Counseling Skills

Attending

Attending Skills:SOLER

–Squarely face the client

–Open posture

–Lean in on occasion

–Eye contact

–Relaxed and natural behavior

Non-Verbal Cues

• Validates or invalidates verbal communication– Bodily behavior– Facial expressions– Voice related behavior– Observable physiological responses– Physical appearance

Active Listening

• Listen where your clients are in their lives• Use to detect gaps, distortions, dissonance and themes• Listen to allow empathy• Listen with appropriate interruption

– Listening with your questions

• Listen to oneself• Listen without diagnosing

Empathy

“It means entering the private perceptual world of the other and becoming thoroughly at home in it. It involves being sensitive, moment by moment, to the changing felt meanings which flow in this other person, to the fear or rage or tenderness or confusion or whatever that he or she is experiencing. It means temporarily living in the other’s life, moving about in it delicately without making judgments.” (Rogers)

“It’s not what I would feel as me in your shoes, but what I would feel as you in your shoes”

Empathy

• Convey genuine warmth and caring• Affirm client strengths in the midst of

struggles• Come alongside

Empathic Response

• Give yourself time to think before responding• Use short responses, don’t over elaborate• Don’t mimic, remain yourself but allow yourself to feel what

they might be feeling

Empathy

• Don’ts – No response– A question– A cliché’ (pat answer)– An interpretation (diagnosis)– Advice– Parroting– Sympathy (agreement)

Probing and Encouraging

• Don’t ask too many questions• Ask questions that serve a purpose• Ask open ended questions that help clients talk about specific

experiences, behaviors, feelings• Keep the focus on the client• Ask questions that help clients move forward in the process• Don’t hesitate to check in with patient about how they are

handling the process.

Self Disclosure

• When do I use self disclosure?• How much is too much?• Why does the client want to know?• How might it benefit the client?• How do you feel about giving the information?• Why do you feel you should or should not give the

information?

Dealing with Resistance

• Address when recognized• Put responsibility on client

The Stages of ChangeTaken from Changing for Good by James Prochaska, John Norcross, & Carlo Diclemente

• Pre-contemplation• Contemplation• Preparation• Action• Maintenance• Termination