Counselling

TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Case Study Questions

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Questions Answered
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Bibliography
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Case study questions

1. What kind of communication does the counsellor use in line 2? (1)

The counsellor uses non-verbal communication, attentiveness.

2. Name and define the skill used by the counsellor in sections 8 and 10. (2)

The counsellor uses empathy, she is trying to understand what

the client mean by saying the neighbourhood has change since
the death of her husband. She wants to experience the clients
situation and get in touch with the clients feeling on the matter
in her clients frame of reference.

3. Identify and explain the behaviour that the counsellor uses in line 12 that
could be threatening to the person-centred counselling process. (3)

Praising and reassuring- by praising and reassuring a client it

clearly shows that judgement has taken part. According to
Cameron 2008:48 as quoted in the study guide, praise and
assurance may also stop them from being honest about real
circumstances in future. More over the above sentiments tend to
be used when sympathy is being conveyed, which not in line with
the person-centred counselling.
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 Advising and suggesting- by giving advice to the client the
counsellor is applying her own experiences and frame of
reference to the issue being discussed rather than considering
the client s self determination (proposition 4)

Assignment 2 questions

4. List three ways in which the counselling relationship is different from a

friendship. (3)

The counselling relationship is focused on therapeutic change

where as the friend ship is no focused on change
The relationship is based on trust and confidentiality where as
friendship is not necessarily based on that
When goals of the relationship are fulfilled the relationship is
terminated where as friendship continues indefinitely.

5. Name any two social work values you need to improve on in your own
personal life. Explain your choice and how you intend to improve on this value.
(2)

These are individualisation and self determination.

Individualisation, sometimes I find it difficult to accept people as

they are I often forget that everyone is unique and people deal
differently with certain situations regardless how similar they are.
I need to work very hard to perceive the client as they perceive
themselves and not generalise everyone and every situation.

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 Self determination, in most cases I find myself imposing my
agenda on people as I usually assume I know better but through
learning from this module I intend to change my behaviour and
make sure every individual determines how they want to deal
with their situations and who do they want to discuss their
problems with and accept that it is within their right not to
discuss it with anyone if they choose to do so

6. Name and explain any three social work principles. (6)

It is expected that all social workers will put their clients

interests first and maintain confidentiality concerning the privacy
of all conversations and interactions. Social workers are also
tasked with helping their clients work toward the ability to make
sound judgments and set positive goals.

Respecting the right to self-determination Social workers should

respect and promote peoples right to make their own choices and
decisions, irrespective of their values and life choices, provided
this does not threaten the rights and legitimate interests of
others.

Treating each person as a whole Social workers should be

concerned with the whole person, within the family, community,
societal and natural environments, and should seek to recognise
all aspects of a persons life.

7. Define developmental social work approach. (3)

This approach deals with the empowering people across the life
span as individuals, families, groups and communities to develop
potential and asset to change environments and make them more
just.

8. Name and explain any two themes in the conception of developmental social
welfare in South Africa. (4)

Empowerment: Power relations should shift towards people so

that they can achieve greater control and influence over decisions
and resources that impact on the quality of their lives through
increasingly interdependent relationships.

Self-reliance: People should be connected to each other and their

environment in ways that make them more effective in their
individual and collective efforts towards achieving a better life
and developing leadership, decision-making and planning skills,
among other things
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9. Name and discuss the four environmental layers of the Ecological System
Theory. (8)

The Micro System

The micro system's setting is the direct environment we have in
our lives. Your family, friends, classmates, teachers, neighbours
and other people who have a direct contact with you are included
in your micro system. The micro system is the setting in which we
have direct social interactions with these social agents. The
theory states that we are not mere recipients of the experiences
we have when socializing with these people in the micro system
environment, but we are contributing to the construction of such
environment.

The Mesosystem

The mesosytem involves the relationships between the microsystems

in one's life. This means that your family experience may be related
to your school experience. For example, if a child is neglected by his
parents, he may have a low chance of developing positive attitude
towards his teachers. Also, this child may feel awkward in the
presence of peers and may resort to withdrawal from a group of
classmates.

The Exosystem
The exosystem is the setting in which there is a link between the
context where in the person does not have any active role, and
the context where in is actively participating. Suppose a child is
more attached to his father than his mother. If the father goes
abroad to work for several months, there may be a conflict
between the mother and the child's social relationship, or on the
other hand, this event may result to a tighter bond between the
mother and the child.

The Macrosystem
The macrosystem setting is the actual culture of an individual.
The cultural contexts involve the socioeconomic status of the

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 person and/or his family, his ethnicity or race and living in a still
developing or a third world country. For example, being born to a
poor family makes a person work harder every day.

