When counseling those that suffer, counselors must be able to assess a client’s conditions
When counseling those that suffer, counselors must be able to assess a client’s conditions when they start counseling. To do so, a counselor has to understand concepts and ask themselves some important questions before they start.
The first question to ask is whether or not I can accurately listen to the client. This is covered under Hawkins & Clinton (2015) in the section titled The Cry of the Soul. Counselors need to be able to accurately understand what the client is expressing, things to include, stress, depression, and violence just to name a few (Hawkins & Clinton, 2015).
The second concept from Hawkins & Clinton (2015) is Everyone Needs God, But…. Individuals often try to do things on their own. The fact of the matter is that individuals often bring on disastrous results when they try to do things in their own way, especially if they are trying to self-justify things (Hawkins & Clinton, 2015). As counselors, we will be sought out to help our clients find a way through things without going the route of destroying themselves.
The third concept is The Ethical Christian Counselor. If a counselor does not have the correct ethical understanding of things, they may not be able to effectively help their clients. According to Hawkins & Clinton (2015), integrity is a key ingredient to helping clients through their trying times. We are going to be counted on to step into their lives and help guide them through their pain and vulnerabilities (p. 62). Having integrity is something that counselors have to learn so they can be better suited to help their clients.
The fourth concept is Attachment Theory. Counselors have to know what is and is not a healthy relationship. This comes out to be many different things in a counselor – client relationship. We will have to understand what happens with relationships both vertical and horizontal as they impact each other. We will need to understand that many of what a client has learned regarding relationships goes back to bonding and relationships that were learned from family (Hawkins & Clinton, 2015, p. 115).
The fifth concept that I would consider, and employ is one from the experiences that I have learned in life. This is covered by Nouwen in week threes PowerPoint, The Wounded Healer. I grew up in an abusive home. I always described my childhood as a war zone. My mother enveloped us in love and tried to protect us as much as she could. But there was only such to be done. We did leave that situation when I was 16. I got married at 18 to a man who was very different from my biological father, though he later became abusive. It was not physical for many years, so I did not recognize it as abuse. I was conditioned from my childhood to make the best of everything and hide the bad. Things only got worse and then became physically abusive toward the end of my marriage. Sometimes sharing what has happened to us will help us reach our clients as we show them our vulnerabilities (Brewer & Peters, n.d.).
Regarding our client, Jamie, there are a few different ways to approach each session. Since she currently feels that she is not being helped by the sessions, I would need to evaluate if I am doing anything wrong. I can consider her anger and decide which way I need to go with helping her get past it. With the third concept I mentioned, I must be able to have the integrity to talk to my clients and let them know what is going on. In this situation, I would need to find a way to be empathetic and at the same time have the integrity to be honest with the client about the outbursts and dive deeper to a solution. I need to find avenues to help Jamie lessen the burden that is on her. Sometimes clients are going to hold onto things and not let them go as they are personal to them. Going back to the second concept from Hawkins & Clinton (2015), Everyone Needs God, But…., we talked about individuals destroying themselves with their actions. Jamie is destroying herself because she is lashing out, she has to take accountability for things as well. We can pray together and work through things with god, but counselors and clients alike need to understand their roles and the problems they face together. If I am not equipped to help the client myself, I should find avenues that can. Divorce is hard on people. Jamie could be facing many different things from it, like doubt, depression and more. Sometimes as a counselor we need to understand what our limitations are. I am going to have to know that, so I do not hurt a situation or client. I must be that guiding light to get them to the right avenue to help them.
References:
Brewer, G., & Peters, C. (n.d.). HSCO 506 Week Three, Lecture Three: Presentation: Spirituality, suffering, and counseling dynamics. [PowerPoint]. Lynchburg, VA: Liberty University Online.
Hawkins, R., & Clinton, T. (2015). The new Christian counselor: A fresh biblical and transformational approach. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers
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