Food for Thought

Someone commented today that she'd rather let me be her counsellor than let my counsellor colleague be her counsellor, even though I'm not trained in counselling. She said something to the effect that there must be rapport between a counsellor and a counsellee in order for counselling to be effective. I agree! In fact, in all helping relationships, rapport is one crucial element. Having head knowledge of counselling theories, et cetera will never be good enough, if a counsellor is unable or unwilling to bring himself or herself down to the level of his or her counsellee. How can rapport be established if a counsellor fails to bring himself or herself down to the level of his or her counsellee? 

Dare to Dream

My Thoughts

In the context of my workplace, I think it's terribly unwise to employ a counsellor who's not effectively bilingual. There'll be times when she's required to provide counselling to Mandarin-speaking clients. And if family members or relatives are not available to do the translation for her, her colleagues will have to help. Man-hours are put to waste as a result. And if two people are employed to do the same amount of work that was previously done by one person or if more people are employed to do less amount of work, it's not only a waste of manpower, it's also a waste of financial resources. All these should not have happened, especially when it's a charity that relies on government funding and donations (from companies and individuals). I'm very amazed that the management of a charity that had its IPC revoked in the past does not seem to have learnt its lesson. 

Dare to Dream

My Thoughts

My boss once arrogantly insisted that the intellectually disabled - including those who are high-functioning - cannot be counselled to change their behaviours because, according to her, they can never change. But I didn't agree and I still don't agree with her view. I believe that those who are high-functioning can be counselled to change their behaviours if the counsellor employs behaviour modification techniques or some other appropriate techniques.

 

 

Dare to Dream

Sometimes pain can only be felt and no words or language can adequately give it shape...and silence in its presence is the only fitting companion.

~~Gracia Wiarda (in a book entitled "Labyrinth of Therapeutic Encounters. Collected Essays on Counselling & Psychotherapy")

I agree absolutely. Sometimes all a counsellor ever needs to do is being silent in the presence of a client who is grieving or experiencing some kind of pain.

Dare to Dream