Important Attributes of the Self Care
The text “Introduction to Counseling: Voices from the Field” offers powerful attributes of the self care concept that are important for counselors. Human service professionals might suffer from trauma or compassion fatigue. The concept of self care is therefore important to success in the counseling relationship. The first attribute is keeping the mind, health, and body in good shape (Kottler & Shepard, 2014). The counselor should eat healthy food materials.
The professional should also get adequate sleep. The individual should engage in personal therapy. These practices will ensure chances of developing trauma or fatigue are minimized. Exercises should be taken frequently in order to improve a person’s wellbeing. Collaboration with other professionals and clients can result in positive client-counselor relationships. Creative outlets such as dancing, painting, or photography should be embraced to support the counselor’s needs. The idea of work-life balance promotes every counselor’s self-care strategy. This approach will minimize the level of stress or burnout. When these self-care attributes are embraced, the professional will find it easier to establish sustainable counseling relationships.
The Concept of Supervision/Mentoring
Counselors and human service professionals should have the best philosophies in order to realize their goals. Personal theory development is a framework that guides these experts to develop new skills and talents. These competencies will eventually make it easier for them to offer quality support to their clients. The theory is used as a model that influences a candidate’s counseling strategy or approach. The concept of supervision or mentoring is therefore meaningful when it comes to personal theory development (Kottler & Shepard, 2014). The concept assumes that the supervisory style embraced by a mentor will dictate talent development.
I strongly believe that the use of the concept is a meaningful step for every counselor. With effective mentorship and supervisory styles, the learners will be able to develop the best talent. Effective supervision makes it easier for more counselors to embrace the use of evidence-based ideas and competencies whenever designing their counseling models. The clinical environment plays a unique role throughout the mentoring process.
It would also be necessary for supervisors to identify the best competencies, theories, and concepts that can support the counseling philosophies of their followers (Kottler & Shepard, 2014). The concept of mentoring is therefore a defining factor in personal theory development. Individuals who want to become proficient counselors and providers of quality support to different victims should therefore establish positive relationships with skilled supervisors.
Personal Qualities that Contribute to the Development of a “Therapeutic Self”
The term “therapeutic self” focuses on a counselor’s ability to use his or her personality to structure interventions. The skill guides counselors to understand their needs fully and offer timely support to their clients. The concept guides human service professions to accept the reality of every patient (Kottler & Shepard, 2014). The best relationships are therefore developed in order to support the wellbeing of the counselor and the client.
Counselors should possess a wide range of personal attributes or qualities in an attempt to develop a “therapeutic self”. The first quality is congruence. This attribute guides counselors to understand the genuine needs of their clients. Empathy makes it easier for the professionals to comprehend the experiences and feelings of their clients. Respect empowers counselors to safeguard their patients’ rights. Emotional intelligence, interpersonal skills, positive regard, courage, and active listening can eventually contribute to the development of a “therapeutic self”.
Reference
Kottler, J., & Shepard, D. (2014). Introduction to counseling: Voices from the field (8th ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks Cole.