Counseling Practice Considerations for Mandated Clients - Assignment Example

REACTION PAPER 1 AND 2 Name Institutional Affiliation Date Table of Contents Introduction 3 Reaction Paper One 3 Counseling Practice Considerations for Mandated Clients 3 Counseling Techniques & Strategies Appropriate for Mandated Clients 4 Reaction Paper Two 5 Ways in which anger might manifest within counselling environment 5 Techniques that can be used to help clients learn to manage their anger 7 Conclusion 7 References 8 Introduction Many times, the counseling process may require assessing of clients who have been forced to attend the session. Although forcing them may result to unwillingness to participate or negotiate during the session, it is the responsibility of the counselor to apply best techniques and practices to make the process successful. Involuntary clients, in most cases, may want to avoid giving some information at the initial stages of assessment. Therefore, this research explores different literatures in providing answers to various counseling subjects covered in Reaction Paper 1 and 2. Reaction Paper One examines the counseling practice considerations that are specific to mandated clients as one of the population groups. The second part of it entails the counseling techniques that are most appropriate for application under mandated clients. Further, Reaction Paper Two explains the ways in which anger manifests itself within the counseling environment and outlines the techniques that are applied in order to assist clients learn to master their anger. Reaction Paper One Counseling Practice Considerations for Mandated Clients It is an ethical obligation to keep the identity of the mandated clients private and explain to the clients the limits of that confidentiality. This enables them to be open for discussion (Corey & California State University, 2013). The counseling institution should ensure safety measures are in place to protect both client and the counselor. Motivation may be required for some mandated clients because it quickens the change process and increases the willingness to cooperate. Engage the client in counseling because the process of counseling relies mostly on the openness and motivation of the client to change. Some clients may be motivated positively to change by being told of an agency that can impose the negative effects on their lives as a result of their behaviors. Some clients are more encouraged to stop their habits because their agency may treat them harshly. Counseling Techniques & Strategies Appropriate for Mandated Clients Mandated clients may be unwilling for counseling. Therefore, when working with them, it is important to use a number of counseling techniques and strategies in order to achieve success. For example, Sommers-Flanagan & Sommers-Flanagan (2004) argue that is appropriate to discuss openly with the client the rationale behind counseling and make an acknowledgement that the goals of the referrer may be different from those of the client. What is more, the counselors should acknowledge that it is not mandatory for a client to agree with the goals that have been set, for instance, seizing substance abuse. Further, it is wise to acknowledge that the change process may be slow and difficult but in the end bears fruits. What is more, inquire how the client feels about the idea of changing from the condition that has led to mandated counseling. Another strategy is to maintain a non-judgmental approach that shows respect for their decision to come up with choices in life. The counselor can also assist the client to come up with small but achievable and meaningful goals because it may be too overwhelming for the client to just quit from the behaviour under question. What is more, focus on the effort and progress made by the client and encourage them when they experience any sort of success, however small it may seem. Assure the client about the confidentiality of the entire process and clear the air and identify client interests that are legitimate. A number of possible interventions can also be brainstormed at the beginning of the counseling session. Reaction Paper Two Ways in which anger might manifest within counselling environment Anger is a stimulated state whereby an individual mind’s attention is geared towards a potential threat and consequently the body responds by preparing and orienting itself to fight or run (Rae, Marris & EBSCOhost, 2006). It is caused by triggering stress hormones including adrenaline so that one’s blood pressure and heart rate rise making the breaths to get faster and deeper. In the process, an individual’s blood ends up being to the muscles from the organs. During this time modern intelligence disappears as thinking becomes derelict and more primitive. There are several reasons why mandated clients would become adamantly resistant during counselling sessions. Some of them could be acting out of boredom or fear while others might do it out of frustration, lawlessness, confusion or maturity. Some mandated clients also import their former negative experiences in the previous cancelling sessions or hopelessness mixed with family related issues. Communities have also significantly contributed through lack of resources, isolation or lack of opportunities and recreational activities. It is worth noting that during counselling sessions, mandated clients can express their anger in a number of ways. Some of them are discussed below. Verbal aggression is one of the ways through which mandated clients express their resistance in a counselling environment (Rae & EBSCOhost, 2006). This is a common occurrence especially where the client is assertive, dogmatic and patronizing. Such kind of clients would always want to control the discussion and what is to be said. In many occasions they also want to choose who says what because they their counterparts to say only what is pleasant to their ears. They thus end up talking than the counsellor or their counterparts. Unless the counselling moderator intervenes authoritatively and strongly, these clients would go unhealed. Threats or intimidation is another common resistance technique during mandate clients counselling. This habit is manifest where the client refuses to open up to the counsellor may be because they are quite aware that they are on the wrong. What they do in most cases is to hurl insults or use abusive language in the process of discussion as a way of running away from the nitty-gritty and substance of the discussion. Such clients also promise to do awkward things in case they do not receive support in the process of counselling. They therefore expect the counsellor to defend them or else they promise to fight physically or by word of mouth. In most cases, their counterparts find themselves on the receiving end. Another common resistance behaviour that is manifested during mandate counselling is non compliance or silence by the client (Crawford, Edwards & Kidd, 2013). These are clients who refuse deliberately to open up and talk or contribute in the counselling meeting. Some of them also intentionally refuse to comply in the session through relaying their contribution. When a client is expected to tell the truth or give facts of what led to the issues at hand and they decline to do so, it becomes very difficult on the part of the counsellor to help them. Talking or opening up is one of the most important steps towards solving a pending issue regardless of how enormous it could be or irrespective of the current state of affairs. This follows therefore, that helping a client who exudes such a resistance technique is such a big challenge to overcome. Techniques that can be used to help clients learn to manage their anger In order to manage mandated clients due to their resistance and resilience to yield up, several techniques can be used to engage them positively in order to help them get rid of their situations. One of the most powerful tools to use is to clear the air by setting the stage for negotiations (Crawford, Edwards & Kidd, 2013). The counsellor should ensure that he is clear on the reason why the client is undergoing assessment. He should endeavour to define the statutory framework under which he will conduct the assessment. The central idea when dealing with mandate clients is to direct all focus on them. It is also imperative to identify and appreciate the client’s legitimate interests by asking them why they have the urge to resist. This entails what they are bound to lose when they participate in the process of assessment. This also encompasses identification of the non-negotiable parts for intervention. This calls for creativity on the part of the counsellor with regard to the kind of intervention plans. It is also important to negotiate and agree on the progress criteria in terms of the treatment plan the counsellor intends to monitor. Conclusion Working with mandated clients can be frustrating, especially those who have chosen to risk the negative effects of their behaviour. However, the worker or counselor has to respect the ultimate goal of that client and the decisions they have chosen. The most important output is when the client experiences the positive experience of feeling respected, not judged and finding a person to listen to them. This enables the client to be open and willing to seek further counseling in the future in order to address the issue affecting them. References Top of Form Corey, G., & California State University. (2013). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy. Australia: Brooks/Cole / Cengage Learning. Top of Form Crawford, M., Edwards, R., & Kidd, L. (2013). Taking Issue: Debates in Guidance and Counselling in Learning. Hoboken: Taylor and Francis. Top of Form Rae, T., Marris, B., & EBSCOhost. (2006). Teaching Anger Management and Problem-Solving Skills. London: SAGE Publications, Limited. Bottom of Form Bottom of Form Bottom of Form Sommers-Flanagan, J., & Sommers-Flanagan, R. (2004). Counseling and psychotherapy theories in context and practice: Skills, strategies, and techniques. Hoboken, N.J: J. Wiley & Sons. Read More