Counselling Homework: Activity Two Answers

'One way of putting this...is that if i can form a helping relationship to myself- if I can be sensitively aware of and accepting toward my own feelings- then the likelihood is so great that i can form a helping relationship towards another.'

Carl Rogers: On Becoming a Person, p.51.

Activity Two Answers
Have a read of activity one if you haven't already. If at all possible try to do this with a partner (if not there is always me).

1. Discuss the value of self development for counsellors (or you).
The ‘value’ of self development is immense.

If a counsellor realises the importance of self development and constantly works on improving themselves, this in turn can only help the clients they work with. Ongoing self-development is so important to being a good counsellor that it is built into the ethical frameworks for all of the major professional bodies. Counsellors are required to continually pursue self-development (shouldn't we all be), however experienced they are.

2. Consider openly your own values, beliefs and behaviours about self development.
I believe your own beliefs and values are important in self development, but also the ability to question and change them.
Things to think about are,
* Motives for helping.
*Capacity to feel.
*Sense of worth.
*Fears.
*Sexuality.
*Values and ethics.
* Culture and awareness of other cultures.
* Race and attitudes to race.
*Social class and attitudes to class.

3. Accept feedback from partner- how did you feel? (this could be any situation in which you have received feedback)
I suppose for me getting feedback on my blog would be a good example and also how I feel when giving it; in the book I am reading at the moment a paragraph summarises it well.

Both giving and receiving feedback can feel quite scary. What others think of us may not be in accord with the image of ourselves. This can be hurtful, flattering or simply puzzling. Whichever it is, I find feedback either exciting or uncomfortable to give or receive- a little like playing the children’s game of ‘truth, dare, kiss or promise’. Pete Sanders ‘First Steps in Counselling’ Third edition.

4. Evaluate yourself in relation to your partner or others in your group. How did their values, beliefs and behaviour compare with yours?

As I was able to do this in class, full of fledgling counsellors, it was easy to find similarities between our values, beliefs and behaviours. Everyone had different reasons for becoming counsellors but we all had similar goals in life.


5. What is the potential impact of the counsellors self-development on the counselling relationship and the client. ( or how would self development impact on a relationship with a significant other?)

Self development is beneficial for the counsellor-client relationship as this will help both achieve a greater self awareness and highlight potential stumbling blocks. They will then be able to move past this.
Self development can be helpful and harmful to relationships with a significant other. You change so much that your partner may feel anxious and insecure about themselves, or a close friend maybe jealous of your success and happiness.

Hello, feel free to add more of you answers in comment box! all feedback welcomed!
Also if your new to this read some of the older posts by clicking on the counselling categories label on sidebar.