Abstract
The field of mental health counseling is unlike any other. The main goal within the counseling profession is to have clients stop coming and to “work your way out of a job.” Clients come to counselors, who are often complete strangers, and bare their inner secrets. Few vocations come close to these employment goals, so having insight for counselors-in-training is quite useful. Information, garnered through interviews and research, helps to prepare novice counselors in meeting their professional goals.
The participant detailed in the following paper is Mrs. Rachelle Spindler, who is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) as well as certified via the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC).
Overwhelming Choices
When attempting to find a counselor to participate in an interview, several qualities are important to keep in mind. For example, what field and/or specialty they practice; the age categories and demographics they counsel; and what forms of treatment approaches they employ during therapeutic interventions. There are several websites that help facilitate bringing together client and counselor, as well as counselor-to-be and counselor. One such is The Therapy Directory facilitated by Psychology Today (http://therapists.psychologytoday.com), which lists treatment approaches, finances, qualifications, specialties, issues and demographics experienced in treating. Having the counselor’s bio assists in selecting one who has experience in certain areas of mental health and continuing education in the fields desired.
Approaches and Techniques
Mrs. Spindler started out as an 8th grade teacher, then decided to further her education and pursue her MA degree through an on-line university (Argosy) which she chose because like many distance learners, she already had a busy schedule. She has been licensed and practicing in Corvallis, Oregon for the past seven years, splitting her time between working with the Benton County Juvenile Court/Foster Care System and her private practice.
Some of the more difficult aspects to her job within the court and foster care system include conducting trauma narratives, which consists of clients recounting traumatic events in as much detail as possible. The retelling of traumatic experiences has been hypothesized to produce a more detailed and factual representation of the event (Foa and Meadows, 1997). However, such technique can be stressful for both the client and the counselor involved.
The main treatment approaches used in Mrs. Spindler’s practice include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT). Often these two therapeutic interventions work in tandem to produce quick results that are sustainable, as the client is the one that comes up with the solution to the problem. SFBT proposes that “the development of a solution is not necessarily related to the problem; the client is the expert” (de Shazer, 1985). Having the client come up with ways to fix the chief complaint, without trying to figure out the “why” may lead to a shorter therapy session, however, as with many therapeutic relationships, having an effective rapport between client and counselor will help to facilitate a positive and desired outcome (Bannink, 2007).
Building rapport may not always occur, with the fault landing upon neither the counselor nor the client. Having a trusted referral list of counselors is important, to both parties involved. Such a list works both ways, between counselors whom have different specialties and experience, benefiting clients and mental health providers. At times a counselor may see little to no improvement on the part of the client, only for the client to come in for their next session stating that their last visit changed their outlook and something “clicked.” Such an instance serves as a reminder how important it is to maintain hope and an optimistic outlook, both as provider and as a client.
Sometimes a counselor needs to change their approach to create a better fit with their client. Such an example is the offering of therapeutic services outside of the normal office setting. Mrs. Spindler offers in-home sessions to clients, both within the juvenile system and her private practice, which began with a client who displayed signs of anxiety and agoraphobia. Meeting in the home of a client presents some challenges, including safety and boundary crossings. The latter, which differs from boundary violations, includes any form of touch, telephone sessions and seeing patients outside the office (Zur, 2007). Such crossings can benefit therapeutic sessions, as long as a risk-benefit analysis takes into account client specifics and results in maintaining a viable option.
Challenges within the profession
As with most vocations, counseling has its challenges, which include terminating a client’s therapeutic relationship and self-care. It would be unethical to continue treatment past the time necessary. According to Mrs. Spindler, “One should not foster dependence, but rather let the client take the tools learned and become independent.” In her practice, she usually starts tapering off visits slowly, from weekly sessions, to every other week, eventually having the client make an appointment for the following month, with the option of cancelling without incurring repercussions.
Self-care is an essential component to becoming a successful counselor. There are support groups that address the need, yet still maintain confidentiality, comprised of fellow counselors (Consult Groups), where one can obtain support and input for challenging aspects one may experience with clients. Another option, which in addition to the consult group used by Mrs. Spindler, is frequent vacations. However, one key piece of advice provided was; “When on vacation, do not tell people you are a counselor.”
Conclusion
With many different theories existing within the counseling field, it is imperative for a counselor-to-be to obtain guidance from a counselor who shares similar training and treatment approaches. Having an accurate picture of what to expect in practice, whether in a clinical, community or private setting, is tantamount to a reduction in additional unforeseen surprises. Knowing that soon-to-be counselors often contact practicing counselors for interviews, I look forward to providing my input when I receive that call, passing on the knowledge and insight I will have gained during my education and practice.
*References available upon request
