1. Prevents the counsellor from leading or imposing their own framing

2. Protects the client's autonomy and self-direction

3. Signals the counsellor is thoughtful, not reactive

Demonstration

1. Pause after significant disclosures before responding

2. After asking a question, consciously wait.

3. When the client is on the edge of a realisation, hold back and let them arrive

1. Setting boundaries - emotional and professional

2. Self-care after each session.

3. Recognizing our limits.

4. Professional supervision.

5. Keeping the clients information confidential, follow guidelines, ethical practice.

1. So the client feels understood, strengthen rapport and trust

2. So that we can guide / steer the conversation more relevantly, by avoiding bias and making assumptions

3. so that we are sensitive to the unique requirements of the client's culture

4. So that we can ask the right questions and understand the context behind the answers

How to demonstrate:

1. At the beginning of the relationship, we find out more about the client's background, family life, influences. e.g Can you share what this means in your culture? how does your family handle the situation?

2. Respect the family hierarchy and values instead of dismissing it.

3. If we are not familiar, we can ask more questions to the client, also a way of building rapport.

   
   

1. Building trust thus, client be more willing to share.

2. Encourage open communication between client-counselor.

Demonstration:

1. Showing sincerity.

2. Being aware of our choice of words.

3. Showing interest in their problems; being real and empathetic/non-judgmental.

4. Being mindful of our reaction (the way we respond), body language/non verbal cues to show care and concern.

5. Periodic check-ins with care and respect to client's space.

6. Patient and listening when they are sharing; not rushing them when they speak/emote.

7. Small talks to warm up to the client at the start of the hour to get to know them, before starting the counseling.

8. To verbalize to them that the counseling relationship will be a confidential one, to create a safe environment.

9. Observe their physical/emotional state during the session and build a chat on that observation to warm up.

(1) Avoid Burn out - Maintain emotional presence, calm and being fully present for the counsellor and the client.

(2) Model healthy behaviour - embodiment of look after oneself, being authentic and credible.

(3) Easier to maintain clear boundaries when counsellor is well rested.

(4) Good mental clarity - beneficial for decision making

(5) Being able to attune to the client

(6) Helps with preventing impulsive or irrational judgement and getting emotional during session

(7) Holding Space for the session

How to demonstrate:

(1) Counsellor goes for their own counselling sessions with supervisors

(2) Rest well & look after yourself

(3) Self-reflections

(4) Taking breaks

(5) Stay Calm and Present

(6) Monitor own reaction and emotion

(7) Dont schedule back-to-back sessions

- build trust

- helps clients to open up, feel understood and heard

-rapport and therapeutic alliance.

-catalyses counselling process

• encourage exploration (client's experience)

b) How-

active listening

attending

paraphrasing

summarising

body language, eye contact (non-verbal)

avoiding over-identifying with client

avoid projection (striking a balance)

1. To prevent burnout.

2. Professional boundaries.

3. Healthy relationship ties.

   
   

a)Address the root cause so that counsellor can explore the problem on a deeper level. Effective questioning allows counsellor to find the blind spots that the client was not aware of initially.

b) Effective questioning allows the client to feel heard, there is a safe space for the client to open up and share freely.

c) There is better clarity for the client and the counsellor.

d) Therapy is a shared responsibility, there should be 2 way communication.

Demonstration:

a) Ask open ended and leading questions instead of qns with yes/no answers

b) Avoid asking interrogative qns

c) Use a good tone, be sensitive to the client (be non-judgmental), counsellor should show good sitting posture or body language that demonstrates genuine concern and interest in the client

d) Avoid having early bias and jumping to conclusions too early

e) Counsellor should ask qns that relate to the client's problem and not everything under the sun.

f) Let the client lead the pace of the session, counsellor should not go too fast or go in-depth too fast

g) Use paraphrasing to let the client feel heard and ensure all are on the same page

Importance:

1.      Shows the client that the counsellor is truly listening and trying to understand their inner experiences

2.      When a counsellor reflects both the content and emotions of what the client shares, it helps the client feel heard, validated, and accepted. This strengthens trust and rapport, which is essential for strong therapeutic relationships

How to demonstrate:

a.      By carefully tunning into what client is saying and the emotions behind it, then responding in a thoughtful and intentional way. Instead of reacting quickly, the counsellor pauses, processes, and reflecting back (for example client’s asking counsellor what counsellor would think or do if latter is in his shoes)

b.      Counsellor must be curious and open instead of assuming

c.      This involves ongoing self-awareness, noticing one's own thought, feelings, biases during the session and ensuring they do not interfere with the client’s process

d.      Slowing down and be more aware in that moment

Build trust and rapport

Ensure the accurate understanding

Client disclosure

Insight and Growth

How to demostrate it:

Both verbal and nonverbal:

Active listening and

Paraphrasing:

Avoid misinterpreting, probe more rather than assume

No frowning / bad posture to show any signs of judgement or uninterested

Sensitive to customer comfortability of eye contact or the distance from the counsellor

Tone and native language will be able to engage bayter

Speed of the conversation

importance:

1. not miss out on important cues

2. essential for rapport building so that clients can trust us.

3. know how to continue and end conversations

How to demonstrate:

1. paraphrase

2. appropriate gestures and facial expressions

3. using check words like "I hear..." or "I understand..."