Describe processes for initiating, maintaining, developing and concluding a counselling relation.

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Toni Woodward Unit 16 Counselling Martin Faulkner

P1- Describe processes for initiating, maintaining, developing and concluding a counselling relation

In this assignment I will look at how a counselling session goes and the need for supervision and referrals.

Counselling is a process that enables a person to sort out issues and reach decisions affecting their life. Often counselling is sought out at times of change or crisis, it need not be so, however, as counselling can also help us at any time of our life. Counselling involves talking with a person in a way that helps that person solve a problem or helps to create conditions that will cause the person to understand and improve their behaviour, character, values or life circumstances.  

At the start of a counselling session, the counsellor will more than likely initiate the session between themselves and the client. This done by contracting with the client. The counselling contract outlines the confidentiality and boundaries that a counsellor offers. Confidentiality is absolute and whatever is disclosed in a counselling session is never revealed outside the session in connection with the client’s name, neither is the identity of the client ever revealed to anyone. This has certain legal expectations, i.e., if the client threatens to hurt others or if the client tells the counsellor that they have hurt someone. The counsellor must inform the appropriate authorities in these exceptions to complete confidentiality and will tell the client that they are obliged to do so. This is to protect the counsellor, the client and others and is a legal requirement. The contract also specifies that after a session, confidential notes may be made by the counsellor about the content and process of the counselling session, but the client will not be identified in anyway. The notes are to help the counsellor follow the counselling process and identify patterns. Also the counsellor will explain that they have supervision.

The counsellor has to adhere to the part of the contract about equal opportunities. All clients must be treated fairly and equally, even though they may be a different sex, age, religion or ethnicity.

The contract also includes the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy code of ethics (BACP). This includes; the counsellor has respect for the client’s right to live their life as they wish to do so.

Referrals must also be discussed in the contract. Referrals in counselling usually happen when the counsellor feels the need that they cannot deal with the clients’ problems any more, for example they are not trained to do so.

A counsellor only participates in a certain amount of sessions, after this time the counsellor can either book more session with the client or refer them to a different counsellor.

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At the beginning of the session the counsellor has to conduct the relationship between them and the client. This usually begins with the counsellor introducing themselves, and how long the session lasts for. The counsellor must listen to the client and understand them as best as they can, and respect the way they are feeling. The counsellor has to make sure the client understand everything that is being said to them, this is done by paraphrasing and summarising. The counsellor must try to fill in the gaps with questions or talking when there is silence. They must try to make ...

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