SOCIAL WORK COUNSELING REVIEWER

2. Self-awareness
COUNSELING Becoming more aware of thoughts
● Counseling is a face-to-face and feelings which had been blocked
communication in which one person off or denied, or developing a more
(the counselor) helps another accurate sense of how self is
(counselee) make decisions based on perceived by others.
a consideration of alternatives, and 3. Self-acceptance
acts on them. The development of a positive
● Counseling is also defined as a attitude towards self, marked by an
“collaborative effort between the ability to acknowledge areas of
counselor and client..” experience which had been the
● In order to do counseling, subject of self-criticism and
interviewing is essential. rejection.
● The skilled and principled use of 4. Self-actualization or individuation
relationships to develop self- Moving in the direction of fulfilling
knowledge, emotional acceptance potential or achieving an integration
and growth and personal resources.
of previously conflicting parts of self
The overall aim is to live more fully
and satisfyingly. Counseling will be 5. Enlightenment
concerned with addressing and assisting the client to arrive at a
resolving specific problems, making higher state of spiritual awakening.
decisions, coping with crises, 6. Problem-solving
working through feelings or inner finding a solution to a specific
conflict or improving relationships problem which the client had not
with others.
been able to resolve alone
● The counselor’s role is to facilitate
the client’s work in ways that respect 7. Psychological education
the client’s values, personal enabling the client to acquire ideas
resources, and capacity for self- and techniques with which to
determination. understand and control behavior
8. Acquisition of social skills
AIM
Learning and mastering social and
Depending on the needs of the client and the
interpersonal skills such as
different practice orientation adopted,
maintenance of eye contact, turn-
mcleod identifies the following aims of
taking in conversations, assertiveness
counseling.
or anger control.
9. Cognitive change
1. Insight
The modification or replacement of
The acquisition of an understanding
irrational beliefs or maladaptive
of the origins and development of
thought patterns associated with self-
emotional difficulties leading to an
destructive behavior.
increased capacity to take rational
10. Behavior change
control over feelings and actions
 SOCIAL WORK COUNSELING REVIEWER

The modification or replacement of ● The counselor takes the lead

maladaptive or self-destructive and active role in the
patterns of behavior counseling.
11. Systemic change ● The counselor tries to direct
Introducing change into the way in the thinking of the counselee
which social systems (families) or client by informing,
operate explaining, interpreting and
12. Empowerment advising him.
Working on skills, awareness, and 2. Non-directive or Permissive
knowledge which will enable the Counseling or Client-Oriented
client to confront social inequalities ● The client takes the lead and
13. Restitution active role in the counseling.
Helping the client to make amends ● In this counseling the goal is
for previous destructive behavior. the independence and
integration of the client rather
than the solution of the
problem.
COUNSELING IN SOCIAL WORK 3. Eclectic Counseling.
● Counseling done by ● The counselor and counselee
specialists/therapists and counseling works jointly to solve the
done by social work practitioners problem.
have much in common - both address ● A mixed method of directive
the clients' problems, look into the and non-directive counseling.
root causes, and define the means to
resolve them. BASIC COUNSELING SKILLS IN
● The difference lies in the fact that SOCIAL WORK:
counseling specialists/therapists can ● Work with defenses
function independently or as private ● Goal setting
practicing counselors who focus on ● Problem solving
one client problem at a given time ● Focusing techniques
and can go into an in- depth ● Knowledge about own and others
therapeutic relationship with the use of body language
client usually with an agreed-on
schedule of counseling session(s). COUNSELING AS AN INTEGRAL
PART OF SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE
APPROACHES IN COUNSELING: (HISTORY)
1. Directive or Counselor-centered ● 1780 - PERSONAL AND
● The focus of the counseling PAROCHIAL RELIEF
is the problem rather than the Tomas Chalmers tried to help people
counselee. in need by encouraging neighbors to
support each other.
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● 1880 - EMERGENCE OF ● 1961 UNICEF in social services in

