Communication and Counselling Skills - Assignment Example

The objective of the assignment is identify and compare a range of counseling perspective like cognitive behaviour therapy and person centered therapy used in counseling interactions. This essay will try to critically analyse and evaluate the current ethical codes and boundaries that apply to professional counselling.Then will to evaluate the role and importance of communication and counseling skills within health and social care. Health and social care organisations play a huge role in improving and saving lives of the public. These organisations are very vital to the society at large since they take care of people’s health and try their best to save patients from losing lives due to diseases, stress, accidents and injuries(Robert & James, 2005). Health and care social organisations offer a variety of services to clients and therefore should have the appropriate technology and workforce to satisfy needs of their services users exceptionally well (Peter & Rose, 2007). The workforce employed or volunteering to work in these organisations must have the necessary skills and knowledge that match the duties and responsibilities that they will be allocated. Counseling services is one the many services provided for health and social care institutions. People employed or volunteering to execute these services in these institutions must have the necessary counseling and communication skills needed for them to execute their duties and responsibilities in an exceptional manner. In this essay, a range of counseling perspectives used in counseling interaction, current ethical codes and boundaries related to professional practice in counseling and the significance of communication and counseling skills within health and social care will be critically analyzed and evaluated. 1.0 Counseling perspectives used in counseling interactions Counseling perspectives used in counseling interactions simply mean the counseling attitudes that are applied in interactions between counselors and their clients (Stacy & Remy, 2007). The main three theories that explain these counseling perspectives are psychodynamic theory, theory of cognitive behavioral therapy and the theory of person centered therapy. In this essay only two theories will be covered and they are theory of person centered therapy and that one of cognitive behavioral therapy. 1.1 Person centered therapy Person centered therapy is also known as client centered therapy and was formulated by a humanist psychologist by the name of Carl Rogers in the year 1945 (Athman, 2006, p.15). It is a talk therapy which is non-directive in nature and among the widely used approaches in psychotherapy. The main reason why Carl Rogers developed this therapy is the need to give clients opportunities to express themselves and minimize chances of therapists guiding clients in a certain direction since chances are that they may guide them in wrong directions. Health and social careorganisation have a duty to satisfy needs of their clients fully and should give clients opportunities to make their own decisions (Richard & Ricky, 2007). This in one way or another facilitates client’s empowerment. In these organizations, mental health professionals mostly apply this approach to interact with their clients. They strive to develop a therapeutic environment which is non-judgmental, empathetic and conformable. These professionals give clients freedom to guide the whole discussions between them and do not in any attempt to drive clients in any particular direction. Therapists applying the person centered approach when offering counseling services to the clients are very supportive and accept clients the way theyare (Bernice& Balling, 2000, p.34). They are free from any form of discrimination and treat all clients equally. Regardless of the clients’ race, social class, gender or age, therapists offer all of them exceptional services each and every time they visit them.These professionals are driven by three qualities that enable them deliver quality services and these qualities are genuineness, emphatic understanding and unconditional positive regard.They interact with all their clients in an exceptional and professional manner and this gives employees opportunities to clearly and confidently explain themselves so that they can receive appropriate help. Upon understanding the needs of clients fully, the therapists give them advice that will play a huge role in meeting the needs of their clients. 1.2 Cognitive behavior therapy Cognitive behavior therapy usually abbreviated CBT is a form of psychotherapeutic treatment which assist patients have a clear understanding of the feelings and thoughts that influence behaviors. This therapy is widely used to treat various disorders that include addiction, depression, phobias and anxiety (Betty, 2004, p.13). This treatment gives patients opportunities to learn ways in which they can identify and change disturbing or destructive thought patterns which have a negative impact on behavior. Negative beliefs of thoughts make individual afraid of maximizing their abilities when conducting assigned activities and minimizes chances of them realizing their dreams. This theory is very vital in empowering employees who are depressed due to certain negative believes. For example, employees who don’t believe in their abilities due to lack of self-confidence gain advice that can empower them from therapists using this theory. Therapists in this case maximize their skills; knowledge and experience to help empower clients and assist them view the world in a positive way (Sheilah & James, 2007).For example, a person who has a low self-esteem has no trust in own appearance and abilities. This minimizes his chances of playing a significant role in his life and society at large. Therapists assist such a client believe in his abilities and potential step by step and in the process become an important person in the society. They begin with assisting such clients identify problematic belies. This stage is referred to as the functional analysis stage and is vital in enabling clients realize how feelings, situations and thoughts can lead to maladaptive behaviors. Therapists after this stage, therapists assist clients realize the actual behaviors that contribute to the problems they are experiencing (Peter & rose, 2007). In this type of therapy, therapists have the ability to identify problems that their clients are experiencing. In the process of their interactions, they ask clients certain questions that enable them realize the problems clients are facing (Betty, 2004, p.11).In some cases, therapists do not need to ask clients about their problems, they just observe their behavior. The skills and knowledge possessed by therapist and their understanding of cognitive behavior theory, they can tell what clients are experiencing by observing their behaviors. . For example in rehabilitation centers, professionals working in such centers get to know problems being experienced by the patients by closely monitoring their behaviors. After realizing clients’ problems, therapists give advice to the clients on how to overcome challenges they are facing and in some cases organize exercises that will assist them think positively about life situations and theirselves. 