How is the technique implemented?
The technique of self-talk requires that the counselor has already applied a humanistic approach of some type to assure that the client will use this approach in a positive regard. Countering is the name of the method used to reduce negative self-talk. Counter consists of four steps: 1) Identify and explore 2) What is the purpose of negativity? 3) Develop counters and lastly 4) Practice and review counters. Once the client has developed positive self thoughts they can become a focal point for further counseling sessions.
What type of situation can the technique be applied to?
Situations warranting positive self-talk are situations involving clients with low self-esteem. If an individual is expressing self-defeating thoughts and concerns, the counselor can use this technique to help cheer on that student about the positives. In contrast, this technique can be used to help individuals of usually high self-esteem that have fallen into a rut or are dealing with some sort of block to their feelings of value. This technique could help someone discover how to defeat those thoughts and begin feeling themselves again.
What is your opinion of the technique?
I see the self-talk method as a mechanism most useful when dealing with a client with either mood disorders or issues of incongruence. While I think it is critical for individuals suffering from these issues, I find it of minimal use outside of that scope.
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Technique 16: Role Play
How is the technique implemented?
Role-playing is very similar to aforementioned techniques in this blog. It also follows a six stage process that involves: Warm-up, scene setting, selecting roles, enactment, feedback, and reenactment. Essentially, the client is brought in and tells the counselor their issue. They set up a similar scene and the client picks a role. That role can either be of them self or of the person they are having conflict with. The client and the counselor then act that out, give feedback, and possibly reenact using that feedback to see how an effective interaction would go.
What type of situation can the technique be applied to?
Role playing can be used in similar fashion as the previous blog entry, behavior rehearsal. This gives the opportunity for the client to prepare a reaction for a situation that they know they may eventually have to deal with. In addition to that use of role play, this technique can be used to simulate a conversation with someone who the client wants to express an opinion to.
What is your opinion of the technique?
I see role play as an effective technique that should be a part of every guidance counselors arsenal. Giving your student or client the opportunity to see how their feeling are being conveyed and the potential responses they can be facing for that belief or feeling helps them to become better adapted individuals.
Role-playing is very similar to aforementioned techniques in this blog. It also follows a six stage process that involves: Warm-up, scene setting, selecting roles, enactment, feedback, and reenactment. Essentially, the client is brought in and tells the counselor their issue. They set up a similar scene and the client picks a role. That role can either be of them self or of the person they are having conflict with. The client and the counselor then act that out, give feedback, and possibly reenact using that feedback to see how an effective interaction would go.
What type of situation can the technique be applied to?
Role playing can be used in similar fashion as the previous blog entry, behavior rehearsal. This gives the opportunity for the client to prepare a reaction for a situation that they know they may eventually have to deal with. In addition to that use of role play, this technique can be used to simulate a conversation with someone who the client wants to express an opinion to.
What is your opinion of the technique?
I see role play as an effective technique that should be a part of every guidance counselors arsenal. Giving your student or client the opportunity to see how their feeling are being conveyed and the potential responses they can be facing for that belief or feeling helps them to become better adapted individuals.
Technique 15: Behavioral Rehearsal
How is the technique implemented?
The technique of behavioral rehearsal is carried out by having the client participate in what would be consider typical daily functions in an attempt to decrease the anxiety surrounding these actions. The counselor in this situation plays the role of the person who the client is anxious about interacting with. The counselor's goal is to get the client to speak in a strong voice and emphasize the importance of their feelings. The four major steps of the process are as follows: 1) Prompt client practice of modeled behavior 2) Enhance client motivation 3) Provide feedback 4) Shape behavioral approximations to desire behavior.
What type of situation can the technique be applied to?
This technique can be used in helping a client deal with an abusive or bullying individual. When the client is confronted by a situation where they will need to be around an abusive person they can rehearse how they will behave ahead of time in order to be prepared for that interaction. Another example of application of this technique is when the client must tell someone news and they are afraid of how they will respond. Ex. A teenage girl telling her parents she is pregnant.
What is your opinion of the technique?
I find this technique to be incredibly useful and something I use internally on a consistent basis. By preparing an individual for a student they feel uncomfortable, you help to ease their nerves going into that situation. While this technique is not an end-all, cure-all it does limit the anxiety when the client feels confident and is prepared to behave a certain way.
The technique of behavioral rehearsal is carried out by having the client participate in what would be consider typical daily functions in an attempt to decrease the anxiety surrounding these actions. The counselor in this situation plays the role of the person who the client is anxious about interacting with. The counselor's goal is to get the client to speak in a strong voice and emphasize the importance of their feelings. The four major steps of the process are as follows: 1) Prompt client practice of modeled behavior 2) Enhance client motivation 3) Provide feedback 4) Shape behavioral approximations to desire behavior.
What type of situation can the technique be applied to?
