Counseling is a practice that needs more work put in than what is seen on the surface. It is a job that requires the co-operation of both the client and counselor. There needs to be a based relationship o trust and agreement on the outcome of the counseling before the sessions actually begin. Research has proven that when a counselor works well with a patient and a good relationship is based, there is a better chance of success within the sessions. From the beginning patient need to want to change their behavior and listen to the suggestions put forward by the counselor. Also, the counselor must be able to understand the issues of the patient and clearly identify what the problems are and also be clear on what the solution are for these issues. This essay will discuss the importance on counselor qualities and how these qualities bring success to a counseling relationship.
At the start of the therapy sessions, the therapist and the patient need a relationship to be built. This relationship should be perceived by both client and therapist to be a major factor in the success of the therapy. Cooper and Lesser (2011) named this the therapeutic alliance, which its foundation for it to be a success, is based on three main aspects, which are acceptance, empathy and trust. There has been much research done on the effectiveness of the relationship between the therapist and the patient, as Cooper and Lesser (2011) also state in their study, that the client needs to be an active member within the partnership, for it to work. In Addition many counselors believe that this therapeutic relationship is a key factor in the success of the therapy. It allows the counselor to have the freedom to dive directly into what the patients’ problem maybe and also allows the patient to be honest and tell the therapist all that he or she need to know. In the past, studies and