Therapeutic Relationship

Witherspoon, L
3 September, 2015

What are the three best qualities of a counselor?

Active Listening allows the counselor to ensure that they heard the client correctly
and give the client a sense of peace that counselor is paying attention. Also, this
technique ensures that the counselor understands the clients nuisances of communication
arent being lost in linguistic relativity.
Empathy allows the counselor to gain an understanding of the clients dilemmas
by placing themselves in the clients shoes. An empathic understanding allows the clients
the feel the humanity exuded by the counselor and the counselor to gain a worldlier view
of humanity by engaging in multiple cultures.
Trusting Ones Instincts allows the counselor a sense of authority with their client
in their relationship. It is up to the counselor to gauge what a client needs versus what
they seek or believe they want. Instincts are a counselors way of being able to judge the
authenticity of their client and their willingness to receive help.
What is the best form of counseling?
The Glasser technique (WDEP) or problem management model, Im fond of this
model because the success of the solutions the client seeks to their dilemmas, lies in their
hands. First, the removal of accepting excuses, allows all success of problems to rest
solely with the clients willingness to strive for success. Secondly, the technique allows
the client to decide what they want out of life and allows them to set up a plan for
success. Allows them to set the time span for the entire plan and its intricacies. Then
together with the counselor the client does an evaluation of the plan and its subparts.
Since learning of the WDEP, I have modeled my lifestyle with this technique. I have used
this in all forms of problem solving and teaching of my children.