 at the end of this topic, you should be able to;

› state stages in counseling process

› explain important task in each stages
› discuss skill required to move the process from stage
to stage
 refers to a sense of change, movement and
activity within the counseling session
 Gladding (2001) categorized the counseling
process into;
1. building a counseling relationship
2. working in counseling relationship
3. termination the counseling relationship.
 Peterson & Nisenholz (1990), Egan (1982) and
Brammer (1979);
1. attending – rapport building
2. exploration – problem identification
3. understanding – planning
4. action – problem solving & application
5. termination – finishing up.
 Maznah, Zainal (2002) subdivided it into four;
1. pre session
2. first session
3. middle session
4. final session
 so basically, the
counseling process
including all these; 4. understanding
1. attending 5. problem solving
2. rapport 6. decision making
3. Listening – JUST 7. action
LISTEN!! 8. termination
 few things should be considered;
› preparation
› helper – attitude, theory, skills,
limitation
› physical environment – conducive,
safe, quiet, privacy
› documentation – case report,
questionnaire
 as a helper, you need to prepare what info is
needed and develop a questionnaire or form to
distributed to client;
› what info you want to know
› to tell more about the client
› such as demographic info
› data collected – can be used as statistical report
1. make the client feel welcome and comfortable;
o ice-breaking – feeling at ease with the helper
o Myers (2002) – set aside own agendas, focus on the
client, listening to the story and presenting issues
o rapport building – genuine interest in client,
accepting as a unique person
2. relationship building;
o Ivey and Ivey (1999);
 helper – attending the client
 welcoming the client – ice-breaking
 opening statement – eg; ‘I feel good to have you’.
 initiate interview process – as things relevant to client’s
background
 invite client to talk – eg; ‘what brings you in here..’
 structuring – important skills.
 attending skill can be presented thru;
1. verbal behavior – includes micro skills e.g;
-probing, requesting clarification, paraphrase,
reflection.
2. non-verbal behavior – non-spoken action to
communicate what is not said (but is there!), e.g.;
smiling (not grinning), making eye contact, nodding.
 Egan (1988) introduces SOLER.
SOLER What is
SOLER?
SOLER
 known as exploration or working stage  most
crucial stage.
 depends a lot on the working alliance in the
initial stage
 from exploring  identifying goal and
discussion on alternatives
 helper will use variety skills that bring about
client changes  new thinking, new behavior,
new feeling.
 activities in this stage;
1. exploration – getting more info on presenting
problem, real problem
2. know and understand the problem – help client
identify main issues
3. ‘tree not branches’ – what is the real problem in
here?
4. developing goal – what client wants at the end?
5. stating the goal - state the goal of helping as it will
become the contract between helper and client.
6. generating alternatives or choices – help client do
the brainstorming what can he do to solve the
problem? client exhausted his options? only then
suggest alternatives.
7. problem solving and decision making
8. tentative action plan – discuss tentative alternative
the client plan to carry out.
 conclusion; at this stage – client begins to;
1. explore the real problem
2. being less defensive
3. her/his problem gets clearer
4. aware of feelings
5. being more self-disclosure
 and the helper will progressively;
1. work to establish trust
2. show concern and caring
3. empathy
4. respect
5. warmth
6. giving feedback
7. and summarizes.
 at this stage, helper will discuss on client’s action
plan that he/she discovered at the end of the
middle stage
 initially; client already decided on action plan
 helper will encourage client to take action 
how and when to initiate the plan
 finally, is to end the session by doing termination
 Yalom (1995) – termination is more than the act
signifying the end of counseling, but also acts as
a motivator.
 2 types;
1. termination of session
2. termination of counseling relationship
1. termination of session;
› client should be informed during
the structuring  he/she is
having a period of time and
should use the time effectively.
› by end of the session, helper and
client will set up the next
appointment to continue the
session.
2. termination of counseling relationship;
› issue concerning – when to terminate and who
initiate the termination.
› termination should be well planned, not abrupt and
must be clear to the client before the process is
initiated.
› for helper – termination can be made when client has
achieved the goal.
Function of Termination;
1. as a signal that something is ended
2. as a method of maintaining changes previously
achieved and generalizing problem-solving skills
obtained in counseling
3. as a reminder that client has matured
 most successful clients
(Schofield, 1964);  less successful client;
› Y – young › H – homely
› A – attractive › O – old
› V – verbal › U – unintelligent
› I – intelligent › N – non-verbal
› S - successful › D – disadvantaged.
 Okun (2002) stressed on the importance of
helper’s personality characteristics and styles of
functioning, it is;
› self-awareness
› honestly
› congruence
› ability to communicate well
› knowledgeable
1. helping  definite structure and phases
2. counseling is a client-oriented, help others to
move a step to another
3. there are specific skills to be use at each stages,
must be mastered by the helper
4. factor contribute to effectiveness of helping; a)
the helper b) the client c) the process