CNL-515 Practicing SOLER, Active Listening, Empathetic Listening, Probing, and Summarizing 

Learning different aspects of being a counselor, it is important to understand ourselves to be able to understand others. Self-awareness is important because knowing where biases are developed can help to not imposed own values on clients. Self-awareness is a continuous part of learning about yourself and how that can impact the therapeutic relationship with the client.  Developing the idea that the field is evolving, creating new developments that impact a counselor and the client. It is important to develop skills for various reasons. One reason is to be able to build a therapeutic relationship that focuses on case conceptualization, leading to treatment planning. Demonstrating authenticity as a counselor is being able to treat others with mutual respect and professionalism. Developing counselors use self-reflection to understand values, assumptions, and competence in knowledge. Using introspection helps to understand internal and external boundaries. Supervision helps to understand different views that can be conflicting or helpful in addressing challenges with clients. Developing counselors are aware of personal values and beliefs, and acknowledge when clients share different beliefs, using a safe environment with a nonjudgmental outlook.  Self-awareness can help to address the challenges of a counselor displaying countertransference. Gaining knowledge on how clients' ideas, beliefs, and values shape the therapeutic relationship is helpful.  Overall understanding biases can help to be flexible in adapting skills and interventions used in the counseling setting. During the program, I have been able to manage what has been taught from various reading sources. I am able to apply the skills learn and understand how self-awareness is important not only for the counselor but also for the client. Introspection has been helpful to identify areas of growth. I am always curious about where it has been helpful to build on the knowledge of a counselor.