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To What Extent Is a Counsellor More Than Just a Good Listener? in Your Discussion We Would Like You to Draw on Key Elements That Form the Practise of Counselling. in Addition We Would Like You to Consider Your Own

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To what extent is a counsellor more than just a good listener? In your discussion we would like you to draw on key elements that form the practise of counselling. In addition we would like you to consider your own qualities and skills and identify what you need to do to progress in the profession. This century has seen a rise in counselling services. We have counsellors for specific diseases, addictions, depression, divorce, name the problem and we seem to have a ‘therapist’ for it. So what are counsellors? Do we need them? Is that not what friends and family are for, to listen and help us through difficult times? Is a counsellor just a ‘paid friend’? Can anyone be a counsellor? After all anyone can listen, we do it all the …show more content…

the time and length of session, cost, what is on offer and how things will progress. Some perspectives prefer strong boundaries whereby psychoanalysts interact less, letting themselves be the blank canvas for the client to project onto. Though it may be that, as therapy progresses, boundaries may be relaxed. Humanistic counsellors tend to become more involved and less rigid in their approach. It is important to get a verbal agreement on the boundaries to preclude misunderstandings on both sides. Key values within the framework also include respecting the dignity and rights of the client; integrity is essential for trust and respect and a sound knowledge base constantly updated ensures appropriate techniques or interventions to help diminish the suffering and distress of the client. Confidentiality is crucial, the client must be aware that he is free and safe, in a non-judgemental environment, to express all views and feelings knowing permission will be sought to share anything unless there is a fear of danger to self or others. Working within an ethical framework like this will help both client and counsellor to achieve the most from the relationship. Empathy, good listening, and appropriate nonverbal communication coupled with good language skills are developed alongside being able to divorce personal beliefs in order to accept how the client looks at the world.

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