Evaluation of Session - Essay Example

Summary of the Session The client that we I was handling in the counseling session was Brenda who had a couple of issues regarding her career and education. Brenda seemed overwhelmed by the happening of things that she was going through in her life. Her family preferred that she got a job first before proceeding with her plans of furthering her education, but she had a lot of doubts regarding the whole deal of securing employment. Brenda then started having doubts on whether the course that she had decided to do would in any way get her anywhere as far as her life and career aspiration is concerned. Also, she lost hope on the way and was not sure if she would make it in the path that she has chosen. On the scale of her motivation towards completing her studies ranged 4-6, but she has committed to finishing the studies since she has already paid the fee. Brenda has never had the intention of bragging off or even showing off, she wants to complete the degree, and this will make her deeply proud of the achievement, which would lead her to show off. Brenda has never had a materialistic culture of bragging with whatever she has, but in one way or another, the degree would make her feel elated. The completion of the course would provide a brighter future for her and also be the ignition to her self-drive of helping others out of good will and doing charity with the virtues of kindness, care, as well as compassion. Brenda also sees a brighter future for her confidence towards a brighter future and this one is the motivation that she needs as she is not yet sure of the whole thing. It helps her to maintain focus and confidence towards her goal, and she gives this as the reason as to why she rejected other options. Furthermore, Brenda is an optimistic individual who looks at life from a positive point of view. Her wishes are to have her worries no more and do her own business with much prosperity and having nothing to restrict her, giving her a lot of freedom. However, all this remains to be a dream to be achieved, as she is not yet qualified. Also, Brenda feels that the time she would take to finish the course is a bit longer as it would take three years and nothing seems to make her understand that her situation is just normal. The most significant part of the course is that when she shall get a job, it shall be a vocational one as she feels that it is her calling and also it has been her life time aspiration. Vocational jobs mean a lot to individuals (McLeod, 2013). The Method of Counselling The method of counseling that I chose for Brenda's case was the Solution Focused Therapy. The reason as to why I chose it was because of the nature of her case as it allowed me to focus on her situations in the right perspective such that the specific issue is singled out in a clear manner to the client (O'Connell, 2005). First, I was able to look at the previous solutions and analyze them for her benefit. The first question that popped in my mind regarding whether I should have asked her some queries that would help me in determining the case. The point that I should have focused on was to have her explain to me whether there are were any times when the event in hand seemed less of a problem. Besides, this method would allow me to set a short term goal for her to gauge her direction and the effectiveness of the steps that she is taking as she furthers her education (Vishala, 2008). This would be a goal that would act as a significant boost that would help her as she takes on the course so that she endures it successfully (Herr, 2006). In comparison, the method would have allowed me to ask her more questions which seem to contradict the first one so that the real direction could be determined after having identified the problem (O'Connell, 2005). For instance, the question of whether her life would have been different in any way if she takes the case in hand to be less of a problem. The method would allow for compliments when the client seems to be getting on the right way or showing some motivation. I at this moment applauded her for her brevity and the strength that she exhibited in her enthusiasm to go far in life through completing her course and ignoring her friends with their pessimism and discouragements. To add to the optimism of Brenda, I did some invitation that would encourage her to push on by doing what seems to be working. This was the miracle question that we did during the session that allowed her to give her wishes on the path of her life with the course. Through this, I sincerely motivated her to keep on attending her classes and never fail to show up for her lessons. Also, the miracle question allowed Brenda to focus on her long-term goal. Furthermore, the miracle question gave Brenda the opportunity to vision on her passion and opens her heart about it (Hough, Margaret, 2006). In connection to this, she got the chance to experience a sense of freedom from her current restrictions. However, on this part, it is advisable to touch on short term goals that would guide the client. Scaling questions were part of the exercise, and this helped me determine her motivation that she previously had as she was planning to start her course. The scale ranged from 0-10, indicating on the confidence to do the course starting with no confidence at all to the extreme one respectively. This scale helped me to ascertain her preparedness on the challenges that come along with such a task of studying. Finally, the coping skills section of the exercise provided by this method of counseling was the last bit that we discussed. I discovered that I should have sought from her what she did to control things from getting out of hand. However, we carried out a successful exercise as we outlined her strengths (Hough, Margaret, 2006). This encompassed the determination that was coupled with compassion. The most exciting part of it was her decision to disregard the opinion of her pessimistic friends that would discourage her from pursuing her dreams as far as her career is concerned. The Skills Used There were several skills that I incorporated to help accomplish the counseling session smoothly. The first one was the micro skills that I applied, for instance, nodding. Also, summarizing was another skill as I paraphrased the issue when we were just beginning the discussion. Reflecting on feelings was a further skill that I employed as I dug deeper into knowing how the issue affected the client. This was a solution focused skill. Also, I utilized well my micro skills as well as I engaged with the client on the matter (Catley et al., 2006). Application of the Skills The micro skills such as the nodding of the head indicated that I was listening keenly to the message of the client as she narrated her story to me. Also, the leaning forward towards her instead of reclining in the chair showed the Brenda that I was very much attentive and also felt her situation; therefore, I understood her message emotionally (Catley et al., 2006). Summarizing helped Brenda realize that I had gotten her message well and also help her to know if I lacked any critical detail that would hinder me from understanding her accordingly. The skill of reflecting on feelings of Brenda was useful in getting her to open up and share her deep feelings about the issue. Lastly, the micro skills engaged with the client such as touching on her strengths validating her case base on this, allowing her to vision the desired result that she wishes to achieve (McMahon, 2016). Suggestions for Improvement on Application of Skills The skills used should be more inclusive to the effect that I would not be saying later that I should have employed a particular skill that I did not use. For instance, some of these would help Brenda to set her short term goal to see herself from an outsider’s point of view (Culley & Bond, 2011). Also, reassuring Brenda would have been a good idea of which I did not do, and this is particularly a useful skill that would have made her feel better about her situation. Overall Effectiveness in Application of this Counselling Method and the Implications The method of Solution Focused Therapy is overall effective in this case and in all other cases whereby the client needs guidance on some of the decisions that they have made in life (O'Connell, 2005). This approach helps the client especially in particular situations whereby they find themselves regretting over choosing an appropriate course of life (Culley & Bond, 2011). It has, in this case, helped Brenda to realize herself and that she has not taken the wrong path because according to her expectations in life, she deserves doing her career course. References Catley, D., Harris, K. J., Mayo, M. S., Hall, S., Okuyemi, K. S., Boardman, T., & Ahluwalia, J. S. (2006). Adherence to principles of motivational interviewing and client within-session behavior. Behavioral and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 34(1), 43-56. Culley, S., & Bond, T. (2011). Integrative counselling skills in action. Sage Publications. Herr, E. L. (2006). Career counselling: A process in process. British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 25(1), 81-93. Hough, Margaret. Counselling skills and theory. Hodder Arnold, 2006. McLeod, J. (2013). An introduction to counselling. McGraw-Hill Education (UK). McMahon, M. (Ed.). (2016). Career counselling: Constructivist approaches. Routledge. O'Connell, B. (2005). Solution-focused therapy. Sage. Vishala, S. M. (2008). Guidance & Counselling. S. Chand Publishing. Read More

