Person Centered Practice Assignment Sample

Introduction: Person Centered Practice

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I am going to examine and assess my development in the use of three essential counselling micro-skills in this reflective journal. These abilities are crucial for developing fruitful therapeutic alliances and promoting favourable client results. I've decided to concentrate on the three micro-skills of empathy, reflecting and challenging. The growth and use of each micro skill throughout the subject are going to be discussed in depth after each micro skill's description.

Micro Skill 1: Empathy

Empathy, a fundamental counselling micro-skill, is essential for building a solid therapeutic relationship with clients (McCarthy et al., 2023). It demands the counsellor to truly put themselves in the client's shoes and understand their emotional experiences and views. Empathy in counselling calls for the counsellor's presence, focus and emotional sensitivity to the client's feelings. Active listening to the client's verbal and nonverbal clues is a requirement for effective empathy. The counsellor needs to be able to comprehend both the words being said and the emotions that are causing them. The counsellor establishes a safe and trusting environment for the client to express their most private thoughts and feelings without worrying about being judged by others by correctly mirroring the client's feelings.

Empathy is one of the fundamental elements required for therapeutic improvement, according to prominent counsellor Carl Rogers (Wilczynski, 2019). Congruence and unconditional positive esteem make up the other two fundamental requirements. These elements work together to create a compassionate and nonjudgmental environment that encourages clients to openly discuss their thoughts and feelings. Individuals may experience difficulties and chances for progress when they work to acquire the micro skill of empathy. Some individuals may initially find it difficult to fully relate to their clients' emotions without becoming overstimulated or projecting their own biases onto them. Individuals can, however, improve their sympathetic skills with consistent practice, self-awareness and feedback from peers and teachers.

An essential strategy for developing empathy is active listening. The counsellor conveys sincere interest in comprehending the client's emotional world by keeping eye contact, employing verbal and nonverbal clues to show participation and giving pertinent responses (Grondin et al., 2023). Additionally, allowing the clients to fully express themselves without interruption or quick fixes.

Reflection on the Development of Empathy

I've learned to value the role that empathy plays in therapy during this course. It was initially difficult for me to properly relate to my customers' experiences without imposing my preconceptions on them. However, I have been able to improve my sympathetic abilities via constant practice and self-awareness. Since active listening enables me to completely concentrate on the client's words and emotions, it has been crucial for me to develop empathy.

I've also discovered how crucial it is to pay attention to nonverbal signs, which frequently indicate hidden emotions. I convey my sincere interest in comprehending the feelings of my clients by maintaining eye contact, exhibiting open body language and making the right nods or gestures. My ability to build closer relationships with my clients and develop a higher degree of trust has been made possible by implementing empathy in my practice.

Micro Skill 2: Reflecting

Reflecting, a critical micro-skill in therapy, promotes deeper comprehension of the client's thoughts and feelings and acts as a facilitator for better communication. The counsellor would summarise and paraphrase the ideas and emotions the client has conveyed, fostering a sense of belonging and validation for the client (Levitt et al., 2022). Reflective comments from the counsellor show active participation and urge the client to continue their exploration of their experiences. Reflection serves a variety of significant purposes. First of all, it ensures that there are no misunderstandings and that everyone is on the same page, especially when talking about difficult or sensitive subjects. Furthermore, reflecting gives the client's experiences a sense of validity, fostering a therapeutic setting where they feel free to explore their emotions and ideas.

Clients also have the chance to reflect on themselves and develop an understanding of their feelings and mental processes when they reflect. The ability to stand back and get a fresh perspective on their experiences comes from hearing their thoughts reflected on them. Greater self-awareness and a deeper comprehension of any underlying challenges they may be dealing with result from this self-reflection. Reflecting closely relates to Carl Rogers' essential requirements for successful counselling (Mahon, 2023). Congruence is demonstrated by the counsellor when they accurately and objectively convey the client's feelings. Reflecting also demonstrates acceptance and comprehension of the client's feelings and experiences, which is an example of unconditional positive regard.

Counsellors grow increasingly adept at using the micro skill of reflecting as they continue to cultivate and use it. Clients respond favourably to reflective responses, feeling encouraged to further examine their feelings and support when they do so (Susman-Stillman et al., 2020). Counsellors who have greater experience become more sensitive to the subtleties of their clients' language and emotions, enabling them to reflect on them in more precise and powerful ways.

Reflection on the Development of Reflecting

My ability to reflect was weak at first and I frequently found it difficult to succinctly and accurately summarise the experiences of my clients. I regularly found myself awkwardly quoting, which resulted in miscommunications and a lack of connection with the clients. However, as the topic developed, I made a point of honing my reflective skills. As I rehearsed summarising my clients' words during role-playing sessions, I paid great attention to the language they used. I figured out how to organically insert reflecting sentiments into the discourse, giving the clients a sense of validation and understanding.

I found that by taking time to think, I was better able to comprehend my clients' experiences as well as their emotions. I was able to identify themes and patterns in their tales, which helped me to shape my interventions and the course of our sessions.

Micro Skill 3: Challenging

A crucial micro skill in therapy is challenging, which entails the counsellor gently confronting the client's views, thoughts, or preconceptions. The main goal of challenging is to inspire clients to evaluate various options and take on alternate viewpoints to promote personal development and self-awareness (Lauridsen & Munkejord, 2022). However, using this ability well takes finesse because it demands finding a delicate balance between assertiveness and empathy to make sure the client feels supported and unjudged. The counsellor has learned the value of creating a solid therapeutic connection before attempting any challenging interventions as part of the development of the micro skill of challenging. The foundation for open and honest communication is developing a connection with the client and building trust. The therapy process may be hindered by challenging behaviour that is viewed as intrusive or threatening in the absence of trust.