CASEWORK social work administration.
50 years after Chalmers did his
work, the COS of London Charity Note: the first psychological clinic was
Organization Society started a relief established at the University of the
program based on Chalmers ideas. Philippines (UP).
● 1887 - EVOLUTION OF SOCIAL
WORK OTHER CURRENT STATUS OF
So it talks about how charitable COUNSELING IN THE PHILIPPINES
organizations in England and the US ● The family is the main unit of
started using casework to help in Philippine society, and Filipinos
need. value family belongingness. This
family orientation is very much a
HISTORY OF COUNSELING IN part of counseling because Filipinose
SOCIAL WORK IN THE PHILIPPINES would rather go to family members
● 1917 - Shaping the fields of social than trust strangers to help them
work in the early 20th century and solve their problems.
first professional method of social
work intervention in Associated FUTURE OF COUNSELING IN THE
Charities of Manila. PHILIPPINES
● 1930 - Started to develop and grow ● Counseling will continue to develop
in the country during that time. through increased
Associated Charities employed professionalization. As evidenced by
college graduates as “home visitors”. the Guidance and Counseling Act of
● 1946 - Social welfare volunteers in 2004 and the Philippine Psychology
World War. Social workers and Act of 2009.
volunteers’ worked hard to provide
support and care for those affected IMPORTANCE OF COUNSELING IN
by the war. SOCIAL WORK
● 1947 - Philippine association of Counseling provided by trained
social workers professionals can make a profound impact
● 1948 - President's Action Committee on the lives of individuals, families and
on Social Amelioration (PACSA) in communities. This service helps people
rural areas. navigate difficult life situations, such as the
● 1950 - Josefa Jara Martinez death of a loved one, divorce, natural
convinces Philippine Women’s disasters, school stress and the loss of a job.
University to open a social work It provides the tools and insights to manage
program. mental health issues, such as anxiety and
● 1960 - Employment of social depression. Ultimately, counseling
workers in hospitals. empowers people to lead healthy and
fulfilling lives.
 SOCIAL WORK COUNSELING REVIEWER

● Present objectives of the

PHASES OF COUNSELING AND session
BASIC SKILLS AND TECHNIQUES: ● Set expectation and rules
1. PRELIMINARY PHASE ● Contracting
This phase emphasizes the need for ● Know the information about
structured planning that aligns with the client
the client's needs, which has 3. ACTION PHASE
historically been essential in The action phase, also known as the
addressing complex social issues implementation phase, involves
such as poverty and community executing a plan to address the
health. client's concerns through the
SKILLS AND TECHNIQUES: completion of established objectives.
● Prepare the place SKILLS AND TECHNIQUES:
● Prepare needed things like ● Ask the client about her
water, tissue paper feelings
● Review the available ● Acknowledge the attributes
relevant documents of the client
● Review the theories, ● Be sensitive to client’s
concepts, techniques, expression, non-verbal cues
frameworks ● Provide the client an
● Formulate your hypothesis opportunity to express
● State clearly the objectives him/her feelings
for the session ● Clarify gray areas
● Prepare self for the session ● Utilize techniques in
● Think of a ritual that can be questioning or drawing
used information from the client
● Guide or provide client with
2. BEGINNING PHASE direction
The beginning phase focuses on ● Show acceptance of the client
developing a working relationship ● Summarize identified
with the client and establishing problems
shared understanding about their ● Facilitate identification of
struggles. plans and solutions (who,
SKILLS AND TECHNIQUES: when, how, where)
● Welcoming ● Draw out internal and
● Introduction of the worker external resources of the
● Attend to the body language family.
of the client
● Make the client feel at ease 4. ENDING PHASE
and comfortable The ending phase is critical for
reviewing and evaluating the
 SOCIAL WORK COUNSELING REVIEWER

progress made during the ● Counselor/Client

intervention. It includes discussions Relationship: Counselors and
about the achievements and any social workers must clearly
unresolved issues, allowing for define their role from the
appropriate closure of the outset. They should avoid
professional relationship. dual relationships (e.g., being
SKILLS AND TECHNIQUES: both a friend and a counselor)
● Summarize the whole session to prevent conflicts of interest
and highlight action points and maintain objectivity.
● Demonstrate gratitude ● Scope of Practice:
● Evaluate the session Professionals must stay
● Draw out feeling from the within the limits of their
members training and expertise,
● Schedule next session referring clients to other
● Ending the session professionals when issues
arise that are outside their
POST INTERVIEW scope.
● Preparation of report
● evaluation/assessment 2. Time and space boundaries
● Recommendation ● Session Time Limits:
● Coordination with other service Sessions should have clear
providers that can provide needed start and end times, and
professionals should be
resources by the family
punctual to model respect and
● Conferencing with colleagues, case reliability.
manager and or other professionals ● Physical Boundaries: The
● Monitoring agreed upon plans physical environment should
be conducive to privacy and
COUNSELING AND SOCIAL WORK’S safety, with clear guidelines
BOUNDARIES AND INTERFACE on acceptable physical
contact.
BOUNDARIES
3. Emotional boundaries
In counseling and social work, maintaining
● Emotional Detachment:
clear boundaries is crucial for effective and While empathy is essential,
ethical practice. Boundaries help to protect professionals must avoid
both the client and the professional, ensuring becoming overly emotionally
that the therapeutic relationship remains involved with clients to
professional and focused on the client's maintain objectivity and
well-being. Here are some key points about avoid burnout.
● Managing Transference and
boundaries in these fields:
Countertransference:
Professionals must be aware
1. Role clarity
 SOCIAL WORK COUNSELING REVIEWER

