Advocate Stance of Curiosity As the therapist, it is our job to be curious and investigators because otherwise clients will not reveal enough. “Practitioners may find it helpful to ask questions informed by an awareness…” (Knudson-Martin & Mahoney, 2009, p. 59). By asking informed questions about how a client’s present “patterns of behavior” have been maintained, therapists can help them define what kind of relationships they want. Asking these educated questions, issues can become externalized and shown as an illustration of larger problems outside them and their control.
This curiosity is brought about through vulnerability and self-honesty by part of the client. (Knudson-Martin, 2013) When this vulnerability is present, the
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When we advocate for clients, our own biases and power privilege may come into play. (Garcia & McDowell, 2010, p. 105) Genuine participation is important for therapists to be able to see how biases can contribute to the dynamics of therapy. We should avoid taking the position of being the only advocate for a client, but rather have an understanding that resources must be obtained to assist families and individuals. Informed questions related to advocating for clients and to ensuring our biases do not come into play can assist in this process. As the therapist for a client, I also see him and his father for family sessions at a separate time. It is hard not to take sides with the client, because my own bias sees the father as codependent and trying to control and change his son. Therapy has truly been a test in being aware of my bias and not allowing them to come into the space.
Listen for Context
When clients tell stories, it is important to know what the context of these stories is so to fully understand where they are coming from. Context may not always be obvious and blatant to the client, let alone us as the clinician. When it is difficult to understand a client, it is important to know the context to better serve them. There are not many questions that can help a therapist listen for context, but there are some that can help in the process of clarifying. Questions asking for description and more detail about
The nature of therapist-client relationship and understanding the therapist’s role is vital in making sure that the client’s rights are not jeopardized. The client must be willing to trust the therapist. The therapist can earn the trust of the client will confidentiality guidelines that are established by requiring informed consent. The therapist-client relationship is based on counseling approach as well as relationship with the client. The therapist’s role is to understand the client’s needs, help them get their needs met mentally, and to develop the proper plan that fits the client’s needs. The therapist must fully
Kelley (1996) reported that after the therapist has a full understanding of the problem the deconstruction phase moves on to its second stage. The therapist and the client begin working together to break down the prevailing story in order to map the influence the problem is having on the client's life (Kelley, 1996). Mapping the effect of the problem is particularly important because it lays the foundation of the new story line (Monk, Winslade, Crocket & Epston, 1997). According to Monk, Winslade, Crocket & Epston (1997) typically when the effect of the problem is discussed with the client they begin to feel as if their story has been heard. They
Disparate treatment is intentional discrimination. It exists when individuals are treated differently in a similar situation. It is based on considerations of age, race, color, disability status, religion, gender, or national origin.
I have recently undertaken client work as part of the academic requirement of this course and have experienced first-hand the important role which self-reflection plays when a client’s description of their problems, struck a similar chord within my own life. The identification of this set of maladaptive behaviours and rules of thought have only been identified and addressed due to participation of this Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Postgraduate Diploma and my initial work as a Trainee Therapist.
A counselling relationship is likened to being on a journey - a beginning, middle and end (Smallwood, 2013). During the beginning phase the client develops sufficient trust in the counsellor and the relationship ‘to explore the previously feared edges of his awareness’ (Mearns and Thorne, 1988, p.126).
In addition to the many other topics therapists do not discuss and keep to themselves,
The therapist’s function is to aid the client in the exploration and discovery of his or her own inner resources.”
A therapist also treats the clients by asking socratic questioning. For example, Will you feel different if you are active? Consequently, the therapist will have the client to complete an easy task that is on the same schedule; therefore, the client can cooperate constantly with their therapist versus doing nothing. Some therapist used therapeutic strategies to treat the client regarding their negative thinking along with asking the client to provide reasoning such as why he/she is bashing themselves. At times, the therapist will ask questions that will make the client think am I over criticizing myself for this event unlikely, if it was my friend would I think of the event being so critical. It is possible for a client to feel heavy emotions that can be very painful in a therapy session that the therapist asks him/her to talk more about the situation to help ease the pain this technique will lift a bit of pressure from the client until the symptoms are taking care of eventually. It has been told that behavior therapy has been effective in the population of color people.
