Professionals And Practitioners In Counseling PDF

Professionals And Practitioners In Counseling Counselors: Who are they?  Counselors – are professionally trained individuals who help clients experiencing difficulties by engaging them in counseling process. Roles of counselors  As Counselors – they assist clients develop their maximum...

Professionals And Practitioners In Counseling Counselors: Who are they?  Counselors – are professionally trained individuals who help clients experiencing difficulties by engaging them in counseling process. Roles of counselors  As Counselors – they assist clients develop their maximum potential by establishing a professional relationship characterized by warmth, trust, and confidentiality. During counseling sessions, they assist their clients in their journey of “self-awareness, self-acceptance, decision-making and problem-solving.  As Coordinators – they may serve as a “liaison between clientele and the resource person or agency for the purpose of collecting and dissiminating information and providing necessary services”.  As Consultants – they are seen as “an objective party” who may be asked to give expert opinion and suggest helpful strategies without direct contact with the identified client. Roles of counselors  AsConductors of Activities – they may be involved in planning and direct implementation of certain activities which can assist clients’ development.  AsChange Agents – they may act as a “catalyzer, process helper, solution-giver, resource linker, and stabilizer” Functions of Counselors  Counseling – it is a process that assists clients in their personal development.  Assessment – it is a process of systematically gathering information about the clients to get a “well- rounded” depiction of them.  Career Assistance – it is the help given to clients in exploring their career options.  Placement and follow-up – placement focuses on helping the client find their “niche” while follow-up aims for client satisfaction. Functions of Counselors  Referral – it takes place when counselors need to find and transfer their clients to other experts or counselors with specialized training who may be able to help the clients more.  Consultation – a process wherein counselors confer with a third party to help clients in addressing their needs.  Research – one function that counselors need to cultivate because engaging in this process can yield data which could then help in the advancement of the counseling profession.  Evaluation and accountability – evaluation is assessing the effectiveness of the activities and intervention and the efficiency of the personnel involved. Accountability is ensuring that programs and personnel are responsive, appropriate, and relevant.  Prevention – a counselor function that focuses on ensuring that problems are prevented by empowering clients with knowledge and awareness Competencies of Counselors  Knowledge – counselors undergo academic preparation and training to build up their knowledge of counseling techniques and theories.  Skills – counselors, apart from having mastery of theories and techniques, should also possess several abilities or skills to effectively help their clients.  Interpersonal skills –communicate, listen effectively and observe nonverbal behavior.  Conceptual ability – remember client's information, understand and assess problem, think possible consequences of actions, and see and connect present problem to a larger picture.  Ability to understand and work within social systems – client’s relationship with others Competencies of Counselors  Micro skills in counseling by Ivey and Galvin:  Attending behavior  Asking open and close-ended questions  Reflection feelings and meanings  Influencing skills  Client observation skills  Structuring the interview  Encouraging, paraphrasing, and summarizing  Focusing on problems  Confrontation  integrating Competencies of Counselors  Attitudes – counselors are expected to facilitate the establishment of a working alliance between them and their clients.  Curiosity and inquisitiveness – natural concern for people and know details about them  Ability to listen – actively listen to people  Comfort with conversation – at ease in conversing with people  Empathy and understanding – the ability to put one’s self in another’s shoes  Emotional insightfulness – comfortable in dealing with range of feelings  Introspection – the ability to look within the self and reflect  Capacity for self denial – the ability to put aside personal concerns and feelings  Tolerance of intimacy – ability to establish and maintain emotional closeness  Comfort with power – ability to hold power and maintain detachment  Ability to laugh – capability to inject humor when things go wrong Competencies of Counselors  Competency areas in counseling (McLeod, 2003)  Personal beliefs and attitudes – refers to counselors’ capacity to accept clients’ beliefs and values and clients’ potential change  Personal soundness – refers to counselors’ capacity to be aware of how counseling sessions are affecting them and to accept the notion that they , too, can be in need of counseling  Openness to learning and inquiry – refers to counselors’ interest in the clients’ lives and to search for new knowledge which can advance the practice of the profession Career Opportunities for counselors Ethical Principles for Counselors Autonomy – freedom Beneficence – doing good and preventing harm Fidelity – faithfulness Justice – fairness Nonmaleficence – no inflicting harm Unethical Behavior in Counseling  Violation of confidentiality  Exceeding one’s level of professional competence  Negligent practice  Claiming expertise  Imposing one’s values on a client  Sexual activity with client  Dual relationships  Questionable financial arrangement  Improper advertising  Plagiarism when doing research Guidance and Counseling act of 2004 (RA 9258) Should have a valid certificate of registration, valid professional identification card or special permit Should not make representation to the public as licensed guidance counselor when his/her license has been revoked or suspended Should now allow anybody to use his/her license as guidance counselor