ASSIGNMENT

TOPIC: COUNSELLING PROCESS:

ATTENDING, RESPONDING,
PERSONALIZING, INITIATING, AND
EVALUTING

SUBMITTED TO: SUMBITTED BY:

Fr. AJU PHILIP VARGHESE ANJALI SASI
HEAD OF THE DEPT MSW S1
DEPT. OF SOCIAL WORK DEPT. OF SOCIAL WORK
ST. THOMAS COLLEGE ST. THOMAS COLLEGE
KONNI KONNI

SUBMITTED ON:20/05/2021
INTRODUCTION
Counselling falls under the umbrella term ‘talking therapies’ and allows people to discuss their
problems and any difficult feelings they encounter in a safe, confidential environment. The
term can mean different things to different people, but in general it is a process people seek
when they want to change something in their lives or simply explore their thoughts and feelings
in more depth.

1. COUNSELLING PROCESS
Counselling process refers to events, characteristics or conditions that occur during as a
result of the interaction between counsellor and client. The therapeutic relationship that
develops during counselling session is an example of counselling process, completing
home work outside of session also constitutes an event fits within counselling process.
Process can be referred to what the counsellor does with the client as well as how change
occur within the client.
Fuster (2005), while presenting the Carkhuff’s models of counselling has presented the
counselling process in five stages as attending, responding, personalizing, initiating and
evaluating. He has also given the details of attitudes and skills required of the counsellor at
each stage.

1.1 ATTENDING
The first stage in counselling is attending, which may be called as the preparatory stage.
Attending refers to the ways in which helpers can be with their clients both physically
and psychologically. Effective attending tells clients that you are with the man that they
can share their world with you. Effective attending also puts you in a position to listen
carefully to what clients are saying or not saying.

1.1.1 What are the things effective attending does?

Effective attending does two things: it let clients know you are with them and
therefore helps establishing good rapport, and it puts in a position to be an effective
listener. This means, before a therapist can respond to clients and their concerns, he
must first pay attention to them and listen carefully to what they have to say.
Attending is paying attention to client, which includes social skills, attending
physically, observing and listening are to be practical throughout all stages of
counselling process.

1.1.2 What is the importance of preparatory stage in counselling

process?
Attending is the behavioural aspect of building rapport. When a counsellor first
meets with a client, they must indicate to the client that they are interested in
listening to them and helping them. Through attending, the counsellor is able to
encourage the client to talk and open up about their issues

1.2 RESPONDING
Responding in a counselling environment, requires that the counsellor 's attention is
focused on the client’s feelings and verbal expression at all times. There are many
occasions when we respond – perhaps by offering a nod of the head without really
 listening to what is being said. In a counselling situation a counsellor must pay close
attention and check that a client is not agreeing with a suggestion, without actually fully
comprehend what has been voiced. Responsive communication, or responding
facilitates the helpee 's exploration of where they are in relation to their worlds. As the
counsellor listen in depth to the multiple levels of communication, verbal and non -
verbal, he / she need to respond these

1.2.1Why the responding in counselling is ratio called empathy

empathic understanding
The counsellor reflects back to the person in paraphrased form what the hears,
particularly the dominant feelings. By responding, we begin to communicate our
understanding of the counselee's experience. Another term for this kind of
understanding and responding is empathy -empathic understanding and the
communication of such understanding is known as empathic responding. Empathy
is a general term fir the contact, influence and interaction of personalities.
While the counsellor empathises, he or she lays aside his or her own way of
experiencing and perceiving preferring to sense and respond to the experiencing
and perceptions of client.

1.2.2 Completion of the Stage of Responding

When the counsellor senses that the counselee has explored a relevant area of
her personality and touched bottom, then, he has to present her with a picture of
the whole situation and how she feels in that situation. This is done by
summarising the main feelings and experiences expressed by the counselee. The
summary must be brief and neat. It must be approved by the counselee.

1.3 PERSONALIZING
Personalising meaning is the first step toward facilitating the client’s understanding of
where they are in relation to where they want or need to be. Personalising emphasises
internalizing those experiences which make us person-like. In other words, we become
human as we internalise our understanding of ourselves.

1.3.1PURPOSE OF PERSONALIZING
The purpose of this stage is to enable the client to understand where she is with
respect to where she wants or needs to be in her world. By personalising, we
create a dialogue with them that facilitates their understanding where they want
to be. It is a dialogue between their “real selves” and their “ideal selves.’ They
are unhappy with their real selves. They are hopeful they can become their real
ideal selves.

