Amiability
"People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel".-Maya Angelou
Demonstrating Amiability
Demonstrating amiability in the counseling setting helps clients develop a sense of being welcomed, respected, and valued. By showing warmth, empathy, and kindness during a client's time of need, I can foster trust in both me as their counselor and in the counseling process, creating a strong foundation for the therapeutic relationship.
Frustrating Situations
When working with clients who are apprehensive or combative in the counseling setting, I have learned, as a Counselor in Training, the importance of de-escalating situations by responding rather than reacting. This skill has helped me tremendously during challenging counseling sessions. Taking a moment to respond allows me to separate the client from their behaviors and recognize that these behaviors often stem from underlying emotional pain. I understand that these behaviors may serve as defense mechanisms that have helped clients cope and survive difficult life experiences. Keeping this perspective enables me to approach each client with empathy, patience, and compassion while maintaining a safe and supportive therapeutic environment. When conflict and frustration arise in the clinical setting, I ensure that the event was documented effectively in a timely manner, and follow recommended emergency protocol provided by my clinical site and consult with my peer supervisor and ensure that my liability insurance as a counselor is up to date.