The counsellor has developed her capacity to develop respectful and illuminating challenges through a series of role-play exercises and supervised practice. By using this strategy, the counsellor empowers the client in their quest for personal development by letting them investigate their beliefs in greater depth and come to their conclusions (Overholser & Beale, 2023). The counsellor must be sensitive to the client's emotional condition and openness to investigation to effectively apply challenges. As the counsellor continues to hone this talent, she becomes more skilled at determining when it is appropriate to present difficulties and when to handle delicate subjects with tact.

The efficient utilisation of the challenge serves as a powerful catalyst for the clients of the counsellor to experience remarkable personal growth and self-awareness. The counsellor fosters a supportive, non-judgmental environment that encourages clients to reflect more deeply on their ideas and thoughts by offering polite, compassionate challenges (Musee et al., 2020). Clients can learn new information, confront constrictive ideas and create more flexible coping mechanisms through this approach. The counsellor is committed to honing the art of challenging as she continues her journey towards being a more skilful and sympathetic counsellor.

Reflection on the Development of Challenging

I was first apprehensive to use challenging in my counselling sessions for concern that it could make the client uncomfortable or show resistance. However, I discovered via class discussions and support from my classmates and teachers that mild and strategic challenges might help promote personal development and self-awareness. I gradually started to utilise more difficult tactics in my practice, but I was always careful to use terminology that was both helpful and non-threatening. I discovered that reframing strategies and open-ended questions were efficient ways to gently challenge my clients without being confrontational.

As I gained experience, I noticed that my clients responded favourably to timely challenges because they were forced to question their assumptions and consider alternative viewpoints. The ability to be challenged has proven to be a crucial skill for assisting clients in escaping negative thought patterns and learning more flexible coping mechanisms.

Conclusion

I've talked about my development in using three crucial counselling micro-skills throughout this reflective journal: empathy, reflecting and challenging. These abilities are essential for developing a welcoming therapy setting and encouraging fruitful client outcomes. My capacity to empathise with clients, offer reflective summaries and politely challenge their beliefs has significantly improved thanks to constant practice, self-awareness and feedback from colleagues and teachers. I am aware of how crucial it is to keep developing these micro-skills as I advance in my counselling career to be a more capable and sympathetic counsellor.

References

• Grondin, F., Lomanowska, A. M., Belleville, G., Yampolsky, M. A., Tremblay, M. P. B., & Jackson, P. L. (2023). Therapist and client perceptions of empathy in simulated teletherapy sessions. Behaviour & Information Technology, 1-16. Retrieved from:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/0144929X.2023.2214636
• Lauridsen, M. B., & Munkejord, M. C. (2022). Creating conditions for professional development through a trauma-informed and restorative practice. Social Work, 67(2), 135-144. Retrieved from: https://academic.oup.com/sw/article-abstract/67/2/135/6520630
• Levitt, H. M., Collins, K. M., Morrill, Z., Gorman, K. R., Ipekci, B., Grabowski, L., ... & Wadler, B. (2022). Learning clinical and cultural empathy: A call for a multidimensional approach to empathy-focused psychotherapy training. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, 52(4), 267-279. Retrieved from: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10879-022-09541-y
• Mahon, D. (2023). Evidence Based Relationships 4: Empathy, Congruence, Unconditional Positive Regard and Real Relationship. In Evidence Based Counselling & Psychotherapy for the 21st Century Practitioner (pp. 71-83). Emerald Publishing Limited. Retrieved from:https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/978-1-80455-732-720231007/full/html
• McCarthy, P., Gupta, S., & Burns, L. (2023). Cognitive Behaviour Therapy in Sport and Performance: An Applied Practice Guide. Taylor & Francis. Retrieved from:https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=YyKuEAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PT14&dq=McCarthy,+P.,+Gupta,+S.,+%26+Burns,+L.+(2023).+Cognitive+Behaviour+Therapy+in+Sport+and+Performance:+An+Applied+Practice+Guide.+Taylor+%26+Francis.&ots=iBOt6RChUX&sig=FaAnzy7NajUYkR-gTapBWGcE4gM
• Musee, P., Onyango, C. A., Yemaneberhan, A., & Ethridge, M. (2020). Intensified HIV Case Finding through Index Case Testing in Kenya: A Model of Success. Retrieved from:https://www.pedaids.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/aPNS-brief-v2.pdf
• Overholser, J. C., & Beale, E. (2023). Socratic Questioning and Guided Discovery. Psychotherapy Skills and Methods That Work, 74. Retrieved from:https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=lTjLEAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA74&dq=Overholser,+J.+C.,+%26+Beale,+E.+(2023).+Socratic+Questioning+and+Guided+Discovery.+Psychotherapy+Skills+and+Methods+That+Work,+74.&ots=OLSQ8wubJs&sig=lxF59pDa3TkvzWgxL3OrWhF-ago
• Susman-Stillman, A., Lim, S., Meuwissen, A., & Watson, C. (2020). Reflective supervision/consultation and early childhood professionals’ well-being: A qualitative analysis of supervisors’ perspectives. Early Education and Development, 31(7), 1151-1168. Retrieved from: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10409289.2020.1793654
• Wilczynski, J. (2019). Commonalities between client-centered therapy and how God’s grace works: Finding a path to client-centered Christian spiritual counseling. Cent. J, 24, 5-14. Retrieved from:https://cimans.com/article/commonalities-between-client-centered-therapy-and-how-god-s-grace-works-finding-a-path-to-client-centered-christian-spiritual-counseling-adpca