Examination of Traits Possessed by Effective Counselors Essay

Examination of Traits Possessed by Effective CounselorsCatherine M. KleinschmitLiberty University crochetBecause the advocate-at-law-client relationship is star built on trust, a counselor should seek to consent as to a greater extent than knowledge as possible to facilitate this trust and bring about healing and strongness for the client. This typography examines many an(prenominal) of the traits possessed by counselors who atomic number 18 considered successful in their field. Much of the research came from peer re depended material, and most(prenominal) of the traits listed in this paper- positive mental attitudes, possess self-aw atomic number 18ness, are culturally diverse in their methodology, are unspoiled communicators and are write in non-verbal dialogue, wittingness of the laws in their state, sensibleness of the dangers of burnout, mindfulness, and empathy all come from the opinion of distinguish adapted sets of counselors who are themselves successful. So me of these traits are in born to the counselor, while others are learned. With the exception of burnout, strategies for effective schooling are examined, while strategies for avoiding and coping with burnout are highlighted.The counseling relationship is unlike any other. It is a offstage and safe place where the client gutter feel free to express his or herself and receive patron and comprehending in a time when they may feel no genius else can champion them. It is imperative that counselors strive to be as effective in this relationship as they possibly can in order to fuel change in the clients life. An effective counselor has many characteristics that facilitate that healing. Some are natural to them, some are taught in college or continuing upbringing classes. Even further still, some are sought out by the counselor themselves. However they are acquired, the effective counselor leave behind for build up his or her portfolio of strategies in order to continue a high level of strength in the counselor-client relationship.Effective counselors rent positive mental attitudes, are culturally diverse in their methodology, communicate well, are certain of the laws in their state, are aware of thedangers of burnout, practice mindfulness, and are empathetic. Positive mental attitude is the basis of becoming an effective counselor. In a study create in 1971, Jackson and Thompson identified that effective counselors have positive attitudes toward self, most people, most clients, and counseling. This study was conducted with counselors who were already working in the field in order to find traits that were common among successful counselors. The purpose for this was for application possible graduate students for admission into counseling programs. The school of thought among the participants in this study was that, while they had standard training in various counseling techniques, that as a rule, once a counselor begins practice, they lead revert bac k to the attitudes they once had at the beginning of training. In their book, Competent Christian Counseling, Clinton and Ohlschlager assert that counselors should be comfortable in their clearing of counseling practices, nonrecreational skill, and their qualifications. (2002, p. 193) Clients do non want to enter therapy with a counselor who is unsure of themselves or nervous.An effective counselor forget, to put it simply, know what they know and will have the natural positive attitudes to practice their trade successfully. Because of the intimate personality of the counseling relationship, a counselor has a responsibility to be self-aware. (Corey, Corey & Callanan, 2011, p. 44) They need to know where they have unmet needs in their life that may immobilize a clients progress. Areas of denial will greatly affect the counselors baron to help their client. Corey, Corey & Callanan suggest that all counselors enter into some sort of counseling themselves to help them stay aware of their own mental health and abilities.( p. 47) An effective counselor also has a multicultural view. The counselor should not hold the opinion that his or her culture is in any way superior to some other someones, and so must avoid becoming a culturally encapsulated counselor. (Corey, Corey, & Callanan, p. 117) He or she has made conscience steps to venture out of his or her own culture in an effort to experience and understand other cultures so that their personalized issues, value system, or any sort of bias will not interfere with their counselor/client relationship with clients of a different culture. They should try to see the world done with(predicate) their clients viewpoint.The culturally sensitive counselor should be aware of any type of prejudices or other negative vox populis that mayinterfere in the helping process. (Corey, Corey, & Callanan, p. 126) Being a culturally aware counselor should also include the ability to understand family dynamics within differe nt cultures. With that, they should be able to understand roles of different family members in relation to each other. In some cultures, the male(s) of the household hold a dominant position over the female(s), despite birth order. Additionally, counselors should be able to respect and try to understand their clients religious beliefs. A counseling technique that may work for an American Christian may not work for a Hindu from India. A counselor must be sure to be versed in different counselling techniques for various religions. Of course, communication plays an important role in effective counseling. A good counselor will know when it is time to speak, to listen, or to allow silence to remain to allow the client time to remember, or to think upon what was except said. Communication does not just involve row that are spoken an attentive counselor will also be versed in high-context communication. extravagantly context communication, or non-verbal or inferred communication, is a v aluable tool for the effective counselor. High context communication can be thought of as a cultural tool, in that some cultures are more adept at it. People from the Mediterranean area, Japan, Korea, China, parts of Africa, parts of the Middle East, and Latin America have high context communication ingrained in their culture. (Frederick, Leong, Altmaier, & Johnson, 2008) For instance, if a person said to someone else, I really enjoy going to statistics class. but rolled their eyes and crossed their arms, someone who is adept at high context communication will be able to take the comment as not particularly truthful, relying instead on the non-verbal cues exhibited.These cues are often used to suspect if a person is feeling something other than what was expressed verbally. Knowing the law of the state one is practicing in is essential to a counselors success. Not all states have the same laws in regards to debt instrument to warn, duty to report, child detention cases, etc. (Feldm an & Sommers, 2010) Being an effective counselor does not always mean only