Summary: Review for the Alcohol and Drug Counselor Exam Episode 18: Counseling Skills Objectives ~ Identify the purpose and function of counseling ~ Define skills a counselor needs ~ Identify necessary attitudes for counselors ~ Explore how to develop the therapeutic alliance ~ Discuss motivation and how to increase it Counseling—Purpose & Functions ~ Develop therapeutic relationship with clients, families and significant others to facilitate transition into the recovery process ~ Provide information regarding the structure, expectations and purpose of counseling ~ Continually evaluate the client’s safety, relapse potential and need for crisis intervention ~ Apply ebps to facilitate progress ~ Document counseling activity and progress ~ Provide information on issues of identity, ethnic background, age etc as they influence behavior, prevention and recovery ~ Provide information about addiction and related health and psychosocial consequences Counseling —Purpose & Functions ~ Counseling is a collaborative, professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education and career goals ~ Competence is built on understanding various models of treatment, an ability to implement appropriate EBPs with individuals, families, and SOs ~ Counselors facilitate self-exploration, disclosure, problem solving and behavioral change ~ Counselors help clients ~ Explore and enhance motivation ~ Set appropriate treatment goals ~ Understand structure, expectations, purpose and limitations of the counseling process ~ Mobilize resources to resolve problems and modify attitudes ~ Counselors respond to crisis situations by identifying and practicing ways to avoid and cope with high risk situations Therapeutic Allicance ~ Strength of the TA depends on the facilitative qualities of the counselor and the strategies used to create a positive environment for exploration and change ~ Facilitative qualities ~ Empathy ~ Genuineness ~ Respect ~ Self-Disclosure ~ Warmth ~ Immediacy “Focus on the here and now” ~ Concreteness: Identify specific problems and interventions ~ Cultural Sensitivity Counseling: Therapeutic Alliance ~ Components of the Therapeutic Alliance ~ Bond between therapist and client characterized by warmth, genuineness and respect ~ Consensus between counselor and client regarding ~ Treatment approaches ~ Goals of treatment ~ Primary responsibility for developing and maintaining the TA rests with the counselor ~ 80% of positive outcomes are due to TA ~ TA must be continually monitored and nurtured to prevent premature discharge and enhance treatment effectiveness ~ Adapting the relationship to several patient characteristics, not just dx, enhances the TA Counselor Skills ~ Engage the client ~ Develop and individualize treatment and recovery plans ~ Effectively describe and negotiate access to the continuum of care ~ Adapt counseling strategies ~ Apply culturally and linguistically responsive communication styles ~ Provide nonjudgmental, respectful acceptance of cultural, behavioral and value differences ~ Elicit client’s perspectives on progress ~ Maintain contact with referral services ~ Assist the client in monitoring and maintaining motivation ~ Document all relevant aspects of treatment clearly and concisely ~ Provide education regarding how to change risk behaviors, adopt protective, healthy practices and make appropriate use of service systems Counseling Skills—Active listening ~ Helps the client and counselor clarify what is going on ~ Clear listening—listen without judgement and without immediately trying to correct the client’s thoughts ~ Reflecting—Summarizing and repeating ~ Asking open-ended questions ~ Using effective body language (SOLER) ~ Watching for nonverbal cues Counselor Attitudes ~ Appreciation of strengths-based approaches which emphasize client autonomy and skills development ~ Respect for the client’s right to self-determination ~ Appreciation of the roles of th
