Being Authentic as a Counsellor

Posted by: Andrea Cashman on April 9, 2014 12:58 pm

I remember the topic of authenticity coming up in my graduate degree training and I was a bit puzzled on why this wouldn’t be a given, an automatic in counselling as you should be authentic with your clients. The world english dictionary defines authentic as 1. of undisputed origin or authorship; genuine 2. Accurate in representation of the facts; trustworthy; reliable. From these definitions, I gather being authentic would be to demonstrate your professionalism, your credentialism, your ethics and your therapy process in an honest and reliable fashion. I also gather from this definition that not only should you represent yourself in such an honest fashion on paper, but as a counsellor, in person, as well. How can you expect to effectively practice if you are not honest and trustworthy as a counsellor? Clients are looking for authenticity, are they not? Many clients have been lied to, abused, mistreated and are seeking a trusting, reliable therapeutic relationship in which to heal. Many clients come into therapy to process and treat interpersonal difficulties and injustices. This is why being authentic has value.

Authenticity in counselling is a moral ideal that stems from humanistic and existentialistic therapies. Carl Rogers would probably call this “congruence”. Rogers promotes that the more congruent a counsellor is, the more they are themselves in the therapy relationship, putting up no professional front or facade which will be the most beneficial for the client (Donaghy, 2002). I practice from Rogers’ Client Centered Therapy or Person Centered Therapy as it is sometimes called. Rogers believed that congruence was one of three core essentials to practicing psychotherapy. For me, as a counsellor it is the upmost importance for me to be congruent with the client, thus being authentic in our session. Honesty and authenticity are values that hold true to me. My hope is that my clients are being authentic themselves, as I believe it is a two-fold process. I envision being authentic in session as not only exploring my perspective of the clients issue in hopes to gain a deeper understanding into who they are and what there perspective is. I also believe being authentic is using self-disclosure (where and when appropriate), owning one’s own mistakes as a counsellor and being honest about the process of therapy and client progress. As with all professions, there can be bad seeds. As a counsellor, it is imperative that you represent the counselling profession ethically and authentically as possible.

Donaghy (2002) points out that authenticity in therapy may not be absolute when she quotes that therapy itself is an artificial practice and secondly questions whether the therapists own authenticity as a person, rather than as a therapist, has any bearing on acheiving authenticity in therapy. Maybe authenticity is an ideal, a matter of degree and not an absolute. I see it more as an absolute, but these are my values and I’m an idealistic person. I believe that authenticity is what life should be about and therapy should be too. Spirituality has taught me authenticity. Encouraging clients to be authentic within themselves and others is a worthy goal of therapy. Being authentic role models as counsellors can help clients acheive authenticity.

I’m curious to know what you think: Is it possible to acheive authenticity in your counselling practice? What makes a counsellor authentic? What barriers can you forsee (if any) authenticity impeding therapy? Do you consider authenticity an absolute or a matter of degree in counselling?

Reference:

Donaghy, M. August 2002. Authenticity? A goal to therapy. Practical Philosophy. http://www.society-for-philosophy-in-practice.org/journal/pdf/5-2%2040%20Donaghy%20-%20Authenticity.pdf

Andrea Cashman is a private practice counsellor who has founded Holistic Counselling Services for individual clients seeking therapy in Ottawa, ON. She also practices at the Ottawa Hospital as a registered nurse. Feel free to comment below or contact her at [email protected] or visit her website at www.holisticcounsellingservices.ca

*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA

The Psychology of Hate

Posted by: Asa Don Brown on April 9, 2014 12:55 pm

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“Personal responsibility is the willingness to completely accept choices that we have made throughout our lives.”
~ Asa Don Brown, Waiting to Live

Hate has a pathological effect upon the psyche of the individual. The pathology of hate is commonly linked to those that provide us protection and nurturing early in the early stages of our lives. The nurturing of a parent or guardian can be the catalyst of a variety of psychological and psychiatric conditions. It is not to say that hate cannot be spurred on by organic conditions of the mind, but we know that the greatest influence of hate is directly related to the nurturing received in our youth.

