perspectives on resistance

Often times we talk about how to deal with a resistant client. I would like to talk about my perspective on the nature of resistant. I believe there is another name for a resistant client. I believe that when we say that a client is resistive, what we all really saying is that we don't know what the hell we are doing as counseling professionals. As you may now know about me, I believe the therapeutic relationship is the primary vehicle of change in the counseling relationship. If the client sets the pace in the relationship, how can you say that they are resistant men they are not following everything that we want them to do. The client is the one that sets the process in the counseling relationship.

The group psychotherapy process is something that I find really fascinating. Often times we talk about the working stage of a group. The working stage is the stage that deeper issues are allowed to be explored. What I have come to realize that we don't all work in the same way. Some of us find it very easy to work. On the other hand some people find it very difficult to do the work. I believe that we do not all work the same way. Some of us deal with the issues in a very direct way. For the people, they'll work consists of making the room safe, so that they can do deeper and more complex work. We all do not work in the same way. You should now label someone as a resistant, simply because they are not doing what you are doing.

Individuals counseling I believe is a lot like the group psychotherapy. It takes time to develop that skill. Relationship, so they can trust the therapist and explore deeper issues that need to be addressed. I like how psychodrama addresses resistance. Psychodrama says that there was no such thing as a resistant client, they say that the client is just simply slow to warm up. Good psychotherapy takes time. Resistant, is a copout for the professional. It blames everything on the client, who is actually the one in charge of the counseling relationship. The client is the one that sets the pace in the counseling relationship. It might take time, but we must be willing to walk with the clients, regardless of how long it takes to warm up.

lesson learned

 

Okay everyone, two weeks down from this madness called a the final semester of my graduate program. All I have to say, is the last two weeks have been absolutely amazing. I would like to take this time to give you some reflections about what I have been learning about this amazing semester. It should also be mentioned that this must the has also been very challenging, and at times frustrating. I have been able to realize that when I have been challenged and I am feeling frustrated I am learning a lot about just how amazing this profession is.

So I have a amazing opportunity to complete some of my internship atSuccess 4 kids & Families. Success 4 kids & Families is a phenomenal organization, that I have been affiliated with. I am having the opportunity to see how a community-based agency runs. I also have a opportunity to truly create ideas that. I feel that I have a lot of ability to be creative.

Metropolitan ministries is a place that I left. I have come to realize just how I am still passionate about this organization, and the people that we support. This organization gives you some very unique counseling opportunities. You have a the opportunity to interact with many different types of clients.

The biggest lesson I have learned over the past two weeks is, that it is not all about me. Let me try to explain what I mean by that. As a mental-health counseling student in training we all have requirements that we need to meet. These requirements come from schools, and the jobs that we have. We have requirements that we needed to do. Some of these requirements could include making audiotapes of counseling sessions for review by supervisor. Another requirement is to have client contact time that meets the requirements of school. As you can see, I have a lot of requirements that I have to do. However, it is about the clients that I work with. Yes of making sure that we get the right amount of client contact time is important. However we have to be able to focus on the needs of our clients more than focusing on what we need to. We'll in this profession to empower individuals to totally change their lives.

Another lesson I have learned is we need to be able to accept feedback. Yes sometimes it is not easy to listen to feedback, but this is the only way that we are going to grow to become excellent professionals. We need to be able to use supervision to grow into professional. Part of this ongoing professional growth, is the willingness to accept feedback from colleagues and supervisors.

At the end of all this, I keep coming back to one simple believe. This craft, known as counseling is absolutely amazing. Counseling is about developing relationships with people. I'm thrilled every day that I have the opportunity to practice my craft, and truly help people as they try to engage in change.

Augusta State University student

Good day folks, I hope everyone is having a good day. Today I would like to talk to you a very important case that was recently decided in federal court. This is the case of Jennifer Keaton. This case was introduced to me by a colleague from my program. This individual was a mental health counselor student, Augusta State University, a University in the state of Georgia. She was expelled from a counseling program for not being able to follow guidelines set by the program. She is a Christian, who believes that homosexuality is morally wrong. She uses the Bible as a backup to what she believes. She made some statements about homosexuals, that she would not be able to provide treatment to its population because of her religious beliefs. She would also reflect the values and beliefs that she has about the situation on the client's that she would be counseling.

I am not sure about what everyone believes about this subject. And I am not asking you to change the beliefs about homosexuality. I am also a Christian. I also do not believe the same things that Jennifer.is about homosexuality. My religious believes is something that is very important to me. Having said that, I do agree with the decision to expel the student from the training program. Counseling professionals have a duty to keep your values in check. You must not make value judgments against your client. I would say this, even if I believe what Jennifer believe. My believes have been challenged since I've been in a mental health counseling program. I have had the opportunity to grow both in my professional life, and in my personal life. We cannot place values on to the clients that we provide treatment to. This has not what we do. What we do is facilitate the process that allows the client to engage in change. What we do is to provide a safe space, so client can be allowed to explore the really difficult issues. We are not people that tell other people what to do. We also don't have to agree with everything our clients to. But we must provide space for personal growth. Yes I do believe we can also integrate spiritual beliefs in the counseling relationship, but only if the client allows us to. And we must not place value judgments on to clients. This is exactly what Keaton said she was going to you. Professionals have a duty to be guardians of a profession's, that is very unique. There is nothing like a mental health counseling relationship. I agree with the decision to expel Jennifer Keaton from Augusta State University. Not because of what she believes, but because she was not able to provide effective treatment to potential clients. She was not able to separate what she believes, and the professional obligation that she has. This is a absolute must. This is a profession that requires you to do that.

I would also say that she was not using appropriate treatment options, they have not been scientifically proven.