2.0 Ethical codes and boundaries related to professional practice in counseling British Association for Counseling and Psychotherapy (BACP) is an organization largely known in the United Kingdom and which many counselors are registeredwith(Peter & James, 2008). Theorganisation sets codes and conduct and standards that must be adhered with by all counselors and psychotherapists. All counselors and psychotherapists registered with this organization are highly qualified and therefore recommended to various clients globally (Stacy & Remy, 2007). The ethical codes and standards set by this organization are as follows; 2.1 Good quality care Counselors and psychotherapists have the responsibility to maximize their abilities in meeting needs of the clients. All counselors and psychotherapist registered by BACP need to execute their duties and responsibilities in an exceptional manner. British Association for Counseling and Psychotherapy requires all professionals registered with the organisation to give clients high quality services that will assist them solve their problems and in the process empower the clients (David & Rubin, 2006). These professionals areadvised to seek help from fellow mates in situations that are challenging and should not in any attempt to gives services that they are not well qualified in. Any counselor or therapist that offer low quality care is punished heavily by the organization in some cases, he might be sued for negligence. 2.2Maintaining competent practice All counselors and psychotherapist registered with the organisation need to work in accordance with all the professional requirements. The manager and leaders in health and social acre institutions are required to give counselors and psychotherapists training opportunities to keep on improving their skills and knowledge in order to be as competitive as possible (Robert & Larry, 1998).The professionals are required to keep on reviewing their work in order to apply corrective measures where they went wrong and in the process improve their competency. 2.3 Keeping trust Counselors and psychotherapists have to strive to gain and honor trust of clients (Ethan & Vane, 2007). They should treat client with all due respect and care and offer the exceptional services in terms of quality. The counselors should be attentive to all clients and listening carefully to their problems for them to give clients the services they require. They should not in any way discriminate clients and instead show respect to all clients. All professionals should explain to clients the nature of services they are being offered for the know what to expect. 2.4 No exploitation of clients All counselors and psychotherapist registered with the organisation should not in any way exploit clients when they are offering them services they are in need. They should not abuse the trust of their clients so as to gain emotional, financial or sexual advantage (Richard & Ricky, 2007).The organization highly prohibits sexual relationships with clients and any practitioner found to do so is severely punished. 2.5 Maintain privacy and confidentiality All counselors and practitioners are required to safeguard private and confidential information between them and their clients (Paul & Robert, 2008). They should not in any ways expose personal problems being experienced by clients to the public without client’s consent. Any practitioner that is found guilty of exposing private and confidential information of clients in the public without client’s consent will have to face tough consequences. 2.6 Equality and non-discriminatory treatment All practitioners are required to treat all patients equally and no single patients should be discriminated against on the basis of his gender, race, age or social class. Counselors and psychotherapists need to offer quality services to their clients and they should treat all clients equally (Peter & Rose, 2007). In case a practitioner is found guilty of unequal and discriminatory practices, he is punished accordingly and might be used as an example for other practitioners to see what will happen to them if they practice such behaviors. 3.0 Importance of communication and counseling skills in health and social care In each and every profession, an individual needs to possess relevant skills and knowledge in sufficiency for him to execute assigned duties and responsibilities appropriately (Dalton & Robert, 2005). Health and social care institutions are very sensitive since they deal with people’s health. They have duties and responsibilities to ensure that all patients’ lives are saved and health is improved. Therefore, all practitioners in these institutions need to possess the right skills and knowledge for them to offer quality services to patients. Communication and counseling skills come in handy for all counselors and practitioners in health and social care organisations in the process of executing their duties and responsibilities. Counseling skills are essential when counselors are executing their duties. They give them abilities to identify and easily identify the problems clients are suffering from and come up with various ways of assisting them solve the problems they are facing. Communication skills enable counselors to use the appropriate language and communication channel when communicating and keeping in touch with their clients(Sheilah & James, 2006)For counselors to give quality services to clients, the need to understand all their client’s problem by paying attention when clients are explain themselves. Good listening skills enable counselors to know the needs of their clients and come up with ways of satisfying their clients fully. Communication skills enable practitioners in health and social care organizations to identify challenges facing their clients by observing the body language and behaviors. This improves the speed of service delivery in these institutions hence patient’s needs are met on time. In conclusion, the main three theories that explain these counseling perspectives are psychodynamic theory, theory of cognitive behavioral therapy and the theory of person centered therapy. The main aim of person centered therapy is the need to give clients opportunities to express themselves and minimize chances of therapists guiding clients in a certain direction since chances are, they may guide them in wrong directions. The cognitive behavioral theory simply enables psychotherapists to assist clients identify reasons for their problems and advise them on how to counter such problems. They are able to know client’s problems by observing their behaviors. BACP outlines codes of conducts and standards that must be adhered to by all practitioners registered with organisation and some of themare; provision of quality services, keeping trust, safeguarding private and confidential information and much more. Communication and counseling skills are very instrumental to counselors and psychotherapists in their quest to offer quality services to clients they serve in their respective health and social care organizations as a way of working in a professional and ethical manner. References Athman, A. (2006). An inconvenient truth: Importance of communication skills and counseling skills in health and social care. Emmaus, PA: Rodale. Bernice, P. J., & Balling, R. C., Jr. (2000). The ethical practice: Rules and standards that guide health and social care practitioners. Washington, DC: Cato Institute. Betty. K. E. (Ed.). (2004). The standards and ethics of providing health and social acre services. Bethesda, MD: Wildlife Society. 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