Theory and Practice of
Counseling and Psychotherapy
Psych422
Chapter 2: The Counselor: Person and
Professional
Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 2
Questions?
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What are the personal characteristics of
effective counselors?
List two major personal qualities, or
strengths, that you think will help you as a
counselor? *
What one life experience do you believe
has had the greatest influence on your
ability as a therapist?
Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 2
The Effective Counselor
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The most important instrument you have
is YOU
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Be authentic
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Your life experience, who you are, and how you
struggle to live up to your potential, are powerful
tools
Serve as models for our clients
Your own genuineness can touch your clients
Be a therapeutic person and be clear about who
you are
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Be willing to grow, to risk, to care, and to be involved
Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 2
Effective counselors
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Warm, accepting, caring
Know who they are
Open to change
Sincere, honest, & authentic
Invested, willing to take risks
Good boundaries
Live in the present
Sensitive to culture…………..more
Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 2
Questions?
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What motivated you to be a counselor?*
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How would you respond if you were
required to participate in personal
psychotherapy as a basic part of your degree
program?*
Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 2
Counseling for the Counselor
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In your experience of being a client you can:
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Consider the motivation for wanting to be a counselor
Understand the feelings of being a client
Find support as we struggle to be a professional
Deal with personal issues, increase your self-awareness,
and know the impacts for being a counselor
Be aware of and be assisted in managing the countertransferences
Therapists can help their client no further than they
have been willing to go in their own life.
Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 2
Questions?
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Can we be value-free in counseling?
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What might you do if one of your
values sharply contrasted with your
client’s values?*
Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 2
The Counselor’s Values
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Be aware of how your values influence your
interventions
Recognize that you are not value-neutral
Your job is to assist clients in finding answers
that are most congruent with their own values
Find ways to manage value conflicts between
you and your clients
Begin therapy by exploring the client’s goals
Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 2
Questions?
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What is an example of a belief, attitude, or
assumption of yours that could block/enhance
your effectiveness in working with diverse client
populations?*
What can you do to increase your awareness and
knowledge in the area of cultural diversity?*
What do you see as your major challenge in
becoming a culturally skilled counselor?*
Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 2
Multicultural Counseling
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Become aware of your biases and values
Attempt to understand the world from your client’s
standpoint
Gain a knowledge of the dynamics of oppression,
racism, discrimination, and stereotyping
Study the historical background, traditions, and
values of your client
Be open to learning from your client
Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 2
Multicultural counseling Competence
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Awareness of one’s own assumptions, values,
and biases (awareness of self)
Understanding the worldview of culturally
diverse clients (understand others)
Developing appropriate intervention strategies
and techniques (appropriate Skills)
*Adapted 
from Sue, D. R., & Sue, D. (2004).Counseling the culturally diverse:
Theory and practice (4th Edition). New York: John Wiley & Sons.
Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 2
Questions
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What are the common concerns or
anxieties for a beginning counselor?*
What are the common irrational
standards for a beginning counselor?
What are the possible reasons when a
client is silent?
Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 2
Issues Faced by Beginning Therapists
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Anxiety and self-doubts
Skills vs. being ourselves
Carry clients issues in our daily life
Unrealistic beliefs:
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no rooms for mistakes, I need to provide the “right”
way to help (perfectionism)
Unselfishly giving (please others)
Worry no answers or solutions, fear of silence, fear of
missing something (need in control)
Every client should get better (personalizing)
Be effective all the times (need to be valued)
Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 2
Staying Alive – It’s a Prerequisite
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Take care of your single most important
instrument – YOU
Know what causes burnout
Know how to recognize burnout
Know how to prevent burnout
Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 2