Zea Eagle Email: zea@letstalklife.com.auzea@letstalklife.com.au

THE PERSON OF THE COUNSELLOR

Zea Eaglewww.letstalklife.com.au

Email: zea@letstalklife.com.au

Some assumptions• We value being well-trained and skilled, continuously

improve our theoretical knowledge, and that we see ourselves a life-long learners.

• We strive to conduct ourselves in a professional and ethical manner at all times.

• A committment to excellence in person and practice.

• A good knowledge, understanding, and adherence to the ethical guidelines of PACFA, ACA, CCAA, QCA, (or whichever association you belong to).

• We are Christian counsellors who have a Christian world view, and a Christian view of what it means to be human.

Outline

• Our purpose as Christian counsellors

• Our basis for confidence• A cautiously carefree pursuit of

excellence• Attending to the person of the

counsellor

Skills and knowledge account for 15% of the therapeutic process

The other 85% comprises the person of the counsellor

Research Findings

“It is not the theories and techniques that heal the suffering client, but the human dimension of therapy and the ‘meetings’ that occur between therapist and client as they work together” (Elkins, 2009).

“For therapy to be therapeutic, it is more important for the clinician to understand people than to master specific treatment techniques”(Williams, 1999).

“…the human component is the foundation of our efforts to help others. The improvement of psychotherapy may be best accomplished by learning to improve one’s ability to relate to clients and tailoring that relationship to individual clients “ (Lambert & Barley, 2001).

Research Findings (cont.)

“The kind of person a therapist is remains the most critical factor

affecting the client and promoting change. If practitioners possess wide knowledge, both theoretical

and practical, yet lack human qualities of compassion, caring, good faith, honesty, presence,

realness, and sensitivity, they are more like technicians.”

(Corey, 2013, p 7)

‘one of the most important instruments you have to work with

as a counsellor is yourself as a person… abundant research

indicates the centrality of the person of the counsellor as a

primary factor in successful therapy’ (Corey, 2013, p 18)

Personal Characteristicsof a Counsellor as a Professional

Effective therapists…• Have an identity – know who they are• Respect and appreciate themselves• Are open to change• Make choices that are life-oriented• Are authentic, sincere, and honest• Have a sense of humour• Make mistakes and are willing to admit them• Generally live in the present• Appreciate the influence of culture

Counsellor characteristics (cont)

• Have a sincere interest in the wellbeing of others

• Possess effective personal skills• Become deeply involved in their work and

derive meaning from it• Are passionate• Are able to maintain healthy boundaries

(Corey, 2013, pp 19-20)

Counsellor characteristics (cont)

Genuine interest in others Empathic abilities Personal warmth Self-awareness Tolerance of ambiguity Awareness of values

(Tan, 2011, p 15)

Unique characteristics of Christian Counsellors

o Christ-centeredo Biblically basedo Spirit filled

(Tan, 2011, p 15)

o Appropriation of faitho Integration of psychological & spiritual

experience(Tan, 2001)

A poet writes…

"I am a hole in a flute that the Christ's breath moves through."

--Hafiz

1. Viewing ourselves as instruments, in what area/s could we be more open to growth?

2. What one thing professionally could you do to be more responsive to God?

OUR PURPOSE AS CHRISTIAN COUNSELLORS

OUR BASIS FOR CONFIDENCE

• Knowing where & how we fit

• The work is not the call - work as an opportunity to express

the call

• We are not alone

A CAUTIOUSLY CAREFREE PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE

•Be alert, listen carefully, diligently put into practice what He has revealed

•Respond quickly to His challenges

•Treat ourselves as we would want to be treated

•Put mistakes right quickly

•Forgive (ourselves and others) as we are forgiven

•Live in and offer to others His undeserved grace

Attending to the Person of the Counsellor

Being a good steward means maintenance of the

exquisite instrumentyou are

BurnoutBurnout among Mental

Health Providers

• 21-67% High levels of burnout

• 54% High emotional exhaustion

• 38% High depersonalization rates

(Morse et al. , 2012)

Compassion Fatigue & Burnout

Compassion Fatigue

•Happens quickly and is often easier to recover from.

•Feeling swamped by others’ trauma and emotional stress, and other similar symptoms to burnout.

“I’m tired of other people’s drama.”

Burnout•Builds subtly over time.

•Feeling overextended, emotionally exhausted, and reduced efficacy.

•Depersonalization (cynicism), depleted, fatigued, apathy, loss of empathy, stuck in a rut, negative, loss of passion.

“I’m not meant for this work.”

Burnout untreated

Increased risk for…

Depression Anxiety

Sleep problems Impaired memory Neck & back pain

Alcohol consumptionRelationship problems

Major contributor to Burnout

Lack of clarity around purpose

A first step “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on

religion? Come to me. Get away with me and

you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how

to take a real rest. Walk with me and

work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of

grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep

company with me and you’ll learn to live

freely and lightly.” Matt 28:11 (The Message)

Supervision as Self-care

Being willing to consult is a sign of professionalism

Regular consultation with colleagues & supervisors

is an ethical obligation

Be 100% instead of giving 100%

In Summary

• Our purpose as Christian counsellors

• Our basis for confidence

• A cautiously carefree pursuit of excellence

• Attending to the person of the counsellor

RefreshmenT

References

Alexander, I. (no date). Integration in the practice of Christian counsellors –  behaviour, beliefs and being. Retrieved from http://www.ccaa.net.au/documents/CCAACounsellingIntegration.pdf

 Andreula, T.J. (no date). Burnout in Mental Health Professionals. Retrieved from http://pro.psychcentral.com/burnout-in-mental-health-professionals/00771.html

 Corey, G. (2013). Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy (9th ed.). Belmont, CA, USA: Brooks/Cole Cengage.

 Corey, G (2010). The Person of the Counsellor, keynote address to the American Counselling Association, Pittsburgh Conference, Sunday 21 March. Retrieved fromhttp://www.slideshare.net/louiebeth/counselor-as-person-and-professionals

 Elkins, D. N. (2009). Humanistic psychology: A clinical manifesto. Colorado Springs, CO: University of the Rockies Press.

 Lambert, M. J. & Barley, D. E. (2001). Research summary on the therapeutic relationship and psychotherapy outcome. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 38(4), 357-361. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0033-3204.38.4.357

 Morse, G., Salyers, M. P., Rollins, A. L., Monroe-DeVita, M., & Pfahler, C. (2012). Burnout in Mental Health Services: A Review of the Problem and Its Remediation. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 39(5), 341-352.doi:  10.1007/s10488-011-0352-1

Smith, C. (2015). Burnout Self-Test. Retrieved from http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTCS_08.htm

Wampold, B. E. (2001). The great psychotherapy debate: Models, methods, and findings. (Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum).

Tan, S. (2011). Counselling and Psychotherapy: A Christian Perspective. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.