10. Name and discuss four guiding principles of the strength-based

approach. (8)

Every individual, group, family and community has its strength-

the strength perspective focuses on recognising and respecting
the resources of individuals and acknowledging the potential they
might have to reverse the trauma, crisis and problem and reach
their goals.

Trauma and abuse, illness and struggle may be injurious but they
may also be sources of challenge and opportunity- Individuals who
are exposed to various forms of abuse specifically in childhood
are viewed as victims or persons damaged in ways that disguise
or supersede any strengths or possibilities for recovery, however
an individuals wisdom gained through prior experience and
draws on that wisdom to explore why the individual might
consider behavioural change.

Assume that you do not know the upper limits of the capacity to
grow and change and take individual, group, and community
aspirations seriously- We often allow our assessments to become
a type of verdict and sentence for the client. Instead we would
better serve our clients by focusing on the possibility of what
could occur.

We best serve clients by collaborating with them- A clients

wisdom should never be disconcerted by that of the professional;
the clients are experts in their own lives. Rather than confining a
client to a diagnosis and treatment protocol, there is something
liberating for both the professional and the client when a
professional becomes involved with the clients narratives, hopes,
fears and resources.
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11. List and describe two ways in which respect should be implemented. (4)

Refrain from judgement as it not our duty to judge clients as

being good or bad or to condemn them or apportion blame.

Enable the client to work through pain by remaining with the

client through that phase without trying to avoid it or minimising
it.

12. Name and explain any three areas of diversity in counselling and helping.(6)

Professional ethics compel counsellors to ensure that their

cultural values and biases do not override those of the client. The
key is doing it in such a way that does not undermine the clients
belief that you will be able to offer professional help and potential
solutions. Part of establishing rapport with multicultural clients is
expressing a willingness to learn more about, and showing
respect for, their worldview, belief systems, and means of
problem-solving. Learning about and addressing the clients
realities will allow you to create culturally-sensitive interventions.

Equality and Diversity is a integral part of counselling training

raising awareness that 'we are not all the same' and not to fall in
to the trap of stereotyping- for example assuming that because
someone is a wheel chair user they dont have a sex life, or all
Gay men like musicals. One of the most demeaning attitudes on
the part of a helper is the presumption that because someone is
different to them, that is the root cause of the problem.

Physical disability- Counselling can be an invaluable tool in

helping someone grow and change for the better. But issues with
disability are often ignored. Person-centred counselling allows
someone to achieve personal growth and change within
themselves by providing a confidential space of acceptance,
understanding and empathy. Counselling provides individuals with
a safe and confidential space to explore their thoughts and
feelings; therefore it is vital that helpers make their clients with
disabilities feel that their counsellor has personal insight into
disability.

13. Explain what each stage in the person-centred therapeutic process

entails. (14)

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 Stage 1- Clients are defensive and resistant to change. According
to Rogers (1958), clients in this stage refer to feelings and
emotions as things of the past rather than the present, as they
react to past experiences rather than to present ones. Only when
a person feels fully accepted, can he or she progress to the next
stage.

Stage 2- Here, there is a slight loosening of rigid constructs,

though people find it very difficult to accept any responsibility for
themselves, or what happens in their lives. When things go
wrong, they tend to blame others, and feel like victims of a hostile
world, rather than participators in it. There is more of an
acceptance that things are not right in their lives, but any fault
tends to lie in others, or the world in general

Stage 3-The loosening of attitudes continues as people are more

willing to talk about themselves though they tend to do so in the
third person, particularly when it's about feelings. Internal
contradictions start to emerge, and the differences between an
idealised self and the reality of the situation start to become
apparent. In this stage there may be hints that there are different
possibilities available, but there is still a tendency to see things in
hard and fast terms - if they're not one thing, then they must be
the opposite.

Stages 4 -In this stage, clients begin to describe deeper feelings,

usually those that happened in the past. Feelings in the present
start to emerge, but they are mistrusted and even rejected. The
client is starting to accept responsibility for what is happening,
even though the fearfulness and hopelessness of it are apparent.
There may be some recognition of patterns that occur in the
experience of life, sometimes accompanied by a wry humour.

Stages 5 -Clients feel more confident about expressing presently

experienced feelings. Clients are never wholly at one stage of the
process or another. They may start to move on, then take a step
back. It is when people feel fully accepted and understood that
they feel free to explore deeper feelings. The therapist's role is
not to lead them from one stage to the next, but to provide them
with opportunities to experience fully each stage in their own
process, and in their own unique ways.