1.3.2 Explain the importance of setting specific goals

The counsellor guides the client in setting the specific goals. Such goals are often
stated as specific emotional and behavioural changes that are acceptable and
desirable to the client and to society. It is important to break down the goals into
their logical sub-components or sub-goals, which by virtue of such identification,
are more easily tackled. The specific goals are useful in monitoring the progress
 of achieving these goals. Involvement of the client in setting the goals is very
important

1.4 INITIATING
At this stage, the client moves toward the preferred state. The counsellor helps the client
develop strategies for action and encourages him or her to implement plans and achieve
goals. The counsellor helps the client by identifying appropriate and systematic steps
suitable to his/her need and resources. These steps are taken gradually to reach the goal.
The focus of this stage is to motivate the client to act in order to solve his/her problem.
This is done by identifying what can be done to reach the goal and by taking up specific
steps in such a way that the counselee realises that the goal is attainable.
The client is helped to achieve the goal
through various available counselling models and techniques. Some of the models used at
this stage are: Rational Emotive Therapy (RET), Transactional Analysis (TA), Gestalt
Psychotherapy (GT), Learning theories (LT), etc. and some of the techniques used are
supportive and behavioural, cognitive and psychoanalytical, problem solving and other.

1.4.1 The therapeutic gains during the initiating stage include

a. Resolution of emotional crisis;

b. Resolution of problem behaviours;
c. Improved self-confidence and self-esteem;
d. Improved self-control and frustration tolerance;
e. Improved reality orientation and appraisal of threats;
f. Improved communication and problem-solving skills; and
g. Improved overall adjustment, judgment, and emotional stability

1.4.2 Initiating involves Defining Goals, Developing Programs,

Designing Schedules and Reinforcements.
a. Definig Goal- Defining Goals emphasises the operation that describe the
goals. In defining the goals, we need to establish all the ingredients
necessary to achieve the goal
b. Developing Programs-In order to achieve goals we need to develop
programs. Programmes are simply step-by-step procedures for achieving
goals.
c. Designing Schedules-The major emphasis in scheduling is on
developing starting times and finishing, or completion times-when things
are to be done. Starting and finishing time may be set for individual steps
as well as for the overall program. Set specific starting times or dates.
d. Reinforcements-Plan reinforcements that will encourage the helpees to
take the needed steps. They are most effective when they are applied
immediately following the performance of a step. These reinforcements
must come from helpee’s frame of reference. Positive reinforcements or
 rewards are our most potent reinforcements. For example, the client
might decide that he would go out with his friends on Friday and
Saturday’s nights as he successfully completed each step of his program

1.5 EVALUTION
Evaluation is an important part of the counselling process. It is essential that the counsellor
undertakes evaluation before the termination of the process. Evaluating means to review
how the counselee has taken the action in order to achieve the goal and in view of the
plans how far the client is progressing. Assessment or evaluation of client’s progress is an
ongoing process which begins right in the first stage. However, it is done at this stage with
the purpose of terminating the process.

1.5.1 The counsellor during the evaluation and termination stage ensures the
followings:
a. Evaluating readiness for termination of counselling process;
b. Letting the client know in advance about the termination of counselling;
c. Discuss with client the readiness for termination;
d. Review the course of action plan;
e. Emphasis the client’s role in effecting change;
f. Warning against the danger of ‘flight into health’;
g. Giving instructions for the maintenance of adaptive functioning;
h. Discussion of follow up sessions; and
i. Assuring the availability of counsellor in case of relapse into dysfunction

1.5.1. What is the importance of evaluation process?

ASSIGNMENT
TOPIC: COUNSELLING PROCESS:
ATTENDING, RESPONDING,
PERSONALIZING, INITIATING, AND
EVALUTING
SUBMITTED TO: SUMBITTED BY:
Fr. AJU PHILIP VARGHESE ANJALI SASI
HEAD OF THE DEPT MSW S1
DEPT. OF SOCIAL WORK DEPT. OF SOCIAL WORK
ST. THOMAS COLLEGE ST. THOMAS COLLEGE
KONNI KONNI

SUBMITTED ON:20/05/2021
INTRODUCTION
Counselling falls under the umbrella term ‘talking therapies’ and allows people to discuss their
problems and any difficult feelings they encounter in a safe, confidential environment. The
term can mean different things to different people, but in general it is a process people seek
when they want to change something in their lives or simply explore their thoughts and feelings
in more depth.