This technique can be used in helping a client deal with an abusive or bullying individual. When the client is confronted by a situation where they will need to be around an abusive person they can rehearse how they will behave ahead of time in order to be prepared for that interaction. Another example of application of this technique is when the client must tell someone news and they are afraid of how they will respond. Ex. A teenage girl telling her parents she is pregnant.
What is your opinion of the technique?
I find this technique to be incredibly useful and something I use internally on a consistent basis. By preparing an individual for a student they feel uncomfortable, you help to ease their nerves going into that situation. While this technique is not an end-all, cure-all it does limit the anxiety when the client feels confident and is prepared to behave a certain way.
Technique 14: Modeling
How is the technique implemented?
Perhaps the most important part of implementing a modeling technique is to explain the client what the benefit of modeling this behavior is. If client does not know why the behavior will help then they are far less likely to to take the method serious. For example, deep breathing is a well-known strategy to relieve stress and anxiety. However, if you are dealing with a younger client and they are unaware of that, they may not see why this technique is beneficial. The most common method of modeling is deep, slow-breathing.
What type of situation can the technique be applied to?
This techniques usefulness expands to nearly any situation that causes stress. Anytime the client needs to slow down and aim to think more clearly, deep breathing can be beneficial. Perhaps the biggest situation that deep breathing is sought in is the realm of test taking. Other examples include almost any negative emotion: anger, frustration, disgust, sadness, etc..
What is your opinion of the technique?
Personally, I'm not a huge fan of this technique. My opinion may be biased, but from my background in psychiatric services, older individuals mock this process and younger individuals don't understand it.
Perhaps the most important part of implementing a modeling technique is to explain the client what the benefit of modeling this behavior is. If client does not know why the behavior will help then they are far less likely to to take the method serious. For example, deep breathing is a well-known strategy to relieve stress and anxiety. However, if you are dealing with a younger client and they are unaware of that, they may not see why this technique is beneficial. The most common method of modeling is deep, slow-breathing.
What type of situation can the technique be applied to?
This techniques usefulness expands to nearly any situation that causes stress. Anytime the client needs to slow down and aim to think more clearly, deep breathing can be beneficial. Perhaps the biggest situation that deep breathing is sought in is the realm of test taking. Other examples include almost any negative emotion: anger, frustration, disgust, sadness, etc..
What is your opinion of the technique?
Personally, I'm not a huge fan of this technique. My opinion may be biased, but from my background in psychiatric services, older individuals mock this process and younger individuals don't understand it.
Technique 11: The Empty Chair
How is the technique implemented?
The empty chair is another technique that requires the establishment of rapport before being used. There is a general six step process how this process works. First, let the client know why you are using this technique. Second, deepen the experience. That is, find out the strongest feeling the client has. Third, express that feeling. Next, reverse or counter express the two sides of the conflict. Fifth, switch roles. Sixth, create an action plan.
What type of situation can the technique be applied to?
The empty chair technique can be especially useful whenever a client is struggling to see the side of the person they are having a conflict with. This technique is probably more beneficial to adolescent clients than any other because they are more willing to express their emotions and perhaps see the other side quickly.
What is your opinion of the technique?
I think the empty chair technique is only as effective as the counselor-client relationship. If the client is unwilling to share and does not respect the counselor, this technique will be mocked. However, if there is established rapport the counselor may get down to the real substance of the conflict by hearing the client express emotion.
The empty chair is another technique that requires the establishment of rapport before being used. There is a general six step process how this process works. First, let the client know why you are using this technique. Second, deepen the experience. That is, find out the strongest feeling the client has. Third, express that feeling. Next, reverse or counter express the two sides of the conflict. Fifth, switch roles. Sixth, create an action plan.
What type of situation can the technique be applied to?
The empty chair technique can be especially useful whenever a client is struggling to see the side of the person they are having a conflict with. This technique is probably more beneficial to adolescent clients than any other because they are more willing to express their emotions and perhaps see the other side quickly.
What is your opinion of the technique?
I think the empty chair technique is only as effective as the counselor-client relationship. If the client is unwilling to share and does not respect the counselor, this technique will be mocked. However, if there is established rapport the counselor may get down to the real substance of the conflict by hearing the client express emotion.
Technique 8: Spitting in the Soup
How is the technique implemented?
Spitting in the soup requires that the counselor and client have already established strong rapport. The basic use of this technique is to scan a student's relatively successful performance for one flaw that may be major or minor. Once that flaw is indicated, it is the counselor's job to point it out and show the client that perhaps altering that behavior would be beneficial. It is important when using this technique that the counselor is non-confrontational and accepts the students decision whether to alter behavior or not.
What type of situation can the technique be applied to?
