Question

Showing support, empathy, and using active listening skills when working with clients are soft skills which are critical to being an effective counselor. How might you use counseling theory to develop these skills?

Answer 1

For being an effective counselor, one needs to show support, empathy, compassion toward the client. The counselor should listen carefully, respect the client's privacy and confidentiality.

A competent counselor should know how to deal with issues of their clients. They should understand their emotions ad behavior. Understanding a client's mental issues needs thorough knowledge of counseling. Some theoretical orientation helps a counselor to have good knowledge to understand the issues the client is going through. Some counselor use cognitive behavior therapy, some use client centered therapy to understand their client's issues and help the client.

A great counselor is not one who knows everything but rather those who always work hard and give their best to become great counselor. An effective counselor always make a good rapport with the client, so that the client could express all the hidden things which bother him or her. An effective counselor always try to create a comfortable environment so that the client feel free to speak up about his or her issues. Behaving like a friend is important for an effective counselor but knowing about transference is also equally important for counselors. A good counselor just help the client to solve their issues rather attaching emotionally with them. An effective counselor follow up the client after completing counseling sessions. The counselor should be eager to know the effectiveness of his or her counseling. The counselor should take feedbacks from client as well as his or her subordinate.

An effective counselor should be aware about his or her attitudes, values and feelings and they need to make sure that their personal things won't affect their counseling skills. Empathy is a quality a counselor must possess. The ability to put oneself in another's place, helps a counselor to feel the problems his or her client is going through. An effective counselor should have a willingness to listen carefully. The counselor should be able to form and maintain a good and strong therapeutic relationship.

For being an effective counselor one needs to always passionate to help others. Counselors are those who help others to come out of their mental issues, for doing these good work one needs to be patience for the good result.