Stage 6 -Rogers described this stage as being very distinctive and

often dramatic. It is characterised by feelings, previously
suppressed, becoming fully experienced in the present moment.
This awareness is acute, clear and full of meaning. One of the
most striking discoveries made by many people at this stage is
the realisation of care, concern and tenderness for oneself.
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 Stage 7 -Rogers thought that changes made by clients in stage six
tended to be irreversible, and further change was as likely to
occur outside of the therapeutic relationship as within it. By this
stage people are effecting change for themselves, and the need
for therapy is more or less over. In the therapeutic situation itself,
client and therapist are actively collaborating to explore ways in
which new-found confidence can be used and expressed in the
world outside. Clients are open to experience, are able to trust
their own feelings, and have developed a strong internal locus of
evaluation

14. Name and explain four behaviours that could threaten effective person-
centred counselling. (8)

Advising and suggesting- by giving advice to the client the

counsellor is applying her own experiences and frame of
reference to the issue being discussed rather than considering
the client s self determination (proposition 4)

Judging- condemning a client or apportion blame is not our duty,

being non-judgemental is a cornerstone of all counselling and
constant work is needed to maintain this position. These are
closely linked to our values (proposition 10)

Praising and reassuring- by praising and reassuring a client it

clearly shows that judgement has taken part. According to
Cameron 2008:48 as quoted in the study guide, praise and
assurance may also stop them from being honest about real
circumstances in future. More over the above sentiments tend to
be used when sympathy is being conveyed, which not in line with
the person-centred counselling.

Controlling and manipulating it is not proper to persuade a client

to take a certain action against their will, such behaviour is
unethical and not person centred. Therefore counsellors are
encouraged to refrain from using manipulative information about
their clients for at all time.

15. Explain how confidentiality is implemented. (2)

Confidentiality is a critical element in developing and maintaining

trusting relationships with a client and breach of confidentiality is
an extremely serious offence in all helping professions. However,
according to Kopels & Kogle (1994) counsellors must accept that
they cannot offer their clients absolute confidentiality as there
are instances when confidential information needs to be shared
with other collateral or corroborating agencies. Therefore it is
essential that the counsellor decides together with the client on

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 any plan of action involving the client and the sharing of
information

16. How can you deal with resistance with a child in play therapy? (2)

By doing what you expect the child to do for example drawing or

playing or allowing the child to move away or do something less
threatening is one of the techniques for helping children past
their initial wariness.

17. Provide a definition for projection. (1)

Projection is the misattribution of a persons undesired thoughts,

feelings or impulses onto another person who does not have
those thoughts, feelings or impulses, it is used especially when
the thoughts are considered unacceptable for the person to
express, or they feel completely ill at ease with having them.
Projection is therefore a defence mechanism.

18. During which age and stage of development is pretend play the primary type
of play? (2)

From the ages of about two through ages six or seven. These are
first ways children learn about their likes and dislikes, their
interests, and their abilities and also exploring an experience that
is common and sometimes confusing or scary. Through these role
plays, children become more comfortable and prepared for life
events in a safe way

19. Name and explain two functions of projection. (4)

Awareness in the here and now- clients become aware of what

they are doing, how they are doing it, and how they change
themselves, and at the same time, learn to accept and value
themselves. Individuals, according to this approach, define,
develop, and learn about themselves in relationship to others,
and that they are constantly changing.

Resolution of trauma- a child makes use of projection to help him

make sense of the traumas his life and also to get rid of unwanted
feelings or to help himself to accept a feeling into his self
structure.

20. Explain how creative play, including drawings, can be used as an effective
play therapy media. (2)

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 Creative play is a way of gaining information about the childs
world, especially at a non-verbal, unconscious level. It also allows
for the release of feeling and the enhancement of the childs self-
image, as well as gaining a sense of mastery over events.

21. What does dramatic play allow a child to do? (2)

It allows a child to experiment with purposes for literacy they

have seen at home, to recognize that different tasks require
different texts, to produce a wide variety of texts, and to act out
stories they have heard

22. Mention two important aspects to keep in mind when setting the scene for a
counselling session. (2)

These are doing and saying everything that conveys the message the
message that the client is being valued and welcomed by the
counsellor. And the environment should be conducive enough for the
client to feel safe.

23. Mention two instances when silences can be used positively in the
counselling process. (2)

A silence of communion where counsellor, client and the something larger

are interconnected in a world where time stands still, this silence
provides the client with space to focus and time to reflect.

Silence communicates to the client a sincere and deep acceptance, such

acceptance is fundamental to person-centred counselling

24. What communication skill is used to identify hidden messages? (1)

Advanced empathy

Bibliography

Graumann, E 2010. Basic counselling skill. Study Guide for SCK2604.

Pretoria: University of South Africa.

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Tutorial Letter 102/0/2016 for Basic counselling skill SCK2604. Pretoria:
University of South Africa. http://disabilityhorizons.com/2014/10/disability-
counselling-could-it-help-you. accessed 08/07/16
https://www.iom.int/jahia/webdav/site/myjahiasite/shared/shared/mainsite/activiti
es/health/pandemic_manual.pdfm accessed 07/07/16

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