2. COUNSELLING PROCESS
Counselling process refers to events, characteristics or conditions that occur during as a
result of the interaction between counsellor and client. The therapeutic relationship that
develops during counselling session is an example of counselling process, completing
home work outside of session also constitutes an event fits within counselling process.
Process can be referred to what the counsellor does with the client as well as how change
occur within the client.
Fuster (2005), while presenting the Carkhuff’s models of counselling has presented the
counselling process in five stages as attending, responding, personalizing, initiating and
evaluating. He has also given the details of attitudes and skills required of the counsellor at
each stage.

2.1 ATTENDING
The first stage in counselling is attending, which may be called as the preparatory stage.
Attending refers to the ways in which helpers can be with their clients both physically
and psychologically. Effective attending tells clients that you are with the man that they
can share their world with you. Effective attending also puts you in a position to listen
carefully to what clients are saying or not saying.

2.1.1 What are the things effective attending does?

Effective attending does two things: it let clients know you are with them and
therefore helps establishing good rapport, and it puts in a position to be an effective
listener. This means, before a therapist can respond to clients and their concerns, he
must first pay attention to them and listen carefully to what they have to say.
Attending is paying attention to client, which includes social skills, attending
physically, observing and listening are to be practical throughout all stages of
counselling process.

2.1.2 What is the importance of preparatory stage in counselling

process?
Attending is the behavioural aspect of building rapport. When a counsellor first
meets with a client, they must indicate to the client that they are interested in
listening to them and helping them. Through attending, the counsellor is able to
encourage the client to talk and open up about their issues

2.2 RESPONDING
Responding in a counselling environment, requires that the counsellor 's attention is
focused on the client’s feelings and verbal expression at all times. There are many
occasions when we respond – perhaps by offering a nod of the head without really
listening to what is being said. In a counselling situation a counsellor must pay close
attention and check that a client is not agreeing with a suggestion, without actually fully
comprehend what has been voiced. Responsive communication, or responding
facilitates the helpee 's exploration of where they are in relation to their worlds. As the
counsellor listen in depth to the multiple levels of communication, verbal and non -
verbal, he / she need to respond these

2.2.1Why the responding in counselling is ratio called empathy

empathic understanding
The counsellor reflects back to the person in paraphrased form what the hears,
particularly the dominant feelings. By responding, we begin to communicate our
understanding of the counselee's experience. Another term for this kind of
understanding and responding is empathy -empathic understanding and the
communication of such understanding is known as empathic responding. Empathy
is a general term fir the contact, influence and interaction of personalities.
 While the counsellor empathises, he or she lays aside his or her own way of
experiencing and perceiving preferring to sense and respond to the experiencing
and perceptions of client.

2.2.2 Completion of the Stage of Responding

When the counsellor senses that the counselee has explored a relevant area of
her personality and touched bottom, then, he has to present her with a picture of
the whole situation and how she feels in that situation. This is done by
summarising the main feelings and experiences expressed by the counselee. The
summary must be brief and neat. It must be approved by the counselee.

2.3 PERSONALIZING
Personalising meaning is the first step toward facilitating the client’s understanding of
where they are in relation to where they want or need to be. Personalising emphasises
internalizing those experiences which make us person-like. In other words, we become
human as we internalise our understanding of ourselves.

2.3.1PURPOSE OF PERSONALIZING
The purpose of this stage is to enable the client to understand where she is with
respect to where she wants or needs to be in her world. By personalising, we
create a dialogue with them that facilitates their understanding where they want
to be. It is a dialogue between their “real selves” and their “ideal selves.’ They
are unhappy with their real selves. They are hopeful they can become their real
ideal selves.

2.3.2 Explain the importance of setting specific goals

The counsellor guides the client in setting the specific goals. Such goals are often
stated as specific emotional and behavioural changes that are acceptable and
desirable to the client and to society. It is important to break down the goals into
their logical sub-components or sub-goals, which by virtue of such identification,
are more easily tackled. The specific goals are useful in monitoring the progress
of achieving these goals. Involvement of the client in setting the goals is very
important
1.3.3 Personalising Goals: Personalising goals involves:
establishing where the clients want to be in relation to where they are communicating
the client’s disappointment for some acknowledged responsibility in failing and
communicating the helpee’s relief and excitement in a direction or solution
conceptualising, internalising, and specifying desired or needed assets.