of and manage their own that outline appropriate

emotional responses behavior and boundaries.
(countertransference) and the ● Legal Responsibilities:
client’s projections Professionals must be aware
(transference) to avoid of and comply with all
boundary violations. relevant laws governing their
practice, including mandatory
4. Confidentiality reporting laws, licensure
● Client Information: requirements, and the
Protecting client handling of ethical dilemmas.
confidentiality is a key
boundary, only sharing 7. Self-care and provision
information with others when ● Supervision: Regular
legally or ethically required, supervision helps
or with the client’s consent. professionals reflect on their
● Social Media and Online practice and boundary issues,
Presence: Social workers and providing support and
counselors should not guidance.
connect with clients on ● Self-Care: Maintaining
personal social media personal well-being is
platforms to maintain important to prevent
professional boundaries. boundary issues arising from
burnout, stress, or emotional
5. Power dynamics exhaustion.
● Avoiding Exploitation: The
inherent power imbalance in INTERFACE:
the counselor-client The interface between counseling
relationship should never be and social work is an area of overlap
exploited for personal, where the roles, responsibilities, and
financial, or professional approaches of both professions
gain. intersect to address the holistic needs
● Informed Consent: Clients of clients. This interface is
should be fully informed particularly evident in settings where
about the nature of the mental health, social services, and
counseling or social work community support intersect,
relationship, including limits requiring collaboration and
to confidentiality, the integration of services to provide
process, and their rights. comprehensive care. Here’s an
exploration of this interface:
6. Ethical and legal boundaries
● Adherence to Codes of 1. Collaborative Roles
Ethics: Both counselors and ● Holistic Care: Both
social workers are bound by counselors and social
professional codes of ethics workers aim to
 SOCIAL WORK COUNSELING REVIEWER

support the overall dealing with complex

well-being of clients, cases that require both
but they approach this therapeutic support
from slightly different and practical
angles. Counselors assistance.
focus on mental and ● Crisis Intervention: In
emotional health crisis situations, such
through therapeutic as dealing with
interventions, while trauma, domestic
social workers violence, or substance
address broader abuse, both
social, economic, and counselors and social
environmental workers may be
factors. involved. Counselors
● Interdisciplinary provide immediate
Teams: In settings emotional support and
like hospitals, therapeutic
schools, community intervention, while
centers, and mental social workers help
health clinics, with safety planning,
counselors and social resource allocation,
workers often work and connecting clients
together as part of to long-term support
interdisciplinary services.
teams. These teams
may include 3. Shared ethical framework
psychologists, ● Ethical Decision-
psychiatrists, nurses, Making: Both
and other professions adhere to
professionals who strong ethical
collaboratively guidelines that
address the emphasize client
multifaceted needs of autonomy,
clients. confidentiality, and
the importance of
2. Shared goals and Objective professional
● Client-Centered boundaries. In
Approach: Both practice, this shared
professions prioritize ethical framework
the client’s needs and ensures that
work to empower counselors and social
individuals to workers can
improve their lives. collaborate
This shared goal effectively, even
fosters collaboration, when their approaches
especially when differ.
 SOCIAL WORK COUNSELING REVIEWER