While psychological and psychiatric conditions of each individual may develop beyond the experiences per childhood; the presets surrounding the personal ideological viewpoints, theories, ethical and moral compasses are undoubtedly influenced by those in direct contact with our own lives.

The makeup of hate is comprised of uncertainty, insecurity, loneliness, awkwardness, lack of confidence, self-doubt, unassertiveness, timidity, anxiety, instability, vulnerability, and defenselessness. Whereas to love, a person has humility, security, assurance, acceptance, attachments, tenderness, patience, understanding, compassion and most of all, tolerance.

INTOLERANCE

The human race is an intolerable species. We are seldom welcoming of varying views, belief systems, and behaviors. We shun or outwardly reject those who differ from our own person. As a species, we are more apt to disregard or completely ignore anyone we disagree with. Such intolerance is no different than blatant acts of hate and discrimination. You may be asking yourself, how can ignoring or shunning be as reprehensible as violent acts. While the acts of shunning or ignoring lack the physical violence of the fist; shunning and ignoring are intentionally setting a precedent of intolerance and bigotry. It is this sort of behavior, attitudes, and percepts that is directly linked to instilling negative emotions (i.e. fear, distrust, hatred, worry, and personal distress). The prejudices of an individual can invoke rage, hostilities, and an overall spirit of negativity.

While the intolerance begins within the mind and psyche of the individual, seldom does the intolerance keep isolated within the mind of the individual. Sadly, the venomous nature of intolerance is capable of creeping itself slowly into the minds of others who directly and indirectly interact with the ill mind.

The spoils of intolerance are capable of diminishing and destroying every thread of communication. It is the egregious nature of intolerance that spurs on the prejudices and bigotry developed within the minds of those effected by such hate.

HATE’S VICTIMS

The victims of hate may be your neighbor, your friend, your father, your mother, your brother, your sister, your grandparent, your employer, and/or your enemy. While the victims may range in age, race, gender, and intellectual quotient (IQ); the desire of such discrimination is to reach maximum proportions.

Hate has intentions on breaking down the unity of all humanity. It does not cease with the individual, but seeks to infiltrate all aspects of personal and global thinking. The injection of such venom penetrates each aspect of humanity whether on an individual scale or a global perspective. It may include ethnicity, religion, national origin, genetic makeup, socioeconomic status, career choices and/or a personal disability. The ultimate goal of all hate crimes is intended on reaching systemic levels, thus reinforcing the intentions of hate.

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*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA

SLCHG Pilot Project: HEALING DANCES !

Posted by: Linda AK Thompson on April 9, 2014 12:51 pm

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The dance I am referring to is the slow, gentle, titrated releases or dissipations referred to as “the warble” [1] noteworthy during SRT treatment. Overwhelming trauma response [unprocessed] contained within the clients trauma vortex is simultaneously supported and grounded by the therapist’s ability to hold/self-regulate as the client taps into their innate resources available in their healing vortex. The ebb + flow of the warble represents energy shifts, movement between the vortices and is a shared experience where both parties are changed by the dance. Trauma is part of the human condition and in order to help another, helping professionals must first heal themselves.

Survival, integration and reconciliation from traumatic lifetime events [TLE] are the most important relational, adaptive and healing matters that affect connections and the quality life. Survivors with C-PTSD typically need help learning how to connect, trust, regain a sense of self in a secure, safe therapeutic relations. The critical ‘missing’ factors noted in a survivor’s existence with C-PTSD secondary to early childhood attachment, neglect and abuse experiences and formation of a core trauma wound. What do trauma test scores from a healed control group reveal as compared to the client group populations? Since 1995, I remain a primary investigator for MOT: Research – test instruments [2] and continue to search for, find controls to aid in the understanding of clients with core wounds and suggested criteria of C-PTSD phenomena.

To date, 9 people [7 female/2 males; 5 professionals/4 lay people] met criteria [see below] and were randomized into the Control Group. Within this small group of control subjects, 4/9 [44%] presented with no evidence of a core trauma wound and accompanying C-PTSD phenomena implying healthy growth, development and maturation with an ability to accommodate/modulate [self-regulate] stress and trauma response. In 1993, the beginning of formulating MOT, my husband and I volunteered and were randomized into the MOT: Control Group. Since this time, one control has died [natural causes] and I completed my core [medical trauma] healing work in 2004. There are 51 clients randomized into the Grief Group, 132 into the Childhood Abuse Group, and 44 into the Cultic/Ritual Abuse Group.

