Counselling is a therapeutic relationship intended to help clients through a wide range of personal issues in a safe forum. As this was my initial attempt at counselling, I tried to create a relaxed environment for Cassie, a fellow student and my interviewee, where she could discuss any troubling issue. I explained that I would try to understand her experience without criticism or judgement. However, counselling has proven to be challenging and thought provoking as I found myself in moments of awkwardness where I felt my empathy spiraling into sympathy. Where I felt completely inadequate, wondering “Who I am to pretend that I understand how this feels?” In this reflective essay, I intend to reflect on …show more content…
And it dawned on me, how am I ever going to know what every situation for every person is going to feel like? It is impossible. Therefore, I am not a phony. I am merely a person, who wants to help unburden people like Cassie, from the loads that they are carrying on their shoulders. I now appreciate that I will meet many clients like Cassie where I need to remain genuine, practice my actively listening and just be in the moment with them by attempting to feel what they are feeling, to truely experience their emotions (Kotler and Shepherd, 2011). Undoubtedly, I attempted to express empathy by being present with Cassie in her moment of reliving her painful memories and I genuinely believe that we had instants where we had a successful therapeutic connection (Kotler & Shepherd, 2011).
Admittedly, there were moments of awkwardness for me when I wanted Cassie to elaborate further and I found myself constantly saying yes and yeah in agreement but I wish that I was able to extend my vocabulary in these circumstances. Understandably I am in training but I still wish that I could have said more to her in those moments that she needed to hear comforting words. During the times that I wanted to hug her and tell her that she was going to be okay. I reason that learning to have some distance from the client’s situation will undeniably take awareness and practice (Corsini & Wedding,