RIONA MARIE D.

MAGBUTAY MAED-EM
(MA028 EM 209)
MARCH 27, 2021
REACTION PAPER ON
ATTENDING, EMPHATY, AND OBSERVATION SKILLS IN COUNSELING
BASIC COUNSELING SKILLS

In today's scenario, counselors work with diverse population having diverse set of
needs. Honing a solid set of essential skills makes for an effective, successful mental health
practitioner.

Main skills needed to practice as a counselor are as follows:

1. Good communication skills

2. Good listener
3. Genuine interest in others
4. Empathy
5. Should have deep knowledge about the subject.
6. Critical thinker
7. Business management
8. Good sense of humor

Apart from above skills, is patience, as a rule people change very slowly, the
occasional breakthrough aside, often making no appreciable progress at all for weeks and
months. Understanding different types of interviews like evaluation vs. support is also
important. The Ability to get beyond defense mechanisms, adhere to treatment plans, agency
goals, professional standards. Openness to clinical supervision, work with team, keep up with
paperwork. Grief counselors, drug counselors, those working with sex offenders, wife
beaters, children, etc. have different skill sets. Group, individual, family settings require
different skills.

Moreover, to be a good counselor you have to be able to be objective and leave your
own agenda outside of your practice. You also need to recognize whose problems you are
dealing with and not allow theirs to become yours. If you find that this is difficult then have
the sense to take it to supervision, likewise if you are out of your depth reach out for support.
Never seek to give advice based on your own ways of dealing with situations, you must
always support your client to find their own solutions.

Finally take care of your own mental health.