Tutorial 6

Discuss any THREE qualities that a counsellor needs to maintain the effectiveness of
professional counselling sessions. Support each answer with ONE relevant example.

Introspection:
Introspection involves the counselor's ability to reflect on their thoughts, feelings, biases, and
reactions in relation to their clients and the counseling process.Counselors engage in
introspection to increase self-awareness, identify personal triggers or biases, and maintain
objectivity and professionalism in their interactions with clients.Introspection enables
counselors to recognize and address any personal biases or limitations that may impact their
ability to provide effective counseling. It promotes authenticity, empathy, and cultural
competence in the therapeutic relationship.
Example: Following a challenging counseling session, a counselor takes time to reflect on
their reactions and responses to the client's disclosures. They explore any personal biases
or assumptions that may have influenced their interactions with the client and consider how
they can better support the client in future sessions. By engaging in introspection, the
counselor enhances their self-awareness and professional growth, ultimately benefiting their
clients' therapeutic outcomes.

Ability to Listen:
The ability to listen refers to the counselor's capacity to attentively hear and understand the
client's verbal and nonverbal communication without interruption or judgment. Effective
listening involves actively engaging with the client's words, tone of voice, and body
language, demonstrating empathy, validation, and acceptance. By listening attentively,
counselors create a safe and supportive space for clients to express their thoughts, feelings,
and concerns openly. This fosters trust, rapport, and collaboration in the counseling
relationship.
Example: During a counseling session, a client shares their struggles with anxiety and
self-doubt. The counselor listens intently, maintaining eye contact and nodding
empathetically to convey understanding and support. By actively engaging with the client's
experiences, the counselor creates a sense of validation and acceptance, encouraging the
client to explore their emotions further.

Empathy:
Empathy involves the counselor's ability to understand and share the client's emotions,
perspectives, and experiences, demonstrating compassion, validation, and acceptance.
Empathetic counselors actively listen to clients, validate their feelings, and provide
nonjudgmental support, fostering trust, rapport, and collaboration in the counseling
relationship.By demonstrating empathy, counselors create a supportive and validating
environment for clients to explore their concerns, gain insights, and work towards positive
change. Empathy enhances communication, understanding, and connection in the
therapeutic process.
Example: A client expresses feelings of guilt and shame about past mistakes during a
counseling session. The counselor responds with empathy, validating the client's emotions
and expressing understanding and acceptance. By acknowledging the client's feelings
without judgment, the counselor creates a safe space for the client to process their
experiences and begin the healing process
Tutorial 7

Discuss the limitations of ethical codes for counsellors. Provide TWO suggestions to improve
or overcome the limitations.

Ethical codes do not address cross-cultural issues

Enforcing ethical codes is difficult.
Limitations of ethical codes for counselors:

1.
Limitation:
Ethical codes for counselors face challenges in enforcement due to reliance on self-policing
and subjective judgment. This approach can lead to inconsistency and uncertainty, as
counselors may choose not to report violations or enforce mechanisms inconsistently,
depending on their own discretion. Without a third-party monitoring system, accountability
becomes challenging, potentially compromising the effectiveness of ethical guidelines in
ensuring client welfare and trust in the counseling profession.

Suggestion:
To address this limitation, providing more detailed and context-specific guidance is essential.
By offering clear and specific guidelines along with case studies illustrating ethical principles
in action, counselors can be better equipped to understand and apply ethical codes
consistently across diverse situations. This approach promotes accountability, reinforces the
importance of ethical conduct, and ensures the integrity of counseling practices, thereby
safeguarding clients' well-being and maintaining trust in the profession.

Second Limitation:
The second limitation of ethical codes for counselors arises from cultural differences,
particularly regarding confidentiality. While Western ethical standards prioritize
confidentiality, in some Eastern cultures, involving family members in counseling decisions is
common practice, which may breach confidentiality. This cultural variation challenges the
universality of ethical codes and highlights the need for flexibility in their application.

Suggestion:
To address this challenge, ethical codes should embrace cultural sensitivity and flexibility.
Counselors should avoid rigid adherence to Western norms and instead engage in open
communication with clients about confidentiality preferences. Seeking informed consent
before disclosing information to family members is crucial. Moreover, ongoing cultural
competency training enables counselors to navigate diverse cultural contexts effectively.
This approach upholds ethical principles while respecting the cultural values and
preferences of clients, ensuring counseling practices are inclusive and respectful of cultural
diversity.
Explain the steps to take in working through potential ethical dilemmas as a professional
counsellor.
Your client appreciates the given counselling sessions and wants to give you a gift (fruit
basket), as a counsellor, will you take it? Justify your choice. (Refer to Kod Etika Kaunselor –
Bahagian A).
A.10.e. Receiving gifts Counselors are aware of the challenges of receiving gifts from clients
and are aware that in some cultures, small gifts are a sign of respect and a way to express
gratitude. When deciding whether or not to accept a gift from a client, the counselor should
consider the therapeutic relationship, the monetary value of the gift, the client's motivation for
giving the gift, and the counselor's motivation for accepting or rejecting it.
Yes/No depends on:
- Client's motivation of giving the gift
- Counsellor's motivation of receiving the gift
- Value of the gift
- The therapeutic relationship

Ans : Yes, I would accept the gift (fruit basket) from the client.
1. **Client's motivation of giving the gift**: If the client's intention in offering the fruit basket is
to express genuine gratitude for the counseling sessions and they perceive gift-giving as a
cultural norm or personal expression of appreciation, then as a counselor, I would accept the
gift. Understanding the client's love language and cultural practices allows me to recognize
the sincerity behind the gesture, strengthening our therapeutic alliance and affirming the
progress made in our sessions.

2. **Counselor's motivation**: My motivation as a counselor in accepting the fruit basket is

solely driven by the recognition of the client's genuine appreciation and the desire to honor
their cultural practices. By accepting the gift in this context, I am not seeking personal gain or
benefit but rather acknowledging the client's effort to express gratitude, thereby fostering a
positive therapeutic environment built on trust and mutual respect.

3. **Value of the gift**: Although the fruit basket holds symbolic value in expressing gratitude,
its monetary worth is secondary to the sentiment behind the gesture. Fruit baskets are
commonly regarded as thoughtful and practical gifts, typically not extravagant or financially
burdensome. Given its modest nature, the acceptance of the fruit basket does not
compromise the integrity of the counseling relationship or create undue influence.

4. **The therapeutic relationship**: Accepting the fruit basket reinforces the strength of the
therapeutic relationship by validating the client's efforts to express gratitude and
appreciation. By respecting the client's cultural norms and practices, I demonstrate empathy
and understanding, which can deepen rapport and enhance the effectiveness of our
counseling sessions. The acceptance of the gift maintains a collaborative and supportive
atmosphere, conducive to the client's growth and well-being.