● Confidentiality and engage in activities

Information Sharing: that involve
When working coordinating care,
together, counselors especially in settings
and social workers like schools or
must navigate the integrated health
sharing of client services, where they
information. While may need to liaise
both professions with families,
uphold strict teachers, and other
confidentiality, the service providers.
need for collaboration
might require them to 5. Distinct approaches within
share relevant the interface
information with one ● Counseling Focus:
another, always with Counselors are
the client’s informed primarily focused on
consent and within helping clients
legal boundaries. explore and resolve
personal issues
4. Overlap in Services through therapeutic
● Therapeutic techniques. Their
Interventions: Clinical work is often rooted
social workers, who in psychological
are trained in theories and involves
therapeutic helping clients
techniques, often develop coping
provide services strategies, improve
similar to those of relationships, and
counselors, such as work through
individual or group emotional or
therapy. In these behavioral challenges.
cases, the distinction ● Social Work Focus:
between the two roles Social workers
can become blurred, address a wider range
with both of client needs, often
professionals incorporating
providing direct advocacy, community
mental health resources, and
services. systemic change into
● Case Management: their practice. They
While social workers might work on
are more commonly ensuring clients have
associated with case access to basic needs
management, like housing, food,
counselors may also healthcare, and legal
 SOCIAL WORK COUNSELING REVIEWER

assistance, in addition social welfare. A

to providing counselor might focus
emotional support. on helping a client
6. Training and continuing manage anxiety,
education while a social worker
● Cross-Training ensures the client has
Opportunities: There access to housing,
are opportunities for employment services,
cross-training and healthcare.
between the two ● School Settings: In
professions. For schools, counselors
instance, counselors often address
might benefit from students' academic
understanding social and emotional needs,
work principles like while social workers
resource allocation might work with
and advocacy, while families to address
social workers might broader social issues
enhance their like poverty, domestic
therapeutic skills by violence, or child
studying counseling welfare concerns.
techniques. Together, they can
● Professional provide
Development: comprehensive
Ongoing professional support to students.
development that
includes 8. Challenges and opportunities
understanding the ● Role Confusion: One
roles and of the challenges at
responsibilities of the interface of
related professions counseling and social
helps both counselors work is role
and social workers confusion, where
better navigate their clients or even other
interface and professionals may not
collaborate more clearly understand the
effectively. distinct contributions
of each profession.
7. Case studies and practical Clear communication
application and role delineation
● Integrated Health are essential to
Care: In integrated mitigate this issue.
health care settings, ● Opportunities for
clients often present Innovation: The
with needs that span intersection of these
mental health and fields offers
 SOCIAL WORK COUNSELING REVIEWER

opportunities for
innovative approaches 2. COGNITIVE
to client care, such as Cognitive counseling theories hold
integrated service that people experience psychological
models that combine and emotional difficulties when their
therapeutic and social thinking is out of sync with reality.
support in a seamless, When this distorted or "faulty"
client-centered thinking is applied to problem-
framework. solving, the result understandably
leads to faulty solutions. Cognitive
COUNSELING THEORIES AND counselors work to challenge their
APPROACHES clients' faulty thinking patterns so
clients are able to derive solutions
Explore the various counseling models
that accurately address the problems
categorized under humanistic, cognitive,
they are experiencing. Currently
behavioral, psychoanalytic, constructionist,
preferred cognitive-theory-based
and systemic theories answering questions
therapies include cognitive behavior
like "What is the main approach of
therapy, reality therapy, motivational
counseling?" and "What are group theories
interviewing, and acceptance and
in guidance and counseling?" Understanding
commitment therapy.
the importance of counselors fitting within
these models ensures effective and
3. BEHAVIORAL
personalized client care.
Behavioral counseling theories hold
that people engage in problematic
COUNSELING THEORIES:
thinking and behavior when their
EXPLORING 6 MAJOR
environment supports it. When an
THEORETICAL CATEGORIES
environment reinforces or
1. HUMANISTIC
encourages these problems, they will
Humanistic counseling theories hold
continue to occur. Behavioral
that people have within themselves
counselors work to help clients
all the resources they need to live
identify the reinforcements that are
healthy and functional lives, and that
supporting problematic patterns of
problems occur as a result of
thinking and acting and replace them
restricted or unavailable problem-
with alternative reinforcements for
solving resources. Humanistic
more desirable patterns. Currently,
counselors see their role not as one
preferred therapies based in behavior
of directing clients in how to address
theory include behavior therapy,
their problems but, rather, as one of
dialectical behavior therapy,
helping clients to discover and
multimodal therapy and conjoint sex
access within themselves the
therapy.
restricted resources they need to
solve problems on their own. Some
4. PSYCHOANALYTIC
currently preferred humanistic
Psychoanalytic counseling theories
counseling therapies include person-
hold that psychological problems
centered, existential, emotion-
result from the present-day influence
focused, Gestalt and positive
of unconscious psychological drives
psychology.
 SOCIAL WORK COUNSELING REVIEWER