Therapists basically explore avoidances, thoughts, feelings, relationships and life experiences. A patient sometimes may be aware of his condition but not be able to escape or explain it. Through the analysis of a patient’s early experiences of attachment figures and how they have affect him, he will be able to free himself from the bonds of past. To accomplish that, the psychodynamic therapy, focuses on interpersonal relations, on the affect and expression of emotions helping the patients through discussion to describe feelings which are troubling them and they do not recognise. Patients usually attempt to avoid distressing thoughts and feelings. At some cases, they present avoidance, defence and resistance by missing sessions or change the topic when certain ides arise. They also view the therapist with suspicion because they may have feelings of disapproval, rejection or even abandonment. This kind of therapy based on research has shown that leads to on-going change, even after it has ended.(Jonathan Shedler, American Psychologists;University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine; February–March 2010)
While it is important to understand the social injustices that many clients face, it is also critical to know exactly why these injustices occur. It is also important that counselors attempt to change the structures that are responsible for the oppression of mental health clients. This social justice movement is sometimes referred to as professional counseling’s fifth force (Ratts, D’Andrea, & Arredondo, 2004)—in other words advocacy counseling.
can put you in the mindfulness moment with the client. By being a mindful listener as a therapist,
‘Clients often are able to provide a theory or an idea of cause, blaming past experiences for behaviors of which they are ashamed. The therapist listens to their explanations however are concerned more with their willingness to accept responsibility for their future behavior and the achievement for their attainable goals’ (Milner & O Byrne, P162). Furthermore, by ‘Acknowledging the clients paradoxical strategies have the effect of empowering clients of their perfectly valid cautious, more fearful concerns about change and leaving them to operate out of their arguments as to why change should be attempted’ (Cade, B. p156).
Therapy is often said to be just as much of an art as it is a science. Namely because there is so much that goes into it. To create a successful therapeutic relationship, there are some key elements that need to be a part of the formula. Each therapist may end up having a different recipe, but it is important that a therapist knows what ingredients he or she may need and what they can add for it to be successful. Throughout this paper, this writer will discuss characteristics she hopes to embody as a therapist, as well as the values and skills she wishes to bring with her into a therapeutic relationship.
Federn (1961) states that individuals separate their internal experience from the external world through psychological boundaries. In addition, these boundaries allow an individual to maintain the distinction between oneself and others (Mahler, Pine, & Bergman, 1975). In the context of therapy boundaries between the therapist and client provide an environment that fosters safety and trust enabling exploration. This dynamic places mental health professionals in a position of power over the client (Simon, 1992). This power differential creates a responsibility for the therapist to create and maintain appropriate, professional boundaries. When speaking about departures from commonly accepted clinical practice it is necessary to distinguish between boundary crossing and boundary violations. Whereas boundary crossing may or may not benefit the client, boundary violations have the potential to seriously harm the client or the therapeutic process (Simon, 1992). It is important to note that either the client or the therapist has the ability to cross or violate boundaries. However, the duty to put the client’s therapeutic care and goals first lay with the clinician alone.
In the vignette, it is mentioned that the client Julie, a 34-year-old African American female, is calling about her son 12-year-old son Derik, who seems to be having an adjustment issue relating to her recent marriage to John. Although Julie indicated that she is calling on behalf of her son’s adjustment problem, she spends most of the time talking about her dissatisfaction at work and within her romantic life. When approaching this case through a solution-focused lens, I would stress to her that anyone who is concerned about the problem situation (Derik’s adjustment problem, although it is apparent there are other issues) should attend the sessions. In the initial intake phase, little information is taken, understanding that the client is the expert in what needs to change; as the therapist, my role is to help her access the strengths she already possesses.