Approach to counseling:
The most important thing, to me as a therapist, is the growth of a client and the ability for each client to live for the moment. One should be able to listen actively, show empathy and offer genuine acceptance without any bias towards the client. The major cause of psychological distress in these times is because of conflict between work and family coordination. This goes a long way in accounting for people who are in distress because of being poor providers, having conflicts with their spouses, children, family or fellow employees. It also accounts for spouses and children who act out due to lack of proper attention from their partners or parents respectively.
The technique that I heavily rely on, as a therapist is the client centered therapy that is based on the works of Carl Rogers during the 1940s and 1950s. My role as a therapist is usually to be physically and psychologically present when interacting with the clients. This is vital in this process because it heavily relies on the relationship between the client and the therapist. I have to establish a relationship with a client so that they can trust me so that they can have a positive perception about me. This way, they can believe in the support I provide in form of empathetic statements and expressing a positive perception of their life without seeming judgmental. All these actions are important in building a trustful relationship with clients. At some points, I narrate some of my own personal experiences to the clients to either make them feel comfortable or to reassure them that I understand where they are coming from. All the above help them to define redefine and reform their way of life.
This approach is appealing to me because the client is the primary participator in their road to recovery. The client uses therapy as an avenue to hear himself or herself out in a friendly environment. They express their emotions, activities and opinions to a party that listens to them empathetically. This is important because it is important for a person in distress to regain a strong and positive perception of himself or herself in a positive light. After this is achieved, i can trust the client to be in control of their day-to-day decisions.