or motivations stemming from past exerted on people by the social

relationships and experiences. systems within which they live.
Dysfunctional thought and behavior Accordingly, individual thinking,
patterns from the past have become feeling and behavior are best
unconscious "working models" that understood when examined in
guide clients toward continued relationship to the role they play
dysfunctional thought and behavior within a person's family or other
in their present lives. Psychoanalytic important social networks.
counselors strive to help their clients Systemically focused counselors
become aware of these unconscious work to revise social network
working models so that their dynamics that influence a client's
negative influence can be understood undesirable thoughts, feelings and
and addressed. Some currently behaviors. Some currently preferred
preferred therapies grounded in therapies drawing from systemic
psychoanalytic theory include theory include structural family
psychoanalysis, attachment therapy, therapy, strategic family therapy,
object relations therapy and Adlerian human validation process family
therapy therapy and Gottman method couples
therapy.
5. CONSTRUCTIONIST
Constructionist counseling theories COUNSELING AND SOCIAL WORK’S
hold that knowledge is merely an ETHICS
invented or "constructed" Ethical counseling involves guiding and
understanding of actual events in the advising individuals or organizations on
world. While actual events in the ethical dilemmas to help them make
world can trigger people's meaning- decisions aligned with ethical principles. It
making processes, it is those includes an advisory role, problem-solving,
meaning-making processes, rather education, facilitating decision-making, and
than the events themselves, that support in accountability. This counseling
determine how people think, feel and finds application in organizations,
behave. Constructionist counselors professional practice, and personal contexts,
work collaboratively with clients to aiming to guide ethical behavior, promote
examine and revise problematic moral integrity, and ensure actions align
client constructions of self, with ethical standards.
relationships and the world. Some
currently preferred constructionist- DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
theory-based therapy models include COUNSELING ETHICS AND SOCIAL
solution focused brief therapy, WORK ETHICS
narrative therapy, feminist therapy, Social work ethics and counseling ethics
Eriksonian therapy and identity have many similarities as both professions
renegotiation counseling. are dedicated to assisting individuals and
communities, guided by principles of
6. SYSTEMIC respect, confidentiality, and professional
Systemic counseling theories hold integrity. However, there are significant
that thinking, feeling and behavior differences due to the distinct roles, goals,
are largely shaped by pressures and contexts of each profession.
 SOCIAL WORK COUNSELING REVIEWER

COUNSELING
SCOPE OF PRACTICE: In counseling ethics, client privacy is highly
SOCIAL WORK valued, with exceptions to confidentiality
Social work encompasses various areas such only applied in cases of immediate harm or
as clinical social work, community legal obligations, which are clearly
organizing, policy advocacy, and case explained to clients at the start of therapy.
management. Its ethics cover social justice,
advocacy, and addressing systemic PRINCIPLES OF COUNSELING
inequalities. Social workers work in settings 1. Acceptance - non-judgmental
like schools, hospitals, community centers,
interaction with the client.
and government agencies.
2. Individualization - knowing the
COUNSELING specifics in every client’s situation.
Counseling is focused on providing direct 3. Confidentiality - protecting the
psychological support, therapy, and client’s information.
guidance to individuals, couples, or groups. 4. Self-determination - empowering
Its ethics revolve around the therapeutic the client and guiding them through
relationship, mental health treatment, and
possible options.
the confidentiality of client sessions.
5. Controlled emotional involvement
CLIENT RELATIONS: - being sensitive and responsive to
SOCIAL WORK the client’s emotions without being
Social workers have diverse roles, including involved.
therapists, case managers, advocates, and 6. Non-judgemental attitude - no
community organizers. They work with preconceived notions or prejudice
clients on various issues beyond mental
towards the client.
health, both in short-term and long-term
capacities.
PURPOSE OF COUNSELING
COUNSELING 1. Opportunity for self-exploration
Counseling, on the other hand, is more and self-discovery
focused on the therapeutic relationship, greater understanding into the
providing a structured and time-bound space client’s personality, values, and
for clients to explore personal issues in a
beliefs.
safe and confidential manner.
2. Provide support and validation
CONFIDENTIALITY provide a safe, non-judgmental,
SOCIAL WORK warm, and caring environment for
In social work, maintaining confidentiality is clients to feel comfortable with
important, but there is also a responsibility disclosure of personal matters.
to consider the well-being of the broader
3. Assistance in change of self-
community. Social workers may need to
navigate between client confidentiality and defeating behaviors/habits
reporting abuse or protecting others from learn what steps are needed to take
harm. action and regain control over the
 SOCIAL WORK COUNSELING REVIEWER