2.4 INITIATING
At this stage, the client moves toward the preferred state. The counsellor helps the client
develop strategies for action and encourages him or her to implement plans and achieve
goals. The counsellor helps the client by identifying appropriate and systematic steps
suitable to his/her need and resources. These steps are taken gradually to reach the goal.
The focus of this stage is to motivate the client to act in order to solve his/her problem.
 This is done by identifying what can be done to reach the goal and by taking up specific
steps in such a way that the counselee realises that the goal is attainable.
The client is helped to achieve the goal
through various available counselling models and techniques. Some of the models used at
this stage are: Rational Emotive Therapy (RET), Transactional Analysis (TA), Gestalt
Psychotherapy (GT), Learning theories (LT), etc. and some of the techniques used are
supportive and behavioural, cognitive and psychoanalytical, problem solving and other.

1.4.1 The therapeutic gains during the initiating stage include

h. Resolution of emotional crisis;

i. Resolution of problem behaviours;
j. Improved self-confidence and self-esteem;
k. Improved self-control and frustration tolerance;
l. Improved reality orientation and appraisal of threats;
m. Improved communication and problem-solving skills; and
n. Improved overall adjustment, judgment, and emotional stability

2.4.2 Initiating involves Defining Goals, Developing Programs,

Designing Schedules and Reinforcements.
a. Definig Goal- Defining Goals emphasises the operation that describe the
goals. In defining the goals, we need to establish all the ingredients
necessary to achieve the goal
b. Developing Programs-In order to achieve goals we need to develop
programs. Programmes are simply step-by-step procedures for achieving
goals.
c. Designing Schedules-The major emphasis in scheduling is on
developing starting times and finishing, or completion times-when things
are to be done. Starting and finishing time may be set for individual steps
as well as for the overall program. Set specific starting times or dates.
d. Reinforcements-Plan reinforcements that will encourage the helpees to
take the needed steps. They are most effective when they are applied
immediately following the performance of a step. These reinforcements
must come from helpee’s frame of reference. Positive reinforcements or
rewards are our most potent reinforcements. For example, the client
might decide that he would go out with his friends on Friday and
Saturday’s nights as he successfully completed each step of his program

2.5 EVALUTION
Evaluation is an important part of the counselling process. It is essential that the counsellor
undertakes evaluation before the termination of the process. Evaluating means to review
how the counselee has taken the action in order to achieve the goal and in view of the
 plans how far the client is progressing. Assessment or evaluation of client’s progress is an
ongoing process which begins right in the first stage. However, it is done at this stage with
the purpose of terminating the process.

1.5.1 The counsellor during the evaluation and termination stage ensures the
followings:
j. Evaluating readiness for termination of counselling process;
k. Letting the client know in advance about the termination of counselling;
l. Discuss with client the readiness for termination;
m. Review the course of action plan;
n. Emphasis the client’s role in effecting change;
o. Warning against the danger of ‘flight into health’;
p. Giving instructions for the maintenance of adaptive functioning;
q. Discussion of follow up sessions; and
r. Assuring the availability of counsellor in case of relapse into dysfunction

1.5.2. What is the importance of evaluation process?

Evaluation is an important part of the counselling process. It is essential that the
counsellor undertakes evaluation before the termination of the process. Evaluating
means to review how the counselee has taken the action in order to achieve the
goal and in view of the plans how far the client is progressing. Assessment or
evaluation of client’s progress is an ongoing process which begins right in the first
stage. However, it is done at this stage with the purpose of terminating the process.

CONCLUSION
After going through this assignment, we understanding about the basics of counselling process
and aware about where and how to begin, what to do and when, etc. This assignment was
intended to help me know about the counselling process and the various stages in the
counselling process from beginning to end. In this assignment we discussed about counselling
process by Fuster J.M. are Attending, Responding, Personalizing, Initiating and Evaluation

Reference
1. Fuster, J. M., (2002). Personal Counselling. Mumbai: Better Yourself Books
2. Myanmar Christian counselling centre. (2015, July 8). Counselling Process.
https://myanmarchristiancounsellingcentre.wordpress.com/?s=counselling+
proces

CONCLUSION
After going through this assignment, we understanding about the basics of counselling process
and aware about where and how to begin, what to do and when, etc. This assignment was
intended to help me know about the counselling process and the various stages in the
counselling process from beginning to end. In this assignment we discussed about counselling
process by Fuster J.M. are Attending, Responding, Personalizing, Initiating and Evaluation
Reference
3. Fuster, J. M., (2002). Personal Counselling. Mumbai: Better Yourself Books
4. Myanmar Christian counselling centre. (2015, July 8). Counselling Process.
https://myanmarchristiancounsellingcentre.wordpress.com/?s=counselling+
proces