These notes detail the importance of both personal and professional development for counsellors in training, including the need for supervision in order to gain self-awareness. It also explains why counsellors must explore their own values, beliefs and motivations for helping others before entering...
Developing Self-Understanding
values principles or standards of behaviour.
beliefs firmly held opinions or convictions.
. values + beliefs tend to determine a person’s priorities + are not always held permanently; they can change over time with
knowledge + experience.
. when a person’s actions + behaviours match their values + beliefs, they will be satisfied + content… when this is not the case,
they are likely to be unhappy.
. self-awareness =
- as a counsellor, self-awareness is important to avoid imposing your values + beliefs on to clients.
- to be self-aware, you have to analyse your own values + beliefs.
personal values:
commitment discipline justice generosity
honesty patriotism making a difference politeness
compassion loyalty equality determination
accountability taking responsibility being respectful being open-minded
independence altruism empathy success
personal beliefs:
global warming religious faith genetic engineering de-criminalisation of illegal
drugs
nuclear armaments sexuality nationalism healthcare
political viewpoints terrorism political correctness freedom of speech
animal rights social welfare capital punishment antisocial behaviour
. counsellors must not allow their own values + beliefs to have an impact on the helping relationship.
. everyone is entitled to their own individual beliefs, perspectives + values.
. failure to suspend personal values + beliefs during sessions can lead to the relationship being damaged … by the counsellor:
- reacting negatively to clients who do not share their values + beliefs
- displaying prejudicial attitudes
- stereotyping the client
- making discriminatory assumptions about the client + their behaviour
- imposing their own beliefs + values on the client in the form of advice or disapproval
- displaying a lack of empathy
- being unable to demonstrate unconditional positive regard
motivation for helping others:
. process that initiates, guides + maintains goal-oriented behaviour.
. explains why we act + behave in the way we do.
. motives cannot be observed, but we assume they exist by observing a person’s behaviour.
. theories explaining motivation:
instinct theory we have animal-like instincts that make us perform certain actions.
incentive theory we are motivated by external rewards i.e. money or status.
humanistic theory we are motivated to satisfy basic needs like food + shelter, before we move on to satisfy more complex
needs, like the need to fulfil one’s potential.
. understanding personal motivations will help counsellors to develop self-awareness, + help them consider both rewards +
costs inv. in becoming a counsellor.
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