Egans Three-Stage Model - Essay Example

Egan's Three Stage Model Contents Introduction 2. Main body a. Overview of the Model b. Establishing Relationship i. Story ii. Blind spots iii. Leverage c. Goals d. Endings 3. Conclusion 1. Introduction The Skilled Helper Model was introduced by Gerard Egan, in 1975, in his book called 'The Skilled Helper: Model, Skills, and Methods for Effective Helping.' The art of helping in this model is not only practical but also that its methods are operatively, and not mechanically, determined. The skilled helper is to lead the client towards helping himself overcome a variety of problems. First, they are identified about the clarification of the problem and then a strategy to modify that situation. They are to be the deciding factor to the solution to their problems. This is not only confined to counsellors and psycho-therapists but also to hypno-therapists, social workers, service workers and the like. The theory behind the creation of the model is simple as apparently; official methods of working the way up will lead us to a more effective evaluative counselling with better results. The three-stage model uses the skills of problem-solving, listening attentively, asking about the emotions, reflecting upon feelings and many such simple skills. Stage I of the model is focused about understanding the present circumstances the client is in. This is done by getting them to tell the scenario in detail so as to have basic knowledge of the problem i.e. the 'story'. The 'blind spots' are then identified obstructing the client from comprehending the situation clearly he is in, along is recognized with the help of some cognitive behavioural elements. Stage II explores the possible progress in the situation along with determining the 'change agenda' for the aims which are to be then achieved. The helper helps the client in accomplishing by giving him constant courage in the face of the outcomes. Finally, Stage III is all about the helper suggesting the 'possible actions' that can best help in achieving the desired 'goal'. However, the particular plan created to reach the goals can be a demanding phase of the model putting together even the small steps required and hence, may take a long time. 2a. Overview of the Model While being focused upon skills in stages, it also provides useful guidance in helping clients discover the ways to get what they want. As Egan stated that 'a helping model is like a map that helps you know what to do in your interactions with clients. At any given moment, it also helps you orient yourself, to understand 'where you are' with the client and what kind of intervention would be most useful'. (Egan, 1990) Egan's Three Stage Model is based on the assumption that the client can be helped if guided in overcoming the problem through action, changing it while becoming aware oneself and facing the feared aspects. The client should be aware that he is responsible for his own actions and that putting away things for later or burying them is not going to make them vanish. Humans can easily learn the model and use it for their own selves to overcome the self-defeating behaviour through sensitivity. Thinking and feeling always has some amount of impact on the actions of oneself and that affirmation does not always help. Although, the overall development of the relationship may be that the stages may not come in the order i.e. Stage II may precede Stage I and so on. Nevertheless, Stage I of the process is the basis for the development of the relationship between the client and the counsellor. Egan's model is loosely related to Carl Roger's Person-Centered Approach advancing into a future-centered approach by brainstorming a preferred scenario and setting a goal. Therefore, it can be said that it is more of an improved model rather than a different approach from that of Roger's as it revolves around more than just the present situation. Moreover, Egan has emphasized that the model is for the client; that is there for the client to make it come into use and not the other way round. The model is motivated practically and that the stages are principles and the model is not an inflexible framework because it uses creativity. 2b. Establishing Relationship 'Ideally, the contract is an instrument that makes clients more informed about the process, more collaborative with their helpers, and more proactive in managing their problems. At its best, a contract can help client and helper develop mutual expectations, give clients a flavour of the mechanics of the mechanics of the helping process, diminish initial client anxiety and reluctance, provide a sense of direction, and enhance clients' freedom of choice.' (Egan, 1990) Egan has not only provided the skilled helper guide but has also advised about setting up a clear border suited to both the involved persons. The main aspect of establishing the relationship between the helper and the client is that it should be accentuate a feeling of equality; from the way the consulting room is designed, the seating arrangement to building a connection of trust. Comparatively, according to Rogers he summarized what he sensed were three core conditions for any effective therapeutic relationship: genuineness, acceptance and understanding. These three conditions supposedly help in a way that they enhance and make the whole process feel more human and real by being genuine. Consequently, respecting the client as a separate person who has his own feelings makes building the relationship easier. Lastly, the understanding involved in identifying the feelings the client experienced makes it fine for the client to reveal himself more openly. 