CNDV+5311+Individual+Counseling+Theories

Discussion Board Week 1
The best counselor I know has several of the characteristics Dr. Frels discussed in Qualities of a Counselor: Theories and Techniques video.She demonstrates a positive attitude by showing confidence in self-awareness, values relationship between clients and displays compassion.According to Dr. Frels (2012), “effective counselors are personally integrated and self-awareness; value the client as a unique person; and understand how and what the client is experiencing.”A good counselor knows techniques and skills to get clients to feel safe and willing to share confident information with them.She was able to building relationships with clients by showing the ability to listen attentively by paraphrasing the concerns without judgment or biases. Corey and Corey (2011) states “Effective helpers hold positive beliefs about people; have a healthy self-concept; ground their interventions in values; and possess empathy, congruence, warmth, compassion, genuineness, and unconditional positive regard.”A good counselor asks questions with a sincere tone to bring about self-reflection and change in the client.During my teaching experience, I have worked with several counselors that have had great counseling techniques.

References:

Corey, M.S. & Corey, G. (2011). Becoming a Helper. (6th Ed.) Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.

Frels, R. (Performer)(2012, April 9-15). "Qualities of a Counselor: Theories and Techniques". Lamar University Counseling Program. [Video]. Retrieved from https://lamar.epiclms.net/Learn/Player.aspx?enrollmentid=2635766.

Week 2
After taking the birth order quiz, my result was “First Born”.I am a middle child between two sisters; however, some qualities of first born do describe me because I am reliable, conscientious and a perfectionist.As a young child, I was reared by maternal grandmother and assumed the role of an only child until my teenage years.According Frels (2012), “a middle child often feels“squeezed out” by the older sibs who have already found their place and younger children who may seem to receive more love and attention.”As a middle child, I found myself thriving for attention and settling conflict between my sisters. “Frels and Adler characteristics of birth order really described me as a teenager.The birth order quiz does not provide an accurate result based on the way one answers the questions.I believe that birth order and siblings do influence how an individual perceive themselves.Family and social background help a person develop his personality.

Reference:

Frels, R.(2012). "Adlerian Theory in Practice" Lamar University Counseling Program. Retrieved from https://lamar.epiclms.net/Learn/Player.aspx?enrollmentid=2635766
tdaly. (n.d.). Birth Order. Retrieved April 18, 2012, from Quibblo: http://www.quibblo.com/quiz/bVj8vsh/Birth-Order

Week 3
I use humor to break the ice when presenting at staff development.Humor gets the presenter to relax and the audience to loosen up and participate in the activities. Sometimes I use humor to introduce a concept in English/Language Arts with my second grade students such as storytelling or creative writing. I have learned that humor can be a great way for students to share information or stories about their behavior.My principal always starts our faculty meetings with humorous story about the students. During my early years of teaching, I was always serious about my students’ behavior and took their actions personal.Now I have learned to laugh at their behavior and how I react to the situation.According to the article Humor in Counseling Leader Perspectives, “Humor seems to help the client realize that I am in tune with his or her experiences and, most important, that I understand him or her.”(Goldin, et al., Fall 2006).“ It seems that humor is used to facilitate communication, to keep the other person’s attention on what you are saying, and to make something more interesting when the topic is difficult or dry” (Araoz, 2006).

My grandmother used metaphors to explain life events to us as children.She would tell us that every tub must sit on its own bottom or you made your bed, so you must lay in it.These metaphors help us understand that you created the problem, so we had to take the punishment. Glasser used metaphors to demonstrate how humans behave by using their language.“Attending to and using the client’s language can be helpful in communicating understanding to a client through use of her language (Sharf, 2012)(Wubbolding& Brickell, 1998).

Reference

Goldin, E., Bordan, T., Araoz, D. L., Gladding, S. T., Kaplan, D., Krumboltz, J., & Lazarus, A. (Fall 2006). Humor in Counseling: Leader Perspectives. Journal of Counseling & Development, 397 - 403.

Sharf, R. S. (2012). Theories of psychotherapy. (6th ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Thomson Brooks/Cole.

Week 4
Solution-focused theory can easily be integrated into the any school setting. It is practical because many different techniques are used to help students solve their problems.As an elementary teacher, I like the use of play, literature, drawings and nonverbal to help children use their imagination to find ways to handle and solve problems.I use Puppet Theater for my second graders to express their creativity during workstations. I have observed my students verbally expressing some concerns and imitating parents, teachers, and friends with the puppets.“Leggett (2009) offered an integrative approach combining an SF model with children’s literature and visual arts to facilitate both verbal and nonverbal expression of young clients.” The use of drawings and visual arts offers children the opportunity to manipulate crayons and paper to represent their problem to help imagine their future with hope.“ SF counseling in school setting has shown successful outcomes in self-esteem, positive attitudes, and encouragement, connecting children and caretakers in a common vision in constructive ideas”(Frels, Leggett, & Larocca, 2009)(Franklin, Moore & Hopson, 2008; Roans & Hoagwood, 2000).Finally, I like the use of the miracle question in solution-focused therapy to develop goals for change.This theory is easy to incorporate into middle school through the use of art expression and literature to express their concerns.

Reference

Frels, R. K., Leggett, E. S., & Larocca, P. S. (2009). Creativity and Solution-Focused Counseling for a Child with Chronic Illness. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health,, 4: 308-319.



Week 5
As a counselor, my first responsibility in the case of Gabriella is safety.According to the Texas Family Code (TFC), anyone suspecting abuse or neglect of a child is required to report the suspected abuse to the Child Protective Services within 48 hours.It is the law. The counselor has a legal and ethical responsibility to know federal and state statues about confidentiality.I would explain to Gabriella that our sessions are confidential but FERPA allows a parent the right to her school records and must provide written consent if addition assessment is needed.“It is important for adolescents to feel free to disclose their concerns in an atmosphere of trust.” (Erford, 2011)

Erford (2011) states, the key to any successful counseling experience are the development of an effective working relationship built on trust and acceptance.Essential factors involved in building a counseling relationship include establishing rapport, clarifying the counseling role, and explaining confidentiality.” (p. 182) I will need to gather information from Gabriella about what is going on at home and school that is contributing to her sleeping in class which might cause her grades to decline.Next, I would implement a strength-based approach to move Gabriella toward solutions.Since Gabriella is Latino, I would need to gather information about Gabriella’s socioeconomic and sociocultural factors that have influenced her development.

I would use reality therapy/ choice theory to help Gabriella identify and describe her present behavior.RT provides counselors with systematic way to address students’ need and wants in both personal and academics lives. (Erford, 2011)It provides Gabriella with a brief framework to accomplish concrete improvements in self-identified areas and empower her to take responsibility for her behavior.Glasser believe that by intentionally including each of the basic needs ( belonging, power, fun, freedom, and survival) in their quality worlds, people are more likely to get their basic needs met. (Erford, 2011)Gabriella desires her basic need of safety met.

Reference:

Erford, B. T. (2011). Transforming the School Counseling Profession. New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc.