Being a Sympathetic and Professional Counsellor - Assignment Example

Feedback from instructors allows me to perfect my craft. It allows me to be the best “me” I can be. It also shows me sides of my personality that I might not otherwise know about. For me, that is very valuable.

When I first found out I would be required to demonstrate my counseling techniques and skills I was somewhat apprehensive. I wondered if I was ready to do that. I wasn't entirely sure if I would be able to measure up to the challenge, but as I thought about it more I began to realize that I had an inherent talent for counseling and that there was nothing to be concerned about. I believe I performed admirably during the demonstration. I realized there are a lot of things about myself that I don't often think about.

As I gave the demonstration I began to consider all the things that go into making a good counselor. There are so many aspects of a person's identity that play a role in them being sympathetic and professional counselors. As Bitar, et al, write in their fascinating study of counseling, family origin, for example, can often play a major role:

Family of origin experiences influenced the process in two main ways. First, several therapists chose theories that helped them work through their family-of-origin issues. Second, family-of-origin experiences seemed to sensitize several therapists to particular models. For example, one participant was drawn to a model that directly addressed an already resolved but previously painful family of origin dynamic (115).

There are many other things at play, such as personality type, as discussed above. As I went through the demonstration process, I began to realize that much of my life has been spent sheltered from the experiences of others. I began to realize that many new clients would have different approaches to counseling sessions. My time spent demonstrating my counseling skills may be quite similar to their experiences entering counseling for the first time and receiving feedback from me. As they receive feedback from me, regarding the counseling session, they may feel like new aspects of their lives and personalities are being opened and considered for the first time. A light may be shone on their inner life in a way they never expected. This can be both frightening and exhilarating.

In reality, this exercise made me realize that counseling is about give and take. It is about more than yourself. You need to be self-reflective and view yourself much as you would a client. You have to understand all of the things that make you tick before you can truly understand how a client is approaching their counseling session.