This technique is limited in the scope of how it can be applied. Two situations that I've found it particularly useful are when you are dealing with academically successful students with bad habits, or when someone has a condition that they are mismanaging. For example, gifted students succeed academically in the classroom. However, often times they will develop maladaptive behaviors socially because of their lack of social awareness. As a counselor, spitting in the soup can help the student realize that perhaps their maladaptive behavior is unnecessary.
What is your opinion of the technique?
While this technique lacks a large range of uses, I like it in the few situations its applicable. As a guidance counselor, you want the respect of your students. But at times it is also important to give them reality checks to make sure they understand how negative behaviors may result in negative outcomes.
Spitting in the soup requires that the counselor and client have already established strong rapport. The basic use of this technique is to scan a student's relatively successful performance for one flaw that may be major or minor. Once that flaw is indicated, it is the counselor's job to point it out and show the client that perhaps altering that behavior would be beneficial. It is important when using this technique that the counselor is non-confrontational and accepts the students decision whether to alter behavior or not.
What type of situation can the technique be applied to?
This technique is limited in the scope of how it can be applied. Two situations that I've found it particularly useful are when you are dealing with academically successful students with bad habits, or when someone has a condition that they are mismanaging. For example, gifted students succeed academically in the classroom. However, often times they will develop maladaptive behaviors socially because of their lack of social awareness. As a counselor, spitting in the soup can help the student realize that perhaps their maladaptive behavior is unnecessary.
What is your opinion of the technique?
While this technique lacks a large range of uses, I like it in the few situations its applicable. As a guidance counselor, you want the respect of your students. But at times it is also important to give them reality checks to make sure they understand how negative behaviors may result in negative outcomes.
Technique 7: Acting As If
How is the technique implemented?
The acting as if strategy is used whenever a guidance counselor seeks to lead a student to their own resolution. The counselor simply asks the client to act as if they had the skills necessary to handle their conflict. After the client replies, the counselor can take their feedback and gear that towards manageable steps the client can make in the process of resolving conflict.
What type of situation can the technique be applied to?
This technique can be used when the client has low self-esteem or self-limiting thoughts. By presenting the client with the opportunity to act how they want to act, you may encourage them that they are capable of these things but they just lacked the confidence. This is where the counselor intervenes and tell the client that they must be willing to change in order to do something about their problems. This technique can be used to help the student with a previously mentioned technique called flagging the minefield. By acting as if, the client can see their strengths and weaknesses and mark potential future issue and work towards improvement in those categories.
What is your opinion of the technique?
I like this technique to help the student gain a sense of self-confidence. If a student is shy or clearly is unwilling to confront an issue because they are timid, this strategy can help them to see that they can handle these issues as long as they can envision them.
The acting as if strategy is used whenever a guidance counselor seeks to lead a student to their own resolution. The counselor simply asks the client to act as if they had the skills necessary to handle their conflict. After the client replies, the counselor can take their feedback and gear that towards manageable steps the client can make in the process of resolving conflict.
What type of situation can the technique be applied to?
This technique can be used when the client has low self-esteem or self-limiting thoughts. By presenting the client with the opportunity to act how they want to act, you may encourage them that they are capable of these things but they just lacked the confidence. This is where the counselor intervenes and tell the client that they must be willing to change in order to do something about their problems. This technique can be used to help the student with a previously mentioned technique called flagging the minefield. By acting as if, the client can see their strengths and weaknesses and mark potential future issue and work towards improvement in those categories.
What is your opinion of the technique?
I like this technique to help the student gain a sense of self-confidence. If a student is shy or clearly is unwilling to confront an issue because they are timid, this strategy can help them to see that they can handle these issues as long as they can envision them.
Technique 6: I-Messages
How is the technique implemented?
I-messages are a unique technique that gives the client the opportunity to apply a pronoun, typically I, to their statements in order to assume responsibility. They are commonly used to express or discover feelings. By changing a statement to be read with the word I in it the client is then put in a situation where they can control either their emotions or actions. These messages can help to begin a more complex dialogue as well. This technique is typically implemented in a manner that the client gives a feeling, a related behavior, and the consequence of that behavior.
What type of situation can the technique be applied to?
This technique is especially useful when a client feels stuck and needs directed towards a proactive role in becoming unstuck. A variation of I-messages are we-statements which gives a group connotation to the exercise. The we-statements are an effective exercise in not placing blame onto another person.
What is your opinion of the technique?
I like this technique as a way to gain insight on the client's emotion. Once an understanding is built regarding how the client feels, this step serves as an essential step into the action stage of counseling.
I-messages are a unique technique that gives the client the opportunity to apply a pronoun, typically I, to their statements in order to assume responsibility. They are commonly used to express or discover feelings. By changing a statement to be read with the word I in it the client is then put in a situation where they can control either their emotions or actions. These messages can help to begin a more complex dialogue as well. This technique is typically implemented in a manner that the client gives a feeling, a related behavior, and the consequence of that behavior.
