The Competent Counselor

Lessons Shared by Psychotherapist Irvin Yalom

Dr. Anna Kathrina Oaminal-Watin, RPsy, RPm

Avoid Diagnosis
Though diagnosis is unquestionably critical in treatment considerations
for many severe conditions with a biological substrate, diagnosis is
often counterproductive in the everyday psychotherapy of less severely
impaired patients.

Counseling sessions consist of gradual unfolding process wherein the

counselor attempts to know the client as fully as possible. A diagnosis
limits vision; it diminishes ability to relate to the other as a person.
Counselor and Client as Fellow Travelers
There are many phrases for the therapeutic relationship
(patient/therapist, client/counselor, analysand/analyst,
client/facilitator), Yalom prefers to thinks of his patients and himself as
fellow travelers, a term that abolishes distinctions between “them”
(the afflicted) and “us” (the healers).
Be supportive.
What do clients recall when they look back, years later, on their
experience in counseling?

Not the insight, no the counselor’s interpretations.

Answer:

More often than not, they remember the positive supportive

statements of their counselor.
Empathy: Looking out the client’s window
Counseling sessions are enhanced if the counselor enters accurately
into the client’s world. Clients profit enormously simply from the
experience of being fully seen and fully understood. Hence, it is
important for us to appreciate how our clients experiences the past,
present and future.
Let the client matter to you

How?

Why?
Create a new therapy for each client
Therapy is spontaneous, the relationship is dynamic and ever-evolving
and there is a continuous sequence of experiencing and then
examining the process.
Engage in personal therapy
Question : What is the therapist’s most valuable instrument?

Answer:
The counselor has many clients; the client,
one counselor
Using the here-and-now ----Grow rabbit ears
The everyday events of each counseling session are rich with data.

One stimulus, many reactions.

Each individual has a different internal world and the stimulus has a
different meaning to each.
Helping patients assume responsibility
If we hope for more significant therapeutic change, we must encourage
our patients to assume responsibility – that is, to apprehend how they
themselves contribute to their distress.
Never (almost never) make decisions for your
clients

Have your tried making decisions for your clients? What happened?

According to Yalom, it is always a bad idea.

Take notes of each session
Why do you think it is important to take notes?
Give yourself time between clients
Don’t shortchange yourself and the client by not leaving ample time
between sessions.