'When these conditions are achieved, I become a companion to my client, accompanying him in the frightening search for himself, which he now feels free to undertake.' (Rogers, 1961) Rogers believed that the person will discover the ability within himself to draw on this relationship for growth. These conditions alone are not enough to bring about the change 2b i. Story The first phase of Stage I of the model is telling the story, a description of the problem which the client is faced with. The basis of effective reaction is listening attentively, to reflect upon the feelings and checking understanding, asking receptive questions, interpreting or paraphrasing correctly and summarizing the situation. Although, this phase of the stage may seem simple enough, it is the key to successful problem-solving and requires patience from the counsellor. Effective listening is defined as SOLER, an acronym developed by Egan for the various skills needed to be done at the same time. Furthermore, verbal and nonverbal languages, both define the way a person is feeling. Non-verbal communication especially helps if the client is hesitant, resistant, confused or not being honest. Empathy helps in discovering the client's perceptions rationally and non-judgmentally in an unsympathetic way when listening appropriately. Paraphrasing and reflecting feelings go hand in hand in helping to clarify the point by using better words to define the situation. Hesitant clients can be encouraged if paraphrasing is used; concluding the point in an appropriate way along with connecting the feelings emanating through them. Also by paraphrasing, dishonesty is revealed by also repeating the things said between the lines. It can be used as an important tool for blind spots. Likewise, the feelings woven around a statement if understood empathetically compose a feeling of trust and are non-subjective. Questioning is important in a way that the counsellor need to be open to get the information that he is looking for but doing so demands a more than just a personal acquaintance with the person. Therefore, irrelevant questions or questions guaranteed to put the client in an uncomfortable position should be avoided. It should always be in mind that asking questions is likely to happen but only about the things already said and asking improper questions is likely to close the conversation. Similarly, summarizing the problem after the client has spoken help in considering which way the client wants to move forward. It may take time to fully understand the feelings associated with the situation yet for the counselling process to be effective empathetic understanding of the problem is necessary. 2b ii. Blind Spots The second phase of this stage is the task of explicating and understanding the blind spots created by the client. Blind spots stop the clients from understanding themselves as they really are; their dilemma and the unknown opportunities. Determining the level of awareness the client has about his problem is one of the important issues in finding out the amount of success or the failure he had when dealing with them. As Egan stated: " a disservice if all that we do is help them to identify and explore self-limiting blind spots. The positive psychology part of challenging is helping clients transform their blind spots into new perspectives and helping them translate these new perspectives into more constructive patterns of both internal and external behaviour." (Egan, 2002) There are half a dozen skills involved for use once story phase is over these include: immediacy development help overcome the barriers of awkwardness; advanced empathy makes a stronger bond; recognising recurring patterns and/or themes when talking about certain things and challenging the blind spots. Others include self-disclosure, alternate frames of reference and timing and pacing important for extracting crucial information. The role of the skilled helper at this point is to 'identify blind spots and develop new, more useful perspectives on both problem situations and unused opportunities.' (Egan, 1990) 2b iii. Leverage When clients seek help it is because they want change to occur but are not aware of what that change may represent and on what particular parts of lives should they focus on. Helper help these people in a way as Egan stated, so as to 'identify and work on problems, issues, concerns, or opportunities that will make a difference' (Egan, 1990). Guiding the clients to help focus on significant issues in order of priorities or through leveraging. Leverage is dealing with a problem which is linked to other problems the client is facing resulting in an overall help. Hence, overcoming the big problems first help ease down the pressure from overcoming the smaller ones in the long run for the client. Leveraging not only takes the worst off the person but also the rapport develops much more strongly between the client and the helper. Egan used the phrase 'problem-solving accomplishments' (Egan, 1998) to refer to the word priority. Possible actions, preferred strategies to use and carrying out the plan are the three aspects Egan considered during this phase. Conversely, counsellors may need to help clients make decisions, simplify and decide on goals and lastly, guide them in accomplishing those goals. Sometimes, the client is totally unaware of the things they imply when saying particular things about something that is affecting them unknowingly. Negative self-talk, then again, is another way of perceiving how the person thinks about himself; any patterns of similar behaviour about certain things means that there is a connection between them. In addition, as clients can be averse at this stage, for this reason the therapist could help them discover a fresh outlook, assess disconcerting manner of thinking and observe the client's excuses, indirectness, misrepresentations and deniable self-statements. Stage I is revolves around helping the client in ascertaining priorities and creating action plans to put strategy into practice. Thus, a highly-developed compassionate relationship is important to unveil the hidden fears and reservations as they are needed to be challenged and not put aside. If done