What type of situation can the technique be applied to?
This technique is especially useful when a client feels stuck and needs directed towards a proactive role in becoming unstuck. A variation of I-messages are we-statements which gives a group connotation to the exercise. The we-statements are an effective exercise in not placing blame onto another person.
What is your opinion of the technique?
I like this technique as a way to gain insight on the client's emotion. Once an understanding is built regarding how the client feels, this step serves as an essential step into the action stage of counseling.
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Technique 5: Flagging the Minefield
How is the technique implemented?
This technique is generally used as an end of the counseling process. The technique is meant to be used as a method to mark potential future setbacks. Once these setbacks are flagged the counselor and client can work together in order to mold a strategy to handle these situations in the future. This technique relies on the fact that the counselor has provided the student with the tools necessary to prevent future setbacks. The primary reason for this is so that clients can transfer their in session counseling to the external world.
What type of situation can the technique be applied to?
The noticeable issue with this technique is that it is only useful at the end of the counseling relationship. On the positive note, it allows the client to see the progress they've made and the skills that they have learned through the process of flagging potential dangers. This method is exceptionally useful at empowering the student.
What is your opinion of the technique?
I like this technique because it allows both the client and counselor to reflect on the work done in their relationship. This allows the counselor to see where he/she can improve in their implementation of coping techniques to their students.
Technique 4: Miracle Question
How is the technique implemented?
This technique is most effectively implemented when a client needs to gain perspective on the presence of something rather than absence. The miracle question is typically presented in a fashion where the student is given the opportunity to create the "ideal" situation for one day. After being asking what that situation would be, the counselor must look for realistic ways to make all or part of that solution possible. The goal is to help the client see what they could do rather than what others could do since the only person they can change is their self.
What type of situation can the technique be applied to?
The miracle question can be used in almost any situation where there is conflict. In order to solve that conflict, the miracle question gives the client control. This can be done in a variety of ways. The counselor can ask the client in several ways: For instance, if the problem vanished, what would you be doing tomorrow? While this technique is most effective when trying to resolve an issue, it can also be used to allow a reluctant client to uncover their issues.
What is your opinion of the technique?
I believe the miracle question is one of the best techniques of helping a client see the problem in a perspective necessary to resolve the issue. By placing the student in an ideal situation, you give them the power to control the situation and be responsible for their role in their issue.
Technique 3: Problem-Free Talk
How is the technique implemented?
The beauty of this technique is that it can be used throughout an entire session. Problem free talk is more than simple small talk, as it requires the counselor to listen actively for a chance to intervene on the student's issue. This intervention should occur as an opportunity to reveal the student's potential and competencies. If problem-free talk does not come naturally the counselor can strive for it by just asking to know more about the client.
What type of situation can the technique be applied to?
This technique is to be implemented either before the conflict is brought to attention or at a respectful time after the conflict has been uncovered. Also this technique is meant to be a small part of counseling not the primary technique. Problem-free talk is important in welcoming new stakeholders to the counseling relationships.
What is your opinion of the technique?
I find this technique to be useful but in a minimal capacity. To be able to break the ice is an important part of establishing and maintaining rapport. However, beyond that it is of very little assistance.
Technique 1: Scaling
How is the technique implemented?
This technique is pretty simplistic and essentially just asks the client how they feel about a particular situation on a scale from either 1-5 or 1-10. 10 generally being the highest score and 1 the lowest. Scaling is useful for measuring the progress made towards a clients goal.
What type of situation can the technique be applied to?
The most effective situation to use the scaling technique is whenever the client is having a conflict with meeting a goal. The scaling technique can show progress towards that goal. Another situation that would benefit from the scaling technique is using it pictorially with a child to depict emotions. And a final method of scaling would be in relationships to get a measure of how individuals feel about each other.
What is your opinion of the technique?
The scaling technique is a very good beginning and ending of counseling technique because it gauges progress made or needed. It is important to use techniques of this nature to be aware of the clients status. Scaling however, does not provide us much of an interim for counseling and the client would benefit from more free associated related activities.
This technique is pretty simplistic and essentially just asks the client how they feel about a particular situation on a scale from either 1-5 or 1-10. 10 generally being the highest score and 1 the lowest. Scaling is useful for measuring the progress made towards a clients goal.
What type of situation can the technique be applied to?
The most effective situation to use the scaling technique is whenever the client is having a conflict with meeting a goal. The scaling technique can show progress towards that goal. Another situation that would benefit from the scaling technique is using it pictorially with a child to depict emotions. And a final method of scaling would be in relationships to get a measure of how individuals feel about each other.
What is your opinion of the technique?
The scaling technique is a very good beginning and ending of counseling technique because it gauges progress made or needed. It is important to use techniques of this nature to be aware of the clients status. Scaling however, does not provide us much of an interim for counseling and the client would benefit from more free associated related activities.
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