The control group is sparse and needs more subjects. If there are any professionals willing to volunteer for trauma testing and join the control group by answering:

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*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA

Private Practice: Doing it on the Cheap! (Part 2)

Posted by: Jaclyn Trecartin on April 9, 2014 12:49 pm

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As my previous post showed, it is possible to embark on private practice without incurring tons of debt. It does take some planning and effort, but it is well worth it!

What You Need Versus What You Want

How do you want your space to look? Are you responsible for the waiting area? What about a washroom? Do you want chairs? A couch? Benches? Beanbag chairs? A hammock (hey, it’s your space)? Now, what do you need? Remember, you can always add to the space as your practice grows. Start with the necessities before adding luxuries.

Thrift Stores, Yard Sales, and Kijiji

Why pay full price for something you can get a great deal on the item slightly used? I easily saved $250 buying two chairs and an ottoman off of kijiji versus their retail value. Here’s a tip: make sure whatever you buy can be easily cleaned, is in pretty great shape, and doesn’t have any clinging odors (like cigarette smoke). Also, buy a receipt book and ask sellers to fill one out for you at the time of purchase, listing the items bought. This way, you can claim the expenses. It won’t hurt to let your friends and family know what you need and see if anyone has a lead or is getting rid of something. I got a free Keurig coffee maker from a friend who just wasn’t using it. You cannot beat free! You just cannot!

DIY!

This is a great time to Do-It-Yourself, if you are so inclined (or find a friend who is). A new coat of paint can make thrift store finds seem new and fresh. Curtains, pillows, and seat cushions can be much cheaper to make than to buy new. Maybe you have a talent for art, or take interesting photos. Why not use your talents to decorate the space? The internet is a treasure trove of DIY ideas and techniques, so have a look around.

Price Comparison

For those items you can’t get free, second-hand, or DIY, comparison shop. I have been known to spend over an hour looking for a cheaper price on an item (such as a certain brand of play sand) to find the best deal (for said sand, about a $20 difference). Look at online flyers for local shops, ask for rain cheques if items sell out, and if applicable use coupons!

Cost-Free Art

This is a technique often seen in coffee shops and restaurants. Offer local artists a free venue to show their works—your office! Displayed with an artist’s card (and prices), you have original work and they have free advertising. Both parties win! Work out an agreement that clearly outlines who is responsible for the works while they are in your care. My landlord had this idea for our waiting area and we now have gorgeous photographs from a local gallery hanging up. For free. And, as I said earlier: you cannot beat free!

I hope you found this two-part series on how to economically begin private practice. Perhaps you have some tips you could share? I’d love to hear them!

*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA

Real-Time Adventures in Counselling Private Practice – Chapter Two

Posted by: Rhea Plosker on April 2, 2014 3:49 pm

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The social brain is in its natural habitat when we’re talking with someone face-to-face in real time.
-Daniel Goleman (psychologist who defined “Emotional Intelligence”)

Chapter One, http://www.ccpa-p.caacc/blog/?p=3361 described my mid-life career transition from engineering to private practice. At the chapter’s end, I reached my goal of finding a supervisor willing to work using a collaborative supervision model, which we named a “post graduate internship”.

How does this work?

Since January, my Mondays are spent working with www.williamcooke.ca in Toronto’s Bloor West Village, a leafy, lovely commercial and residential neighborhood. The cozy office occupies the second floor of an older house with a hairdresser on the ground floor and a massage therapist down the hall. The frog statue on the staircase makes me smile.

I am an active participant with my supervisor, an experienced narrative therapist, and several clients. Narrative Therapists act like investigative reporters, helping the client externalize the problem, explore it’s influence, and look for times when the problem is less influential, called unique outcomes or exceptions. The therapist plays an important role, but the client is the expert. Narrative Therapy encourages using “outsider witnesses”, invited and participating listeners. My presence make it possible for my supervisor to offer this intervention, frequently described by clients as helpful and powerful.

