Counselling

• Counselling


  Professional counselling is a safe and confidential collaboration between qualified counsellors and clients to promote mental health and well-being, enhance self-understanding, and resolve identified concerns. Clients are active participants in the counselling process at every stage.
• Self-disclosure


  The person seeking help will need to share information about their concerns. This will involve sharing information that may not have been shared with anyone else.
• Therapeutic Relationship


  • An essential component of effective counselling
  • The therapist is a vital part of the effectiveness of therapeutic treatments
  • Research shows that the therapy relationship and the therapy used contribute to treatment outcome
  • Trust is a fundamental building block in a counselling relationship
  • Most people seek counselling when they have an emotional or physical crisis
  • A central feature of counselling = relationship
  • The expectations of the person seeking help may differ from that of the counsellor's
  • Empower people seeking help so they can become self-sufficient
  • Goals of the counselling process: help people discover solutions and change their behaviours
• Effective Counsellor


  • Congruent - genuine, integrated and a whole person
  • Empathetic, warm and sensitive with good rapport - joining with the person, providing a feeling of togetherness
  • Non-judgemental, unconditional positive regard - being accepting
  • Attentive, understanding and supportive
  • Collaborative and respectful of one's competence
  • Proficient in using counselling skills purposefully
• Corey's Perspective


  • No model can explain all the facets of human experience
  • 11 approaches discussed in textbook
  • Students can develop a counselling style
  • Students should experience being a 'client'
  • Counselling theory and techniques, theories of personality, and supervised experiences are essential
• Effective Counsellor


  • YOU are the most important instrument you have
  • Be authentic, and don't hide behind your role
  • Be a therapeutic person - grow, risk, care, and be involved
• Understanding our own values

  • It can be hard not to be judgemental
  • Less likely to impose our POV on to others
  • Self-knowledge enables one to develop empathy - seeing the world through others' eyes
  • Many ways to gain an understanding of oneself, what is important to you, what you believe and why
  • Supervision, training, education, self-reflection and values - e.g. clarification activities expands knowledge about one's values and beliefs
  • It enables you to develop quiet confidence and self-clarity - it will assist you as you undertake counselling skills training
  • It is important for counsellors to know their own beliefs and values so they can respect client's values, are not distracted during the counselling process, don't try to impose their own beliefs or values on clients, and can assist clients in creating goals and finding answers in harmony with their own values
• Counselling for Counsellors


  • Helps to explore your motivations for being a counsellor
  • Helps to manage countertransference - avoid unsolicited advice and negative internal reactions to their clients
  • Important for counsellors' personal and professional development, including self-care
  • If not committed to examining our own life, how can we inspire clients to examine their lives?
  • Seek supervision to learn to effectively manage value differences with clients
• Becoming culturally competent


  • Be aware of your biases, values, cultural norms, and expectations
  • Try to understand the world from clients' viewpoint
  • Knowledge of the dynamics of oppression, racism, discrimination, and stereotyping
  • Study the historical background, traditions, and values of clients and be open to learning from them
  • Expand your viewpoint to explore clients' ways of life that may be different from your own
  • Awareness of acculturation strategies - adjust to new cultures
  • An ongoing journey
• Ethical codes are a fundamental component of effective counselling
• Ethical codes


  Guidelines outlining professional standards of behaviour and practice
• Ethical codes do not make decisions for counsellors
• Counsellors must interpret and apply ethical codes to their decision-making
• Ethical Codes


  • Psychology - Australian Psychological Society (APS), Psychology Board of Australia code of conduct
  • Counselling & Psychotherapy - Australian Counselling Association (ACA) & Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PAFCA)
• The principles that underlie professional codes

  • Benefit others, do no harm, respect 'others' autonomy, be just, fair, and faithful
• The role of ethical codes

  Educate us about responsibilities, are a basis for accountability and improving professional practice, and protect clients
• Sources of Ethical Principles and Standards

  • 2007 Code of Ethics - Australian Psychological Society (APS)
  • APS Ethical Guidelines
  • APS Practice Guides
  • Individual professions tend to have codes (e.g. counsellors, social workers, occupational therapists, etc.)
  • Organisations also tend to have related standards, policies, and procedures
• Code of Ethics