client’s behaviors in order to 1. Attending skills

enhance more positive change. 2. Reflecting and paraphrasing
4. Enhancement of self-acceptance 3. Clarifying and use of questions
and greater self-esteem 4. Focusing
We can also learn to accept our flaws 5. Building rapport
and imperfections as a part of being 6. Summarizing
human. With self-acceptance comes 7. Immediacy
self-love, self-compassion, and a
stronger sense of self-confidence. KUBLER’S EMOTIONAL REACTION
5. Guidance in finding purpose
Through exploration of values, ELISABETT KUBLER-ROSS
beliefs, interests, and memories, was a Swiss-American psychiatrist, a
counseling may help the client pioneer in near-death studies, and author of
rediscover their purpose, passion, the internationally best-selling book, On
and meaning in life. Death and Dying (1969), where she first
6. Better expression and discussed her theory of the five stages of
management of emotions grief, also known as the "Kübler-Ross
learn to express and cope with your model".
emotions in a healthy way.
7. Provide a safe outlet to vent about FIVE (5) STAGES OF GRIEF
issues 1. DENIAL
Counseling offers relief from mental This first stage of grieving helps us
health, relational, and situational to survive the loss. In this stage, the
concerns by providing a safe world becomes meaningless and
environment to vent. overwhelming. Denial and shock
8. Fostering hope, motivation, and help us to cope and make survival
encouragement possible. Denial helps us to pace our
Counselors can help spark some feelings of grief.
motivation by bringing awareness to 2. ANGER
positive achievements in the present Anger is a necessary stage of the
and past to strengthen hope for the healing process. Be willing to feel
future self, future relationships, and your anger, even though it may seem
future life. endless. The more you truly feel it,
9. Learning effective skills for life the more it will begin to dissipate
Counseling provides a safe and the more you will heal. There are
environment to learn, practice, and many other emotions under the anger
experiment with these skills before and you will get to them in time, but
applying them to real situations anger is the emotion we are most
outside of sessions. used to managing. The truth is that
anger has no limits. It can extend not
COUNSELING SKILLS only to your friends, the doctors,
 SOCIAL WORK COUNSELING REVIEWER

your family, yourself and your loved

one who died, but also to God. You CLIENTHOOD
may ask, "Where is God in this? Clienthood is best understood as a process
3. BARGAINING through which clients become aware of
Before a loss, it seems like you will issues, are impelled and sometimes
do anything if only your loved one compelled to obtain services, follow various
would be spared. “Please God, ” you options, come to see an agency as relevant,
bargain, “I will never be angry at my make contact, are taken into it and
wife again if you’ll just let her live.” processed.
After a loss, bargaining may take the
form of a temporary truce. “What if I FEMINIST THEORY
devote the rest of my life to helping Feminist theory encompasses a range of
others. Then can I wake up and ideas, reflecting the diversity of women
realize this has all been a bad worldwide. Feminism counters traditional
dream?”. We become lost in a maze philosophy with new ways of addressing
of “If only…” or “What if…” issues affecting humanity, calling for the
statements. replacement of the presiding patriarchal
4. DEPRESSION order with a system that emphasizes equal
After bargaining, our attention rights, justice, and fairness.
moves squarely into the present.
Empty feelings present themselves, THE HELPING RELATIONSHIP
and grief enters our lives on a deeper ● The Counselor-client helping
level, deeper than we ever imagined. relationship is Unique in that it is
This depressive stage feels as though established as a one-way relationship
with the purpose of resolving a
it will last forever. It’s important to
concern and/ or fostering the
understand that this depression is not personal growth of one person- the
a sign of mental illness. It is the client.
appropriate response to a great loss. ● The counselor is designated as the
5. ACCEPTANCE helper and assumed to have the
Acceptance is often confused with knowledge and training to assist the
the notion of being “all right” or client in an intentional and
systematic way.
“OK” with what has happened. This
● Helping relationship (as defined by
is not the case. Most people don’t Rogers (1961)) as one “ in which at
ever feel OK or all right about the least one of the parties has the intent
loss of a loved one. This stage is of promoting the growth,
about accepting the reality that our development, maturity, improved
loved one is physically gone and functioning and improved coping
recognizing that this new reality is with life of the other.”
the permanent reality. We will never GOALS OF HELPING RELATIONSHIP
like this reality or make it OK, but 1. Changes of behavior and lifestyle
eventually we accept it.
 SOCIAL WORK COUNSELING REVIEWER