I also see clients on my own. I might hold a first session with clients anxious to get started before a space frees in my supervisor’s schedule. There are times when my supervisor and the client agree a session with me would be helpful. We are able to work with couples in unique ways, including working one-on-one for part of a session.

What’s happening here?

At the center of this (literally, not just theoretically), is the client. Our weekly supervision sessions are based on the same client picture—not just carefully selected quotes, or audio/video excerpts. Our unique perspectives about that picture create a richness difficult to replicate in a supervision model where one of the parties will never meet the client. Knowing we will both be face-to-face with the client also creates a shared sense of urgency.

This kind of supervision is so common in the corporate world that I never stopped to consider how much courage it takes to “walk the talk” in front of each other and the client. Let’s be honest, it’s one thing to provide advice about working with someone you have never met, and quite another to work collaboratively, discuss what you heard, why you said what you said, and even the mistakes you made. But it also offers more to the client (for the right client at the right time), not to mention being both interesting and fun for the supervisor and supervisee.

Rhea Plosker is an Engineer and Counsellor. She is starting her adventures in private practice with www.williamcooke.ca and also works as a project consultant in health care and not-for-profit organizations. Rhea can be reached at [email protected] or at www.inspirationsolutions.com.

*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA

RUthere?

Posted by: Dawn Schell on April 2, 2014 3:46 pm

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I’ve written previously on the CCPA blog about crisis line services for youth that use text as their main method of communication. Many youth crisis line services in Canada and elsewhere have noticed there has been a shift away from making phone calls. Several crisis services have responded to this and have added live chat/messaging/email or texting as alternatives to phoning. Three Canadian examples are Youthspace.ca, YouthinBC.com and KidsHelpPhone.

Why do youth use these types of crisis services via text? Well, it’s the same reasons I’ve mentioned before. It’s mobile. You can use it anywhere. It’s private. You can reach out for help and no one else needs to know that is what you are doing. It can be immediate.

This past week, CBC’s Spark program (which “brings you the latest in technology and culture”)[1] featured ‘texting crisis lines for teens’.[2] Crisistextline.org and the Samaritans (http://samaritanshope.org/index.php) were interviewed. It’s well worth 15 minutes of your time to listen to this portion of the program.

The host of Spark, Nora Young, asked the question that is often asked – can teens get quality counselling online? Both groups agree that it can be a medium to help a teen out of crisis. As Ron White of the Samaritans says, being able to use text “allows teens and young adults access to crisis services they would not have otherwise”.

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*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA

Spiritual or Not……….

Posted by: Farah Lodi on April 1, 2014 3:58 pm

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Like most of the world, I’ve been praying for the passengers of Malaysian Airlines flight MH370. Depending upon the headlines I find myself oscillating between being hopeful for their survival, or be fearful of their loss. Either way, I feel that I can eventually accept the outcome, because I personally believe that we are part of a Divine bigger picture – and this gives me a sense of purpose and meaning in life. For me, hope that our suffering will be temporary and justly rewarded in the end, makes it easier to bear trauma, grief, loss, and all of life’s challenges. Call this a coping mechanism or call it conviction, but it helps me get through life.

Numerous studies have been done on the psychological resiliency that spirituality can give to people. Christian faith encourages an absolute trust in God’s grace, while the Islamic faith embraces a complete surrender to His will. Hindu philosophy is dominated by a belief in reincarnation – this life is temporary, and death is a transition to the next life. Buddhist healing takes into account the mind, body, and spirit. The first of the four noble truths taught by Buddha was “life is suffering” -this expectation of suffering leads to an acceptance of it. In Judaism, being part of the Jewish community is central to one’s identity and approach to life.

Hindus and Buddhists regard this life as a transition to the next, so death is just a bridge over to the next life. Christians, Jews and Muslims believe in a hereafter, where good people will go to heaven, so death is a step into another, hopefully better existence. For spiritual people, death is not viewed as a final calamity, but as a natural course leading to something beyond. These various perspectives of how religious people connect with the universe, provide examples of how spirituality helps them live with their problems, not just helping them cope, but actually helping them heal and keep moving forward.

