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to obtain specific results and to move the helping relationship from problem identification to problem resolution.
Various terms have been used to address this aspect of the helping relationship. Some authors prefer the term strategies (Combs & Avila, 1985; Cormier et al., 2013; Gilliland et al., 1989), others prefer the term skills (Halverson & Miars, 2005; Ivey et al., 2013), and still others prefer the term techniques (Belkin, 1980; Brown & Pate, 1983; Osipow et al., 1980). These terms, however, are interchangeable and, as noted earlier in this chapter, are often used in addition to techniques used in conjunction with specific theories.
We decided to use the term strategies, which denotes not only deliberative planning but also action processes that make the planning operational. We feel that both factors are necessary. For the purpose of the following discussion, we have grouped strategies into three categories: (a) strategies that build rapport and encourage client dialogue, (b) strategies that aid in data gathering, and (c) strategies that add depth and enhance the relationship.
Note that specific strategies, such as those stemming from various theoretical systems, are not included in this section. They are presented in Chapters 2 through 17, which deal with specific theories. It is also important to understand that there is much overlap between these arbitrary divisions. Strategies designed to build rapport and encourage client dialogue may also be used to gather data and enhance relationships. With this caveat in mind, we present the following strategies.
Strategies That Build Rapport and Encourage Client Dialogue
Strategies that build rapport and encourage dialogue include the active listening strategies that enhance the listening capabilities of counselors and therapists. When used effectively, these strategies should provide an environment in which clients have the opportunity to talk about and to share their feelings and thoughts with the assurance that they will be heard. By using such strategies, counselors and therapists enhance their chances of providing such an environment.
This set of strategies includes attending and encouraging, restating and paraphrasing, reflecting content and reflecting feeling, clarifying and perception checking, and summarizing. The following paragraphs present explanations and examples of these strategies.
Attending and Encouraging
Attending and encouraging strategies use the counselor’s or therapist’s posture, eye contact, gestures, facial expressions, and words to indicate to clients not only that they are being heard but also that the counselor or therapist wishes them to continue sharing information.
Example
Encouraging
1 Counselor/Therapist: (smiling) Please tell me what brought you in today.
2 Client: I’m having a hard time trying to put my life in order. I’m very lonely and bored, and I can’t seem to maintain a lasting relationship.
Attending/Encouraging
1 Counselor/Therapist: (leaning forward) Please tell me more.
2 Client: Every time I think I have a chance of developing a relationship, I screw it up by saying or doing something dumb.
Encouraging
1 Counselor/Therapist: (nodding) This is helpful, please go on.
Restating and Paraphrasing
Restating and paraphrasing strategies enable a counselor or therapist to serve as a sounding board for the client by feeding back thoughts and feelings that the client verbalizes. Restating involves repeating the exact words used by the client. Paraphrasing is repeating the thoughts and feelings of the client but in the words of the counselor or therapist.
Example
1 Client: I don’t know why I do these dumb things. It’s almost as if I did not want a relationship.
Restating
1 Counselor/Therapist: You don’t know why you do dumb things. It may be that you don’t want a relationship.
2 Client: I do want a relationship, but each time I get close, I seem to do everything in my power to destroy it.
Paraphrasing
1 Counselor/Therapist: You are very sure that you want a relationship, but each time you have the opportunity, you sabotage your chances.
Reflecting Content and Reflecting Feeling
Reflecting strategies enable the counselor or therapist to provide feedback to the client regarding both the ideas (content) and the emotions (feelings) that the client is expressing. By reflecting content, the counselor or therapist shares their perceptions of the thoughts that the client is expressing. This can be done either by using the client’s words or by changing the words to better reflect the counselor’s or therapist’s perceptions. By reflecting feelings, a counselor or therapist goes beyond the ideas and thoughts expressed by the client and responds to the feelings or emotions behind those words.
Example
1 Client: “Sabotage” is a good word. It’s like I see what I want, but instead of moving toward it, I take a different path that leads nowhere.
Reflecting Content
1 Counselor/Therapist: You have a good idea of what you want, but when you see it developing, you turn and walk the other way.
2 Client: I am not sure “walk” is the right word. “Run” is more descriptive of what I do, and all the time I’m looking back to see if anyone is following.
Reflecting Feeling
1 Counselor/Therapist: You’re afraid of getting close to someone, so you put as much distance between the other person and yourself as possible. I also hear that you’re hoping that someone cares enough about you to run after you and stop you from running away.
Clarifying and Perception Checking
Clarifying and perception-checking strategies enable a counselor or therapist to ask the client to define or explain the client’s own words, thoughts, or feelings (clarifying) or to confirm or correct the counselor’s or therapist’s perceptions of the client’s words, thoughts, or feelings (perception checking).
Example
1 Client: If what you say is true, I’m a real jerk. What chance do I have to be happy if I run away every time I get close to someone else?
Clarifying
1 Counselor/Therapist: You say you want to be happy. What does “happy” mean to you?
2 Client: (long pause) I would be happy if I could let someone care for me, get to know me, want to spend time with me, and allow me to just be me and stop pretending.
Perception Checking
1 Counselor/Therapist: Let me see if I’m understanding you. Your view of happiness is having someone who cares enough about you to spend time with you and to allow you to be yourself. Am I correct?