effective with ones clients. It means effective with the community and society in general as well. Let us look at the famous Tarasoff case. In 1969, a student by the name of Prosenjit Poddar at the University of California, Berkeley confided in his therapist that he intended to kill a student for whom he had developed romantic feelings. with hisdescriptions, the therapist identified the student at Tatianna Tarasoff, and he alerted the campus police after conferring with his colleagues. The police detained Poddar, but base him to be rational, and released him. Poddar eventually killed Tarasoff. It was later ruled that the therapist should have warned Tarasoff. (Corey, Corey, & Callanan, 2011) Had the therapist followed through in regards to duty to warn, it is possible this tragedy could have been avoided. Burnout is a factor that effective counselors deal with successfully. Burnout can be delimit as experi enced stress manifesting itself in three ways. These are, according to bestow and Schwartz, emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment. (2012) Because counselors spend their day dealing with clients deep emotional and psychological problems, they must deal with the fact that their self-efficacy will be affected.There are many indicators that one is experiencing burnout, the lead symptom being neuroticism. (Lent & Schwarz, 2012) Neuroticism is characterized by feelings of anxiousness, feeling angry, being overly self-conscious, and feeling vulnerable. (Lent & Schwartz, 2012) The research conducted by Lent and Schwartz suggests that a counselors own personality may help combat this. They show that a counselor who is by nature more agreeable will be more interested in others lives and coiffure in a more altruistic way, thus reaping more benefits from their work and not experiencing burnout as often. (2012) Lent and Schwartz suggest three strategies t o create a positive workplace and minimize burnout. Firstly, they suggest that counselors work with employers/supervisors to pull ahead a more healthy other-care/self-care balance. (2012) Secondly, counselors should seek out support from cohorts or mentors that can help them through times of stress, and relieve anxiety. A counselor should be aware that times of burnout are part of the profession, and to be expected, and asking for help from colleagues is nothing of which to be ashamed.Lastly, Lent and Schwartz suggest that a counselor become a mentor. They advocate that mentoring helps the counselor with working through their problems, because they are not as focused on just what is going on in their life. (2012) A strategy known as mindfulness can correct a counselors efficacy. Mindfulness is defined as bringing ones whole self into the encounter with clients by being completely in the moment on multiple levels physically, emotionally, cognitively, and spiritually. (Campbell &Chr istopher, 2012) In a study reported by Campbell and Christopher, medical students who participated in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) training brocaded their empathy for others and saw a reduction in their level of anxiety and depression. (2012) The research showed that after completing a course in mindfulness, participants reported becoming more aware, patient, mentally focused, empathetic, compassionate, attentive, responsive, and able to handle strong emotions. They were also less defensive, reactive and judgmental. (Campbell & Christopher, 2012) In conclusion, in a study conducted by Pope and Kline, 22 counselors considered experts in their field ranked 10 different personality traits they feel are important for a counselor to possess in order to be successful. Interestingly, among the top three was empathy, and among the bottom three was sympathy. (1999) Sometimes, these two harm can be confused with one another.However, the website Dictionary.com states that sympath y and empathy both are connected to feelings one has for another person. While sympathy means to feel with, empathy means to feel into. (2013) The difference is that the counselor who has the ability to interpret will be able to actually feel their clients hurt or frustration, and will ultimately be able to understand the client better. To put it in simple terms, one feels empathy when one has been there and one feels sympathy when one has not. (Dictionary.com, 2013) While effective counselors possess positive mental attitudes, are culturally diverse in their methodology, are good communicators, are aware of the laws in their state, and are aware of the dangers of burnout, one must also have empathy, and to gain empathy, or the ability to have been there one must expand his or her own personal boundaries and borders to become, as Paul said in I Corinthians 922, To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save s ome. (KJV)ReferencesCampbell, J. C., & Christopher, J. C. (2012). statement mindfulness to create effective counselors. journal of Mental Health Counseling, 34(3), 213-226. Retrieved fromhttp//search.proquest.com/docview/1027919921?accountid=12085 Clinton, T. & Ohlschlager, G. (2001). Competent Christian Counseling deal one.Colorado Springs, CO WaterBrook Press Corey, G., Corey, M., & Callanan, P. (2011). Issues and ethics in the helping professions Eighth edition. Belmont, CABrooks/Cole. Dictionary.com. (2013). news FAQs. Retrieved from http//dictionary.reference.com/help/faq/language/d23.html Feldman, S. (Producer), & Sommers, G. (Director). (2010). Legal and Ethical Issues for Mental Health Professionals, Vol. 1 Confidentiality, Privilege, Reporting, and Duty to WarnMotion picture. (Available from Psychotherapy.net) Retrieved from http//ctiv.alexanderstreet.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu2048/view/1779007 Frederick, T., Leong, L., Altmaier, E.M., & Johnson, B.D. (2008). Encyclopedia of Counseling. Retrieved from http//go.galegroup.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu2048/ps/retrieve.do?sgHitCountType=None&sort=RELEVANCE&inPS=true&prodId=GVRL&userGroupName=vic_liberty&tabID=T003&searchId=R1&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&contentSegment=&searchType=AdvancedSearchFormtPosition=3&contentSet=GALECX3074200401&&docId=GALECX3074200401&docType=GALE Jackson, M., & Thompson, C.L. (1971). Effective counselor Characteristics and attitudes. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 18(3), 249-254. doi 10.1037/h0030862. Retrieved from http//psycnet.apa.org.ezproxy.liberty.edu2048/journals/cou/18/3/249 Lent, J., & Schwartz, R. C. (2012). The impact of work setting, demographic characteristics, and personality factors related to burnout among professional counselors. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 34(4), 355-372. Retrieved from http//search.proquest.com/docview/1114670345?accountid=12085 Pope, V. & Kline, W. (1999). The personal characteristics of effective counselors What 10 experts think. Psychol ogical Reports, 84(3), 1339-44. Retrieved from http//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10477949