Counseling skills
May 6, 2025 7:47 AM
During my residency, I learned many Counseling skills, but it is my opinion that some of the most important skills for building a strong relationship with a client are active listening, empathy, and showing acceptance without judgment. These skills help create a safe space where clients feel comfortable, respected, and understood, something that’s really important for therapy to work.
Active listening means paying full attention to the client, not just hearing their words, but truly understanding and remembering what they say. It helps clients feel like they matter, which makes them more willing to open up (Egan, 2019).
Empathy is about putting yourself in the client’s shoes and trying to feel what they feel. It helps clients feel supported and understood, which makes the therapy more helpful for them (Norcross & Wampold, 2011).
Unconditional positive regard means accepting clients just as they are, without judging them. Carl Rogers said this kind of acceptance is key for clients to grow and heal (Rogers, 1957). When clients know they won’t be judged, they’re more likely to be honest and open.
All of these skills help build a strong connection between counselor and client. That connection is one of the biggest factors in how successful counseling will be (Horvath & Bedi, 2002).
References:
Egan, G. (2019). The skilled helper: A problem-management and opportunity-development approach to helping (11th ed.). Cengage Learning.
Horvath, A. O., & Bedi, R. P. (2002). The alliance. In J. C. Norcross (Ed.), Psychotherapy relationships that work: Therapist contributions and responsiveness to patients (pp. 37–69). Oxford University Press.
Norcross, J. C., & Wampold, B. E. (2011). Evidence-based therapy relationships: Research conclusions and clinical practices. Psychotherapy, 48(1), 98–102. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0022161
Rogers, C. R. (1957). The necessary and sufficient conditions of therapeutic personality change. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 21(2), 95–103. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0045357
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