In my experience, my clients who have a deep spiritual foundation are naturally predisposed towards better healing of emotional distress because of their belief in a Higher Being, their feeling of being connected to the universe, and their ability to make meaning of death. Doesn’t this make for a compelling argument for us counselors to address the spiritual needs of our clients?

Does spirituality make it easier for the anguished family members of the missing 259 passengers and crew aboard MH370? I certainly hope so. And for those who don’t have the protective factor of spiritual faith, I pray God blesses them with acceptance, patience and courage.

Reference:

Charbonneau, C., Clark, N. H., Gall, T. L., Grant, K. (2005). Understanding the nature and role of spirituality in relation to coping and health. Canadian Psychology, 46(2), 88-104.

*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA

Do you Possess Enough Self-Worth to Run a Private Practice?

Posted by: Andrea Cashman on April 1, 2014 3:54 pm

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I’ve had a few people ask me questions about running a private practice as they were contemplating opening their own. Of the counsellors that I’ve spoken to, it was made clear which ones had severe doubts in their abilities and which ones were self-assured and confident with making their entrepreneural move. I do not believe that this is a career choice for the faint of heart. Private practice can be very isolating at times. While the appeal to be your own boss and be creative as you wish to be, there is always the drawback of isolation, stress and uncertainty popping up to make an appearance.

There are many stressors that private practice can bring. There is the stress of economic uncertainty. Building a practice will take time, perhaps years for you to make a decent income. Even once established, there will be ebbs and flows in your practice that you will need to consider and plan for. You may be working in isolation even if you are renting space in an office. You also have to consider working different hours which may include early morning appointments and evening appointments to make client hours available. You also have to consider that you have no cover when you are ill. Great self-care is essential to running your practice, not just physical care but emotional and mental care as well. Seeing a counsellor for your own issues is highly recommended to avoid any countertransference issues. I strongly recommend you have had at least one session as a client to see what it is like from a client’s perspective. Another thing to keep in mind about your practice is the expectation of client cancellations, no shows and drop outs. This is where supervision is beneficial to work on any doubts you have as a counsellor. There can be other stressors as well, for example, competition of other practitioners, marketing stress, adminstrative or environmental stressors etc.,

What stressors do you anticipate in your practice? Reflect on how you can deal with them and what you will need in doing so? Will social support, networking, personal counselling, research, supervision, time management help you with these stressors? Taking the time to reflect on your doubts and anticipated stress will make you feel better prepared to make the transition. I know how hard it can be; however, I think you need to be in a place in your life where you have the strength and stamina to open your business. If you feel your not ready at this current time, it doesn’t mean you will never be. It just means that you need to work on yourself first and there’s nothing wrong with that.

*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA

Father Attachment Predicts Adolescent Girls’ Social and Emotional Development

Posted by: Reena Sandhu on April 1, 2014 3:48 pm

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The principle focus of research on parental attachment and involvement has been about mothers and their young children, with the role of fathers relatively neglected. In addition, the study of father–child relational processes during the adolescent period has been meager, compared to mother–child influences during adolescence. The few studies on father–adolescent relationships rarely focus on the father–daughter attachment bond. Dr. Sandhu’s research study aimed primarily to consider the nature of father attachment on the social and emotional development of adolescent girls. The variables of interest were Father Attachment, Social Problems, Social Competence, and Internalizing Behavioral Problems, as perceived by adolescent girls. The archival survey data for this study were gathered from 246 adolescent females from a Catholic school between the ages of 14 and 16 years old who participated in Dr. Ferrari’s 2008 study on “Attachment, personal resources and coping in trait-anxious adolescent girls.”

Results supported the proposed hypotheses, revealing statistically significant correlations among perceived quality of Father Attachment, and adolescent girls’ Social Competence, Social Problems, and Internalizing Behavioral Problems. Together, Father Attachment, Social Competence and Social Problems accounted for over half of the variance (54.5%) of Internalizing Behavioral Problems. In addition, Father Attachment and Social Problems each uniquely predicted Internalizing Behavioral Problems in a standard multiple regression analysis. However, once Father Attachment and Social Problems were accounted for, the relationship between Social Competence and Internalizing Behavioral Problems was no longer significant.