2. Increased awareness or insight and 5. Clients and counselors have an

understanding agreement on goals and procedures;
3. Relief from suffering sessions are structured in such a way
as to clearly move toward
4. Changes in thoughts and self-
accomplishment of these goals.
perceptions 6. Client and counselor view
themselves as engaged in a shared
THREE PHASES OF THE HELPING endeavor that seems likely to
RELATIONSHIP succeed.
1. Relationship building
The goal is to build a foundation of ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS OF A
mutual trust that promotes the HELPING RELATIONSHIP: (CARL
client’s exploration of the presenting ROGERS, 1957 - THE
issues. INSTRUMENTAL IN DETERMINING
2. Challenging the client to find ways THE CORE CONDITIONS
to change NECESSARY FOR A BENEFICIAL
The client has a deeper level of RELATIONSHIP IN COUNSELING.)
awareness and understanding 1. Congruence
regarding the issues and the helper emphasized the importance of being
then challenges the client to “try on” genuine and real in the relationship.
new ways of thinking, feeling, When the counselor is congruent,
behaving. interactions with the client are
3. Facilitating positive client action characterized by honesty,
The helper facilitates client actions transparency and openness.
that lead toward change and growth 2. Unconditional positive regard for
in the client’s life outside the the individual
counseling relationship. stressed the importance of accepting
the client without evaluation and
CHARACTERISTIC OF POSITIVE judgment.
HELPING RELATIONSHIP 3. Empathic understanding needed to
(SELIGMAN 2004) be present for the relationship to
1. It provides a safe and protective be therapeutic
environment for clients. assuring clients that they are
2. It encourages collaboration, with understood; it also can provide a
both clients and helpers playing an sense of safety and encourage client
active role in the counseling process. exploration. (Empathy- defined as
3. It has mutual or a feeling of shared
the understanding of the client’s
warmth, caring, affirmation and
respect. experiences and feelings as if they
4. Clients can identify with their were your own but without losing as
helpers and perhaps use them as role “as if” quality (Roger, 1957)
models.
 SOCIAL WORK COUNSELING REVIEWER

NECESSARY ELEMENTS FOR A CHECKLIST OF DESIRABLE

THERAPEUTIC RELATIONSHIP: COUNSELOR CHARACTERISTICS:
1. Respect ● Intelligent
describes the helping attitude that ● Energetic
communicates acceptance of the ● Caring
● Trustworthy
client as a person of worth and
● Genuine
dignity (roger,1957) ● Emotionally Stable
2. Trust ● Resourceful
expression of respect and positive ● Unselfish
regard for the client’s individual ● Curious
worth. ● Good Listener
3. Confidentiality ● Realistic
● Dependable
assures clients that whatever they tell
● Hopeful
will remain private (within certain ● Respectful of individual differences
limits). This promise allows the ● Maintain balance in own life
client to feel safe and promotes ● Emphatic
telling information that would ● Optimistic
otherwise remain hidden. ● Self-confident
4. The use of benevolent power ● Self- aware
● Creative
refers to using the interpersonal
● Flexible
influence one has as a counselor in a ● Hardworking
careful manner.(According to Strong ● Insightful
and Claiborn, 1992), counselors are ● Non-judgemental
influential because of their perceived ● Knowledgeable
levels of expertness, attractiveness ● Ethical
and trustworthiness and must use this ● Friendly
● Sense of Humor
power responsively in facilitating ● Comfortable with intimacy Able to
change for the clients. express yourself clearly
5. Commitment
Carrying out respective SKILLS REQUIRED FOR EFFECTIVE
responsibilities in the helping INTERVIEW
relationship is important for both 1. Skills in relating with interviewee
counselors and clients. Counselor (rapport building)
responsibilities include delivering ● Accepting people as they are
specified services and following ● Individualizing people
ethical guidelines and client ● Observe and assure
responsibilities include a interviewee of confidential
commitment toward working on his nature of the interview
or her problems and investing energy ● Protecting the confidential
in the counseling process. nature of the interview
 SOCIAL WORK COUNSELING REVIEWER

