Counseling Techniques
Counseling Techniques
Sarah B. Fluhart
Bellevue University
Abstract
Counseling Techniques come in a wide variety of models and from many different theories of counseling. The counseling techniques described during any motivational interviewing process are the basic techniques that will be addressed in this paper. Motivational interviewing techniques include: Asking open-ended questions, using affirmations, forming reflective statements, and providing a summary, these techniques along with body language and empathy work together to form a trust between client and helper.
Keywords: open-ended questions, affirmations, reflective statements, providing a summary, body language, and empathy
Counseling Techniques
For clients to feel free to talk about themselves, you need to provide attention, active listening, and empathy. (Corey, 2011. p.134) These skills are all part of techniques learned in motivational interviewing. Motivational Interviewing is an empathic, gentle, and skillful style of counseling that helps practitioners have productive conversations with individuals with co-occurring and other disorders. (http://www.samhsa.gov)
Open Ended Questions
An open question is one that is used in order to gathering lots of information – you ask it with the intent of getting a long answer. A closed question is one used to gather specific information - it can normally be answered with either a single word or a short phrase. Good counseling techniques to know! (Perry 2008. p. 113). Open ended questions will begin with “what” or “How”. Asking questions that will lead them into telling a story will get you more information. This is information you will need to help your client.
Using Affirmations
Being able to support clients in their strengths can start to build their self-esteem and empower them to get their life back. Providers can empower individuals by using language that affirms their strengths. (http://www.samhsa.gov) This type of language could include
Sarah B. Fluhart
Bellevue University
Abstract
Counseling Techniques come in a wide variety of models and from many different theories of counseling. The counseling techniques described during any motivational interviewing process are the basic techniques that will be addressed in this paper. Motivational interviewing techniques include: Asking open-ended questions, using affirmations, forming reflective statements, and providing a summary, these techniques along with body language and empathy work together to form a trust between client and helper.
Keywords: open-ended questions, affirmations, reflective statements, providing a summary, body language, and empathy
Counseling Techniques
For clients to feel free to talk about themselves, you need to provide attention, active listening, and empathy. (Corey, 2011. p.134) These skills are all part of techniques learned in motivational interviewing. Motivational Interviewing is an empathic, gentle, and skillful style of counseling that helps practitioners have productive conversations with individuals with co-occurring and other disorders. (http://www.samhsa.gov)
Open Ended Questions
An open question is one that is used in order to gathering lots of information – you ask it with the intent of getting a long answer. A closed question is one used to gather specific information - it can normally be answered with either a single word or a short phrase. Good counseling techniques to know! (Perry 2008. p. 113). Open ended questions will begin with “what” or “How”. Asking questions that will lead them into telling a story will get you more information. This is information you will need to help your client.
Using Affirmations
Being able to support clients in their strengths can start to build their self-esteem and empower them to get their life back. Providers can empower individuals by using language that affirms their strengths. (http://www.samhsa.gov) This type of language could include
References: Corey, M. S. and Corey, G. (2011). Becoming a Helper. Belmont, CA. Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning Perry, W. (2008). Basic Counseling Techniques: A Beginning Therapist 's Tool Kit. Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration SAMHSA. (2013).Publications Motivational Interviewing Retrieved September 9, 2013 from http://www.samhsa.gov/co-occurring/topics/training/skills.aspx Motivational Interviewing. (May/June 2012) Collaborating with Miller and Rollnick 2009. Retrieved September 9, 2013 from http://www.motivationalinterview.org