Counseling

Counseling

Liberty University

Abstract

American Counseling Association adopted a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families, and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals. Most Essential Characteristics of a Helping Relationship are Unconditional Positive Regard for the Patron, counselor must be Genuine, real or congruent and he/she must be Empathetic. Key Elements that must be covered for establish the purpose and validity of the counseling relationship key elements must be covered in the first counseling session. Presumption of Counseling Will See to Learn More About and Use in My Own Practice. Therapeutic approach is focusing on the Patrons irrational and distorted feelings which are precipitated by faulty thinking and Limitations in Life Experience that Might Hinder My Ability to understand and relate to Certain Patrons.

Definition of Counseling

In 2010 the American Counseling Association adopted the following new working definition of counseling: Counseling is a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families, and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals (American Counseling Association, 2011). The counselor encourages, challenges, enables and assists Patrons in making independent life altering changes and choices. This process occurs over a period of time through self-examination, exploration and the aid of other therapeutic techniques. In this relationship Patrons are also challenged to accept the responsibility and consequences for the choices they make.

Most Essential Characteristics of a Helping Relationship

According to Carl Rogers the following three characteristics are necessary for the evolvement of a helping relationship: First the counselor must be able to offer Unconditional Positive Regard for the Patron (Rogers, 1951). The counselor enters the relationship free of bias and understands that problems are part of God’s...