Characteristics Of Professional Counseling Specialists

By Virginia Collins


Being a counselor is not only determined by the knowledge acquired in school. Since therapists interact with people all the time, one must develop more personal qualities to help them understand and handle patients. These include upholding confidentiality, being patient as well as encouraging clients. While a few traits are inherent in some people, others must be developed with time. Therefore, if one is aspiring to become a professional counseling doctor, he or she should examine themselves to find out whether they possess these features. The paragraphs below describe a few of them.

First, before handling the problems of another person, one must be able to take care of themselves. Imagine handling marital cases while your marriage is falling apart. It may be possible but if a client learns a therapist cannot solve personal problems themselves, they cannot be confident to share their own. Before setting up a therapy facility, work on personal weaknesses as well as fears. This is not to say therapists are perfect people. However, during a psycho-social session, they cannot express personal fears before clients.

Secondly, counselors must possess patience. Normally, few people are born tolerant. For this reason, persistence is a skill that is developed as individuals practice it. Mental changes take a while to occur. Without tolerance, a therapist may never see these changes in patients. Likewise, due to mental disorientation, some clients are normally irritating hence need much understanding.

Notably, psycho-social cases vary which is why patients are different. All the same, therapists should accept them with their weaknesses. Show compassion towards their problems and let them feel you care. Normally, most are handled indifferently by society including close family members which should be different as a therapist. Being too judgmental and criticizing imperfections will prolong healing process or lead to worse cases.

Next, work on developing lasting relationships with your clients. Psychoanalysis is a process that may take months or years before a client heals completely. During this time, an expert must develop a lasting friendship. This will cultivate trust among patients and speed up the healing process. One way to develop interpersonal relationships is through listening as well as celebrating small achievements in your patients.

Adjust a treatment approach depending on the needs of a patient. Of course, there are general guidelines taught in schools which apply to most cases. However, since needs vary with patients, therapists should adopt new mechanisms to make treatment more effective. Experts have to keep refreshing what was learned in earlier years as psychology is an advancing field.

Empathy is another valuable trait of a doctor. Unlike sympathy, empathy seeks to understand the feelings of a client by putting oneself in their shoes. Psychologists should understand why patients think the way they do even when they disagree with their perspectives. However, create a boundary between work and personal life. Being too empathetic may trigger one to carry the emotional distress of clients even at home.

Let patients know despite how serious a case could be, change is possible. Even if one has been rejected, encourage them to pursue positive changes to win loved ones back. These are some of the traits these experts should possess.




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