical professional only that are holding a master’s degree. Having the power of presence and full listening, being honest, genuine, and to have self-control. It is okay to pause and think before talking, avoid being judgmental, pay close attention their emotions, feeling and behaviors. It is okay to be empathetic but must avoid sympathetic. Avoid using self-defeating behaviors and thoughts, instead recognize the strengths and what you are going for. When using