The Relationship between the Counselor and the Individual - Essay Example

Since the relationship between the counselor and the individual is going well, the counselor should not have "pretended" that they knew about it. Instead, it should have been a topic that was discussed in the session. Resolving the presenting issues is not possible because of the lack of knowledge.

A counselor in this situation must be careful because their ideas and values will be challenged by this practice. It is not likely that this woman will adopt the American way of being or that she will accept that she should not complete the practice. What the counselor can do is help her to examine the choice and all of the issues surrounding it but ultimately the client will need to make the choice. The counselor must be in an emotional space for themselves that allows the client to make her decision without coercion by the counselor.

As much as this is a terrible and demeaning practice for women, it is not something that is going to change overnight. If the counselor can assist the client emotionally in going through with the process or emotions after it (if she decides to go through with it) this would be the most beneficial way for both the client and the counselor. Female circumcision is not right and it is terrible for the individual but it is something that many women are culturally bred to do. Read More