POST 1: DAVID

In reading through this week’s literature and watching the media, I have learned about the core conditions that a counselor should possess and the characteristics of building a strong therapeutic alliance with the client. The textbook states that the core conditions a counselor should possess includes empathetic understanding, respect and positive regard, genuineness and congruence, concreteness, warmth, and immediacy (American Counseling Association, 2012), and Dr. Seligman (2012), suggests that genuineness, empathy, trustworthiness, congruence, optimism, and persuasiveness, are characteristics of a strong therapeutic alliance. I feel that I possess all these characteristics, and in addition to these, I feel that I am fair, a good listener, and treat everyone equally. However, I may struggle with immediacy as I am not good with confrontation. I have always considered the word confrontation as a negative connotation. To me, it relates to criticism and growing up I was criticized a lot, so I am not a fan of being criticized or criticizing others. I do understand that criticism can be helpful depending on how it is used, and I am trying to get better with it. In addition, my persuasive skills could use some improving as well. I was surprised that trustworthiness was not included in the core conditions though. I believe that a counselor must have this quality as it is a characteristic of the therapeutic alliance.

I feel that the skills I possess will help me with social change in a multicultural environment because in a multicultural environment, listening to the client is especially important to realizing and understanding the differences that are present. Treating everyone fairly and equally, regardless of their differences, is also important, Additionally, working in a correctional setting has helped me to understand multicultural issues that may present with clients. I feel that working with these individuals will allow me to be an effective social change agent by helping them reintegrate back into society and hopefully keep them out of the correctional system.

References

Seligman, L. (2012). The Therapeutic Alliance. Laureate Education. Retrieved from Walden

University on May 31, 2020.

American Counseling Association. (2016). Counseling and psychotherapy: Theories and

interventions (6th ed., pp. 3–34). Alexandria, VA.

POST 2: CHRISTIAN

In this week’s required readings and media made available I have learned about the characteristics of building a strong therapeutic alliance, core conditions a counselor should uphold, and different strategies to build a helping relationship with your clients. Norman Gysbers a counseling scholar who has 55 years of experience in the counseling field, states that the core qualities a counselor should have starts with understanding what the term core qualities actually means. Gysbers (2014) states core qualities of a counselor are essential in building the therapeutic alliance with clients. These core qualities determine the nature and behavior of individuals, which include purpose, risk taking, perseverance, patience, and resilience (Gysbers, 2014).The textbook describes and lists the core conditions a counselor should possess which are empathetic understanding, respect and positive regard, genuineness and congruence, concreteness, warmth, and immediacy (Capuzzi et al., 2016). To have a strong therapeutic alliance Dr. Seligman states that counseling professionals need to encompass six characteristics. These characteristics Dr. Seligman suggests counseling professionals should have is genuineness, empathy, trustworthiness, congruence, optimism, and persuasiveness or otherwise known as the acronym GETCOP (Seligman, 2012).

Although I believe I possess these characteristics and qualities as well as being culturally aware and being an attentive listener I feel I may come with a struggle of self-disclosing information about myself to a client if the situation permits to do so. I am a person who does not self-disclose to anyone that I do not have a close relationship with such as family or close friends. So having a chance to make my client feel some type of relief because they are not alone in what they are experiencing will be a little challenging for me even if it is for the good of the client. I will have to break out of that shell of mine and remind myself I do not have to tell them my whole life story, but the part that is relevant to the situation at hand. In addition to that I feel I may also have a struggle with having a possible confrontation with a future client. Although confrontation is a strategy used to add depth and enhance the counseling relationship, I am hesitant to use the strategy in fears of not being able to use it as a platform of learning and challenging my client of the words and actions they display in the counseling session.

With the skills I possess I believe they will help me continue to be a social change agent in a multicultural setting. Being culturally aware, treating people equally and fairly, and knowing your biases are important when counseling those who are different from you. Having worked at a transitional housing facility I have come across a plethora of diverse individuals where I had to learn from them about their backgrounds and their culture. Having the chance to work around different individuals in a transitional setting inspires me to understand the world and people who struggle with mental health and addiction.

Capuzzi, D., Stauffer, M. D., & Gross, D.R. (2016). The helping relationship: From core dimensions to brief and integrative possibilities. In D. Capuzzi & M. D. Stauffer (Eds.), Counseling and psychotherapy: Theories and interventions (6th ed., pp. 3-33). American Counseling Association.