Topic 2a : Focus on the Counselor Introduction

What do you hope to I want to be a counselor. I

become when you grow up? wish to help people solve
their problems and become
healthier and happy
individuals
Topic 2a : Focus on the Counselor Dysfunctional Reasons for Becoming a Counselor

Gladding (2004), has identified some dysfunctional motivators (the wrong reasons) for becoming a
counsellor including:

Loneliness and isolation-

Individuals who are lonely and
isolated because they don’t have
friends and seek them through
Vicarious coping - People who live counselling experiences A need for power - A desire
their lives through others rather for power, people who feel
than have meaningful lives of their frightened and impotent in their
own lives and seek to control others

Dysfunctional
reasons for
becoming a
counselor
Emotional distress - Having A need for love, narcissistic and
unresolved traumas that cause grandiose and believe that all
emotional distress problems are resolved through the
expression of love and tenderness

Vicarious rebellion persons who

unresolved anger and act out their
thoughts and feelings through their
defiant behaviours
Topic 2a: Focus on the Counselor How to Become a Counselor

How do I become a counselor?

Topic 2a: Focus on the Counselor How to Become a Counselor
Topic 2a Focus on the Counselor Characteristics of Effective Counselor

What are the criteria for

becoming an effective
counselors?
Topic 2a : Focus on the Counselor Characteristics of Effective Counselor Leave blank

A cluster of personal qualities and characteristics essential for being a

therapeutic person (Gerald Corey, 2005)

able to maintain authentic, sincere and have a sense of

healthy boundaries honest humour

feel alive, and make make mistakes and

Have an identity life-oriented choices are willing to admit
them

Respect and making choices that live in the present

appreciate own selves shape their lives

able to recognize and interest in the welfare

accept their own open to change of others
power
Topic 1B2: Focus on the Counselor Topic 1B 2d Characteristics of Effective Counselor Leave blank

A cluster of personal qualities and characteristics essential for being a

therapeutic person (Gerald Corey, 2005)

Skilful at reaching out.

• Using attending skills and creating conducive condition, the effective counsellor is able to
invite clients to open up and disclose to him or her.

Bring about trust and confidence from clients.

• By displaying empathy, genuineness and unconditional regards, the effective counsellor is
able to make clients feel that they are safe and able to trust the genuine counsellor.

Communicate caring the concern for the clients’ well being and progressive change.
• Clients will be respected and more willing to change when they feel cared for by the person
that they trust.

Do not take advantage of the clients by using them to satisfy own needs.
• Effective counsellors do not play the “good counsellor” simply to gain praise and respect from
clients. The counsellors also do not take advantage of any aspect of clients’ life such as their
position, status or expertise for the benefit of the counsellors.

Recognize when they are under stress, emotionally burnout or having personal problems.
• Counsellors facing relationship problems, burnout issue or problems at the workplace should
be aware of their emotional stability and their capability to conduct counselling at the
moment. They try to quickly resolve their own problems before helping with clients’ problem.
Topic 1B2 : Focus on the Counselor Topic 1B 2d Characteristics of Effective Counselor

A cluster of personal qualities and characteristics essential for being a

therapeutic person (Gerald Corey, 2005)

Able to re evaluate their own selves.

• Aware of their thoughts, feelings and behaviours in the process of counselling the client. Are
not afraid to share their concerns with clients at appropriate time and in appropriate manner.

Like and respect own self.

• The effective counsellors have positive self-image and feel good about them. They have the
“I’m OK” attitude, and feel confident about who and what they are.

Have expertise in the area they focus on.

• Counsellors working in school should have sound knowledge on children development and
concerns. In contrast, counsellors working with adults, divorcees, abuse victims and rape
victims, to name a few examples, each should have or acquire knowledge and expertise
about the clients they are going to work with.

Seek second opinion.

• The effective counsellors are not shy to learn and ask from experts, or make a referral when
knowing their limit.
Topic 1B2: Focus on the Counselor Topic 1B 2d Characteristics of Effective Counselor

A cluster of personal qualities and characteristics essential for being a

therapeutic person (Gerald Corey, 2005)

Do not impose their values on the clients.

• The clients are not judged as “good” or “bad”, “an angel” or “sinful” based on the counsellor’s
own standard. Admittedly being value-free is totally impossible, but the effective counsellor will
refrain from communicating his personal values that would interfere with the counselling process.

Practicing unconditional positive regard

• This will help counsellors view clients in good faith. The counsellor should not judge clients on their
thoughts, emotions or behaviours. The effective counsellor will try to understand (empathize)
clients’ predicament regardless of what is disclosed without classifying clients in any category
such as good or bad.

The effective counsellors have sound knowledge of theories about human behaviour and development.
• Such knowledge will help them deal with clients’ issues significantly better since in many case,
clients’ problems and conflicts are related to a developmental phase or principles of learning,
motivation or personality development

The effective counsellors are aware of current issues in the society

• Knowledge about the current political issues, social dilemmas, or cultural differences would assist
in understanding how such clients may be affected by the events. Such an open mind and view
will make the counsellors not focusing only on individual clients without taking into account how
the environment is affecting them.
Topic 2a: Focus on the Counselor Characteristics of Effective Counselor

• In conclusion, there are many required personal characteristics one need to

have in order to be an effective counsellor. These characteristics can be
naturally possessed or acquired through learning and training.
• An accredited professional program in counselling will train students about
these characteristics through rigorous theoretical and practical exercises
and demonstrations.
Topic 2a: Focus on the Counselor Characteristics of Effective Counselor

End of
“Focus on the Counselor”