● Allowing the interviewee to ● Reflecting

participate and becomes self- ● Validating
sufficient ● Reframing
● Paraphrasing
● Exercise self-discipline
● Re-stating
(avoid using pressure,
imposing advice and other
NON-VERBAL RESPONSES
forms of power on
● Nodding
interviewee)
● Shifting position (e.g. closer to
● Demonstrate caring attitude interviewee shows encouragement)
toward interview ● Facial expressions
2. Observation skills
● Sensitive to non-verbal, SOME TECHNIQUES
behavioral ways 1. Modeling
● Observe the following... observational learning
● Body language 2. Joining
● Content of opening accepting and accommodating the
and closing statement families in order to win their
● Shifts in conversation confidence and circumvent
● Association of ideas resistance
● Recurrent references 3. Reframing
● Inconsistencies and re-labeling a family’s description of
gaps behavior to make it more amenable
● Dynamics between to therapeutic change.
family 4. Shaping
members/individual reinforcing change in small steps
group members 5. Role-playing
3. Skills in listening acting out the parts of important
● Listening before talking characters to dramatize feelings and
● Picking up important points practice new ways of relating.
for elaboration
● Giving brief, relevant BASIC COUNSELING SKILLS IN
comments or questions that SOCIAL WORK
show the interviewee’s 1. Attention giving
account to express his Attention giving is the behavioral
feelings aspect of building rapport. When a
counselor first meets with a client,
VERBAL RESPONSES they must indicate to the client that
● Clarifying they are interested in listening to
● Affirming them and helping them. Through
● Praising attending, the counselor is able to
● Summarizing
 SOCIAL WORK COUNSELING REVIEWER

encourage the client to talk and open ● Mirroring -

up about their issues. automatic reflection/
● Non -verbal signs of active mirroring of any
listening facial expression used
● Smile - Small smile by the speaker can be
can be used to show a sign of attentive
that the listener is listening. These
paying attention to reflective expressions
what is being said or can help to show
as a way of agreeing sympathy and
or being happy about empathy in more
the messages being emotional situations.
received. combined Attempting to
with nods of the head consciously mimic
and smile can be facial expression can
powerful in affirming be a sign of
that messages are inattention.
being listened to and ● Distraction - the
understood. active listener will not
● Eye contact - it is be distracted and
normal and usually therefore will refrain
encouraging for the from fidgeting,
listener to look at the looking at a clock or
speaker. Combine eye watch, doodling,
contact with smiles playing with their hair
and other non-verbal or picking their
messages to fingernails
encourage speakers.
● Posture - posture can ● Verbal signs of active
tell a lot about the listening
sender and receiver in ● Positive
interpersonal reinforcement - a
interactions. The strong signal of
attentive Listener attentiveness, caution
tends to lean slightly should be used when
forward or sideways using positive verbal
whilst sitting. Other reinforcement.
signs include a slight ● Remembering -
slant of the head or remembering a few
resting the head on key points, or even
one hand. the name of the client,
SOCIAL WORK COUNSELING REVIEWER

can help to reinforce of the client and

that messages sent demonstrate
have been received understanding.
and understood. ● Clarification -
Remembering details, clarifying involves
ideas, concepts from asking questions to
previous clients to ensure that
conversations proves the message was
that attention was received by the
kept and is likely to counselor.
encourage the client Clarification usually
to continue. During involves the use of
longer exchanges it “open question”
may be appropriate to which enables the
make very brief notes client to expand on
to act as a memory certain points as
jog when questioning necessary.
or clarifying later. ● Summarization -
● Questioning - the summarizing involves
counselor can taking the main points
demonstrate that they of the received
have been paying message and
attention by asking reiterating them in a
questions and making logical and clear way
statements. By asking 2. Active listening
some questions the It is a communication technique used
counselor also helps in counseling, training and conflict
to reinforce that they resolution, which requires the
have interest in what listener to feed back what they hear
the client has been to the client, by way of restating or
saying. paraphrasing what they have heard in
● Reflection - their own words, to confirm what
reflecting is closely they have heard and moreover, to
repeating or confirm the understanding of both
paraphrasing what the parties.
client has said in 3. Non-critical acceptance
order to show The tendency to believe generally
comprehension. positive or flattering descriptions of
Reflection is the oneself.
powerful skill that can 4. Paraphrasing
reinforce the message
 SOCIAL WORK COUNSELING REVIEWER

conveying empathy, acceptance and

genuineness. Since we cannot read
our client’s mind and we’ve been
given a lot of extraneous material.