Clinical Skills and Personal Attributes
The clinical skills and personal attributes needed to bring an aspiring student to the practicum experience that would facilitate counseling work includes firm commitment to learn new information on professional counseling, commitment to provision of interventions that would improve the well-being of people, holistically supportive and mature, and well equipped with clinical skills in the areas of human growth and development, social interactions and frameworks, psychological theoretical orientations, to name a few. Likewise, personal attributes should include strengths in interpersonal relations, communications, problem-solving, and stress management.
The behaviors that can be used to promote one’s personal feelings of confidence and comfort during work as a counselor-in-training should include right disposition and a positive outlook; assuming a proactive stance; possessing calmness, patience and diligence; exuding accommodating and encouraging persona; and indicating genuine desire to listen attentively and communicate effectively.
One firmly believes that a helpful counseling session should manifest the intention to provide genuine assistance to address the dilemmas presented to the professional counselor. This should be manifested through showing intent focus, commitment, perseverance, and patience in handling conflicts and problems. Likewise, it necessitates comprehensive knowledge of appropriate theories and concepts needed to advise clients on solutions deemed most effective in any given situation.
Finally, the counseling behaviors and skills that one hope to develop includes competencies in theoretical frameworks, as well as physical, emotional, mental, psychosocial skills that are needed to address various dilemmas presented by clients. These include improvements in communication skills, interpersonal skills, conflict resolution skills, problem-solving skills, analytical and cognitive skills, as well as the ability to cope, adjust and adapt to stressful environments, as encountered.
