Question

Write a paper of approximately 750 words that answers the following questions:

What qualities must an effective counselor possess?

How does each of these qualities benefit the client?

What are some personal and professional obstacles that new counselors may experience?

How would the qualities of an effective counselor help the counselor overcome these obstacles?

Answer 1

Occupational therapist

A counsellor or an occupational therapist can be identified as a person who strives to work for the betterment of thequality of life of the patient. This he does by effective interactions, assessment of the patient along with development of interventions so that he would be able to maintain activities that would work in a meaningful manner for the patient. A counsellor would be helping people throughout their lifetime by helping the, participate in things that they have been afraid about or insecure about. Some examples may be helping children who have disabilities, or providing support to the older adults who have been incapable in carrying activities of daily living.

These people obtain university education along with obtaining a license for practice. In order to be effectively communicating with a patient, the counsellor has to keep in mind that most people they communicate with are at a highly vulnerable situation in their life. In order to communicate with them, it is important for the counsellor to be an effective listener. It is important that the clients or the patients are handled in a very subtle manner, so that they do not feel hurt or affected in any manner. Any action carried out by the counsellor or any change in tone of voice could lead to negative interpretations. Non verbal communications have to be taken special care of, in the form of eye contact, maintaining a subtle smile and a warm contact when appropriate and required.

In order to deal with highly sensitive cases, it has been observed a number of times that the relatively new counsellors are not able to handle situations very well. This is because, lack of experience may bring in hints of judgments in cross questioning or improper listening. It has to be taken care that the patient has to be given utmost importance and every detail has to be noted. Also, the counsellor requires to identify non verbal cues in the form of anxiety inability to express. There are times when the client might require more time to open up, and if the counsellor presses too much on extracting information, the client may feel uncomfortable.

The qualities of an effective counsellor can let overcome these problems. Identification of problems in the client is not very easy and takes time. Though at certain times, it is possible for the counsellor to correctly identify the problems at the first instant, some clients may take time to open up. If a counsellor is an effective counsellor, he will be knowing how to deal with difficult clients. Also, there might be chances when the client doesn’t speak at all. It is the job of the counsellor to make the client comfortable and in doing so, they should be maintaining their calm and composure and notice every word put up by the client in order to identify how to correct them.