The first question that popped in my mind regarding whether I should have asked her some queries that would help me in determining the case. The point that I should have focused on was to have her explain to me whether there are were any times when the event in hand seemed less of a problem. Besides, this method would allow me to set a short term goal for her to gauge her direction and the effectiveness of the steps that she is taking as she furthers her education (Vishala, 2008). This would be a goal that would act as a significant boost that would help her as she takes on the course so that she endures it successfully (Herr, 2006).

In comparison, the method would have allowed me to ask her more questions which seem to contradict the first one so that the real direction could be determined after having identified the problem (O'Connell, 2005). For instance, the question of whether her life would have been different in any way if she takes the case in hand to be less of a problem. The method would allow for compliments when the client seems to be getting on the right way or showing some motivation. I at this moment applauded her for her brevity and the strength that she exhibited in her enthusiasm to go far in life through completing her course and ignoring her friends with their pessimism and discouragements.

To add to the optimism of Brenda, I did some invitation that would encourage her to push on by doing what seems to be working. This was the miracle question that we did during the session that allowed her to give her wishes on the path of her life with the course. Through this, I sincerely motivated her to keep on attending her classes and never fail to show up for her lessons. Also, the miracle question allowed Brenda to focus on her long-term goal. Furthermore, the miracle question gave Brenda the opportunity to vision on her passion and opens her heart about it (Hough, Margaret, 2006).

In connection to this, she got the chance to experience a sense of freedom from her current restrictions. However, on this part, it is advisable to touch on short term goals that would guide the client. Scaling questions were part of the exercise, and this helped me determine her motivation that she previously had as she was planning to start her course. The scale ranged from 0-10, indicating on the confidence to do the course starting with no confidence at all to the extreme one respectively.

This scale helped me to ascertain her preparedness on the challenges that come along with such a task of studying. Finally, the coping skills section of the exercise provided by this method of counseling was the last bit that we discussed. I discovered that I should have sought from her what she did to control things from getting out of hand. However, we carried out a successful exercise as we outlined her strengths (Hough, Margaret, 2006). This encompassed the determination that was coupled with compassion.

The most exciting part of it was her decision to disregard the opinion of her pessimistic friends that would discourage her from pursuing her dreams as far as her career is concerned. The Skills Used There were several skills that I incorporated to help accomplish the counseling session smoothly. The first one was the micro skills that I applied, for instance, nodding. Also, summarizing was another skill as I paraphrased the issue when we were just beginning the discussion. Reflecting on feelings was a further skill that I employed as I dug deeper into knowing how the issue affected the client.

This was a solution focused skill. Also, I utilized well my micro skills as well as I engaged with the client on the matter (Catley et al., 2006). Application of the Skills The micro skills such as the nodding of the head indicated that I was listening keenly to the message of the client as she narrated her story to me. Also, the leaning forward towards her instead of reclining in the chair showed the Brenda that I was very much attentive and also felt her situation; therefore, I understood her message emotionally (Catley et al., 2006).

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