Commitment to Getting the Most Out of Counseling Training
Increase Tolerance for Ambiguity
According to Kottler (2008), one of the challenges faced by practitioners in the counseling profession is the ambiguity of clients’ problems. Individuals are faced with struggles that are complex, abstract, and difficult to describe. The implication is that as a counsellor, there is no objective way of treating different scenarios. Clients tend to be highly subjective when seeking help to their problems. In such situations, a counselor faces the challenge of determining the best strategy that would yield desirable outcomes. However, such is not always the case where clients may be having preconceived assumptions about their predicament. Such assumptions may deviate from what is diagnosed as the problem, yet clients tend to insist that their assertions be considered. The subjectivity with which issues are handled in counseling implies there is no definitive diagnosis or therapy. Therefore, patience and tolerance are critical attributes for handling such situations to ensure the client is the center of attention. Dismissing the client’s argument no matter how trivial it may seem, can be very risky can damage their trust immensely.
Go to Conference and Workshops
In an era where evidence-based practice is the norm, reading widely to keep up with the developments in one’s field is a necessity. However, committing time and resources to the course and balancing it with other aspects of life can present significant challenges. Kottler (2008) advises attending conferences and workshops. The two have the potential to provide opportunities that are unavailable in the classroom including networking and new concepts and innovation. One can argue that conferences and workshops not only serve to improve performance of counseling students, but also prepare them for future careers. Workshops and conferences provide a very conducive learning environment devoid of pressures associated with the classroom. They allow interaction with established professionals and prospective ones from different backgrounds. Therefore, investing in them can offer crucial insights into the developments and trends in the field to facilitate preparation for career life after school. As a student, one can commit time and resource during holidays or even school days to participate in conferences and workshops that are of interest to them.
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Importance and the Role of Theory in Counseling
Life is full of uncertainties and individuals are faced with challenge of predicting the future. In the field of counseling, practitioners deal with situations whose cause and effect are difficult to ascertain. According to Kottler (2008), theories serve as tools through which such situations can be interpreted. Unlike in clinical medicine where the etiology of disease can be diagnosed and appropriate therapy recommended, counseling makes use of subjectivity and speculation. Theories can point the counselor to the right directions to inform diagnosis and treatment.
Kottler (2008) posits that theories are invaluable in counseling because they assist in organization of information. Practitioners in the healthcare field are driven by evidence-based practice and the abundance of information implies that they must be capable of sieving through to identify what to use. It is imperative that counselors be knowledgeable about applicable theories in their field to facilitate decision-making. In the same vein, theories provide a framework for action as they allow practitioners to pick the most relevant strategy that has the potential to be effective. Kottler reiterates the importance of theirs to provide a foundation for decision-making in counseling. Theories contribute towards an important aspect of counseling – impressing people. Through understanding of theories, practitioners become knowledgeable about problems and issues in their field and can provide competent service to their clients. In addition, applying theories in practice creates perceptions of truth hence building the client confidence leading to positive response that may yield desired outcomes from recommended interventions.
Reference
Kottler, J. A. (2008). A brief primer of helping skills . Thousand Oaks: Sage Publishers.