in the right way, working with clients in a way that they may possibly progress by giving a reaction to the problems they have to face. c. Goals Here Egan suggested that for the people to consider what strategies to use, the ones balancing jeopardy against the likelihood of success are beneficial. Egan stated that 'it involves a great deal of analysis, including clarification of goals, a solid knowledge of personal values, and the ability to rank a variety of strategies according to one's values, plus the ability to predict results from a given course of action. Even more to the point, it demands challenging the shadow side of the problem, chosen goals and the ineffectual courses of action that have been adopted in the past.' (Egan, 1998) Thus, not setting the goals only risks the outcome of the whole counselling process. Egan (1998) gave some useful suggestions, but for them to work properly, these have to be taken out of a personal framework and thought about with regard to human interests. SMART is an abbreviation for Specific Measurable Actionable Relevant Timely. This means that the goal should be specific in order to be clear about the expectations; that the measurable goals helps in the course of evaluation of the client. Actionable basically means that client can achieve some part of the goal at least and relevant means that the goals set must be based on priority and finish on a specific time period. d. Endings Endings are important because they assure. The first difficulty is in choosing the time to end the counselling. Preferably a mutual decision between the client and the helper is god but sometimes it may not be possible. There might be unexpected circumstances making further counselling unfeasible. Along with being aware of achieving something when knowing that now the clients don't need the helper, there is a sense of loss. There is a possibility of the client relying too much on the helper and hence, refuse to deal with them by themselves. Or it may be that the client puts off working for the relationship so as to increase the time together. But going over the process all over again and reflecting what has been observed and achieved it may become more constructive in counselling and beyond. There will always be an end to the counselling because a feeling of making as much progress as possible arises. Likewise, resolving of the issues and an established relationship along with the promise that you will use counselling again if the need arise. Being aware of the help you had will help in realizing that it's now time to move on. Endings bring up out of the ordinary matters in themselves, linked to loss, alteration and freedom. 3. Conclusion The findings about workings of the model suggest that although one may need a helper at first, this model once learned, can be used in almost any kind of problem, big or small. The approach is person-centered and that alone is enough to open up a mind and think in the light of the self-drawn drawbacks and opportunities. This model has become a basis for many of today's established and renowned skilled helpers. Egan went somewhere others had gone before, but he improvised it in a way that it is not confined to helpers alone anymore. Anyone can use the model and benefit from it any day and in any sort of problem. Moreover, the stages in this process only help to enhance the positive features of this model. The findings about workings of the model suggest that although one may need a helper at first, this model once learned, can be used in almost any kind of problem, big or small. The approach is person-centered and that alone is enough to open up a mind and think in the light of the self-drawn drawbacks and opportunities. This model has become a basis for many of today's established and renowned skilled helpers. Egan went somewhere others had gone before, but he improvised it in a way that it is not confined to helpers alone anymore. Anyone can use the model and benefit from it any day and in any sort of problem. Moreover, the stages in this process only help to enhance the positive features of this model. According to Egan, the shadow side deals with the unmentionable and are not always negative; they can be helpful. Assessment needs to be done at all the three stages of the counselling process and in predicting the difficulties beforehand. The shadow sides of the model are all the things that significantly and constantly affect the output and the success of the helping process. But these are hidden, they need to be found out and dealt with. Egan regarded his methods to be more about avoidance than alleviation. He assumed that the challenge for psychology is to escape out of the text books and into societal surroundings. He also supposed that clients were either in a distressed situation or not as successful as they thought they ought to be. In addition, during counselling practice, working the way up through the stages is guaranteed to establish a trustworthy relationship between my client and myself. This will not only help me in my professional life but also in my personal life. I will be aware of how any person is feeling by observing his or hers behaviour, body language, tone of voice and the overall feelings associated with them along with asking questions at the right time. References - Egan, G., 1990. The skilled helper: a systematic approach to effective helping. 4th edition, UK: Brooks/Cole Pub. Co. - Egan, G., 1998. The skilled helper: a systematic approach to effective helping. 6th edition, UK: Brooks/Cole Pub. Co. - Egan, G., 2002. The skilled helper: a problem-management and opportunity-development approach to helping. 7th edition, UK: Brooks/Cole Pub. Co. - R. Carl, 1961. On becoming a person: a therapist's view of psychotherapy. 1st edition, New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. - Sutton, J & Stewart, W., 2002. Learning to counsel. 2nd edition, Oxford: How To Books Ltd. Read More