  Developed to guide professional, ethical behaviour and provide standards
• The Code of Ethics is currently used by the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA) - the legal body that oversees the registration of psychologists</b>
• The 3 general ethical principles of the APS Code of Ethics

  • Respect for the rights and dignity of people and peoples
  • Propriety (standards)
  • Integrity (honest)
• Ethical standards under Respect for the rights and dignity of people and peoples

  • Justice
  • Respect
  • Informed consent
  • Privacy and confidentiality
  • Release of information to clients
  • Collection of client information from associated parties
• Ethical standards under Propriety

  • Competence
  • Record keeping
  • Professional responsibility
  • Provision of psychological services at the request of a third party and/or to multiple clients
  • Delegation of professional tasks
  • Use of interpreters
  • Collaborating with others for the benefit of clients
  • Accepting clients of other professionals
  • Suspension and termination of psychological services
  • Conflicting demands
  • Psychological assessments
  • Research
• Ethical standards under Integrity

  • Reputable behaviour
  • Communication
  • Conflicts of interest
  • Non-exploitation
  • Authorship
  • Financial arrangements
  • Ethics investigations and concerns
• Compliance with the APS Code of Ethics is a requirement for registration as a psychologist in Australia
• The Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA) is developing a code of conduct for psychologists
• In the interim, psychologists must practice in accordance with the APS Code of Ethics
• Australian Counselling Association (ACA) Code of Ethics


  General principles and rules for ethical conduct
• Australian Counselling Association (ACA) Code of Practice


  Translation of these rules and principles into specific issues and situations of practice
• The ACA Code of Ethics and Practice applies to all members of the ACA regardless of Level, Modality, Environment, Employment or type of Counselling in which they are engaged
• Examples of Counselling modes


  • business, career, couple, employment, family, grief and loss, group, school, etc.
• ACA Code of Ethics


  • Offer non-judgemental professional service
  • Establish a helping relationship to maintain the integrity and empowerment of the client without offering advice
  • Be committed to development
  • Ensure the client's understanding of the purpose, process, and boundaries of the counselling relationship
  • Offer a promise of confidentiality
  • For the purpose of advocacy, receive written permission from the client before divulging any information or contacting other parties
  • Endeavor to make suitable referrals where competent service cannot be provided
  • Undertake regular supervision and debriefing to develop skills, monitor performance and sustain professional accountability
  • Be responsive to the needs of peers and provide a supportive environment for their professional development
  • Not act as or practice legal counsel on behalf of/to a client when practicing as a counsellor or act as an agent for a client
  • Not initiate, develop or pursue a relationship, be it sexual or nonsexual, with past or current clients, within 2 years of the last counselling session
  • Be responsible for your own updating and continued knowledge of theories, ethics and practices through journals, the association and other relevant bodies
  • Be committed to the above code of ethics and recognise that procedures for withdrawal of membership will be implemented for breaches
• PAFCA Ethical Principles


  • Trust - honouring the trust placed in the practitioner
  • Autonomy - respect for the client's right to be self-governing
  • Beneficence - a commitment to promoting the client's well-being
  • Non-maleficence - a commitment to avoiding harm to the client
  • Fairness - the fair and impartial of all clients
  • Self-respect - fostering the practitioner's self-knowledge and care for self
• PAFCA Personal Attributes of Helpers

  • Authenticity
  • Care
  • Courage
  • Curiosity
  • Diligence
  • Empathy
  • Honesty
  • Humility
• PAFCA Ethical Standards


  • Put clients first
  • Work to high professional standards
• Ethical Decision Making


  Identify the problem, review relevant codes and laws, seek consultation, brainstorm, list consequences, decide and document the reasons for your actions
• To the degree it is possible, include the client in your decision-making process
• Informed consent


  Clients need enough information about the counselling process to make informed choices
• Educate clients about their rights and responsibilities
• Address privacy issues with clients, including the implications of using technology to communicate
• Informed consent empowers clients and helps build trust