This guide will help you answer 4.1. Describe own observations, thoughts, feelings and concerns when using counselling skills.
In this unit, you need to describe your own observations, thoughts, feelings, and concerns when using counselling skills. This reflective practice helps in self-awareness and professional development. It ensures that you are providing the best possible support to your clients. Here’s a guide on how to articulate your experiences.
Observations
Observations are really important in counselling. They involve noticing both verbal and non-verbal cues from your clients.
Verbal Cues
- Speech Patterns: Listen to how your clients speak. Are they hesitant, rushed, or relaxed? Understanding their speech patterns can provide insights into their emotional state.
- Choice of Words: Notice the words they use. Do they often speak negatively about themselves or their situations? This can indicate low self-esteem or distress.
Non-Verbal Cues
- Body Language: Pay attention to body posture, eye contact, and gestures. Are they closed off, avoiding eye contact, or expressive with their hands?
- Facial Expressions: Watch for signs of sadness, anger, confusion, or happiness. Facial expressions can often convey what words cannot.
- Physical Appearance: Changes in physical appearance, such as dress or grooming, may reflect how a person feels about themselves.
Thoughts
Your thoughts provide a framework for understanding and interpreting what you observe. Reflecting on these thoughts can help you remain objective.
Analysing Behaviour
- Patterns and Themes: Consider recurring themes in your client’s dialogue. These might indicate core issues that need addressing.
- Hypotheses: Develop hypotheses about underlying issues. For instance, consistent negativity might suggest depression.
Countertransference
- Self-Reflection: Be aware of your own thoughts and how they might be influenced by your personal experiences.
- Biases: Check for any biases that could affect your judgement. Reflect on how these thoughts influence your interaction with the client.
Feelings
Your feelings can impact the counselling relationship. Recognising these emotions ensures that you do not let them interfere with your professional conduct.
Empathy
- Connection: Feelings of empathy can deepen your connection with the client. Empathy involves understanding and sharing the feelings of another.
- Boundaries: Maintain professional boundaries. While empathy is important, over-identification can blur the lines of the professional relationship.
Discomfort
- Triggers: Some client stories may trigger your own emotions. Reflect on why certain topics make you uncomfortable.
- Management: Develop strategies to manage these feelings, such as supervision or personal therapy.
Concerns
Concerns often arise from uncertainties or challenges faced during counselling sessions.
Ethical Dilemmas
- Confidentiality: Worry about maintaining confidentiality, especially if the client shares sensitive information that might require breaching confidentiality.
- Dual Relationships: Concern over managing dual relationships, where a client and counsellor have more than one type of relationship (e.g., professional and personal).
Competency
- Skill Level: Concern about whether you have the necessary skills and knowledge to support the client effectively.
- Supervision Needs: Identify areas where you might need additional supervision or training to improve your competency.
Reflective Practice
Reflective practice involves continuously evaluating your observations, thoughts, feelings, and concerns.
Journaling
- Record Keeping: Keep a reflective journal to document your sessions. Note down what went well and what could be improved.
- Insight Development: Writing helps in developing deeper insights into your professional practice.
Supervision
- Guidance: Regular supervision provides a platform to discuss and reflect on your experiences. Supervisors offer guidance and support.
- Feedback: Constructive feedback from supervisors helps in improving your counselling skills.
Case Example: Self-Reflection on a Session
Observation
During a session, I observed that my client, Jane, avoided eye contact and had a slouched posture. She spoke softly and with hesitation about her relationship issues.
Thought Process
I thought Jane’s body language and speech suggested she felt insecure and possibly fearful. I hypothesised that she might have experienced past trauma that made her wary of speaking openly.
Feelings
I felt a strong sense of empathy towards Jane. However, I was also aware of a slight discomfort because her avoidance reminded me of my own past experiences with insecurity.
Concerns
My primary concern was maintaining professional boundaries, given my personal connection to her feelings of insecurity. I also worried about whether I was adequately equipped to support a client with potential trauma.
Reflective Practice
- Journaling: I wrote about the session in my reflective journal, noting my observations, thoughts, feelings, and concerns.
- Supervision: In supervision, I discussed my discomfort and asked for feedback on handling similar situations in the future.
Conclusion
Describing your own observations, thoughts, feelings, and concerns when using counselling skills is essential for self-awareness and professional growth. By reflecting on these areas, you can identify your strengths and areas for improvement. It ensures that you provide the best possible support to your clients. Use this reflective practice as a continuous process to enhance your competency and effectiveness as a counsellor.
Example answers for 4.1. Describe own observations, thoughts, feelings and concerns when using counselling skills
Example Answer 1
During my session with Mr. Smith, I noticed he kept tapping his foot and had his arms crossed. He spoke quickly and seemed anxious. I thought he might be overwhelmed by his current situation. I felt concerned because his anxiety appeared quite severe. My major worry was whether I was skilled enough to help him manage his anxiety effectively. I reflected on this in my journal and discussed it with my supervisor to get some advice.
Example Answer 2
In my meeting with Mrs. Johnson, I observed that she avoided eye contact and her voice was very quiet. I thought she might be feeling very low or depressed. I felt a lot of empathy for her but also a bit frustrated because she wasn’t opening up. My main concern was how to get her to feel comfortable enough to share more. I wrote down my observations and feelings in my reflective journal and sought guidance from my supervisor.
Example Answer 3
While talking to David, I observed he was constantly fidgeting with his hands and kept looking at the clock. This made me think he was nervous and maybe didn’t really want to be there. I felt slightly anxious myself because I wanted him to feel at ease. My concern was figuring out how to make the environment more comfortable for him. I reflected on this session at the end of the day and planned to discuss it in my next supervision meeting.
Example Answer 4
During my counselling with Emily, I saw that she smiled a lot but her eyes looked sad. I thought maybe she was masking her true feelings. I felt a deep sense of wanting to help but also slightly worried about how to address such contradictions. My biggest concern was whether she would eventually trust me enough to reveal her true emotions. I documented my reflections and decided to approach future sessions with more open-ended questions.
Example Answer 5
In my interaction with Tom, I noticed he spoke in very short sentences and avoided discussing his family. I thought he might have had some bad experiences at home. I felt a sense of urgency to help him but also cautious about not pushing too hard. My concern was how to build trust so he could open up more. I noted this down in my journal and discussed strategies with my supervisor to encourage more open communication.
Example Answer 6
During my session with Rachel, I noticed she was dressed very casually compared to previous sessions and looked tired. I thought she might be going through a tough time. I felt a mix of empathy and concern for her well-being. My main worry was how to offer support that would help her cope better. I reflected on my observations and feelings, then planned to introduce some stress management techniques in our next session.