Incorporating these findings in prevention and treatment programs could prove to be crucial, particularly for programs aimed at promoting emotional well being among adolescent girls. Specifically, these findings are important for mental health therapists on several levels. When compared to mothers, fathers rarely are included by clinicians to participate in the treatment of their children’s psychological problems. This pattern is true for single parents (e.g., separated, divorced, or never-married parents) and married or remarried parents. Offering father–daughter treatment in therapy may have important ramifications for the effectiveness of the therapy, as there has been empirical evidence that engaging fathers in therapy can enhance the therapeutic effectiveness of those services. Perhaps more educational efforts, such as highlighting the influence fathers have on their adolescent daughters’ psychosocial development, could help therapy seem more appealing to fathers. In this realm of educational training, graduate programs should include more extensive training on family systems to alert therapists to the importance of father attachment on their adolescent daughters’ psychosocial development.

Furthermore, the findings indicated that social problems place adolescent girls in Catholic schools at risk for developing internalizing behavioral problems such as anxiety, depression, and somatic complaints, but also inhibit social competence in girls. This interaction likely has a bidirectional and transactional influence on each element; that is, social problems lead to internalizing behavioral problems, which in turn leads to more social problems. These findings are clinically significant for educators and mental health practitioners treating adolescent girls at subclinical levels of emotional and social problems. Specifically, research affirms that more targeted prevention programs are cost effective, practical, and beneficial in the long run to help adolescent girls with subclinical problems, compared to adolescent girls with internalizing disorder.

Dr. Sandhu’s research offers greater understanding of the role fathers play in their adolescent daughters’ lives and the influences fathers have on their daughter’s social and emotional development from the perspective of Canadian Catholic adolescent girls’ self-reports. The current study adds to the limited existing literature on father–daughter attachment. However, more research is needed to fully understand fatherhood as a construct and to make the role of fathers one that is publically visible and highly appreciated.

By: Dr. Reena Sandhu

*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA

Private Practice: Doing it on the Cheap! (Part 1)

Posted by: Jaclyn Trecartin on March 26, 2014 3:51 pm

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There is no doubt about it: private practice requires some financial investment. Perhaps you are considering branching out into this exciting field, but are reluctant to, as you do not wish to incur debt. That is totally understandable! In my business venture, I have garnered a few tips and tricks to minimizing start-up costs, which I am happy to share. This post (and Part 2) will be a general overview of doing private practice “thriftly” (which I don’t think is a word, but I am employing a teacher’s advice that if you put a made-up word in quotation marks, it becomes a veritable word). In the posts to follow, I will specifically address economic ways to work as a child, teen, and family therapist.

Get a Good Accountant!

Yes, this tip will cost you money, but trust me; a good accountant is worth their weight in gold! Ask other private practitioners (counsellors, massage therapists, physiotherapists, etc.) if they recommend someone. Don’t feel you need to go with the first accountant you meet—shop around until you have someone who can work with your needs. And have a good idea of what your needs are.

Budget, Plan, and Save

Before actually embarking on your venture, start saving! These funds will be there to offset any loans and prevent you from going into debt. Have a plan in mind: how much can you realistically save/afford? Use this plan to create and stick with a budget. A budget does not have to be written in stone, but creating one and trying to stay within it will help stop over spending.

Go in With a Colleague

Look into splitting operational costs with someone else. If you won’t be using the office space during the evenings, another counsellor could use it then. Maybe you have a fulltime job and only need the space for a few days/nights a week. Why let it sit empty?

Be Open to Unconventional Spaces

What space do you envision for an office? Would something different work, and possibly be cheaper? Maybe you’ll want to work from home (and write off some of your home expenses). Perhaps, you could use a room in a medical office. Maybe a massage, physiotherapy, or other health clinic has space you could occupy (although, keep in mind your clientele; personally I need a space where I can engage in fun and sometimes noisy play therapy—so certain venues are out!)

This ends the first post of this two-part series. I hope you gleaned a tip or two or had an idea sparked!

*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA