Different counseling techniques work for different people
Counseling can be an enlightening and emotionally cleansing exercise. It is a useful tool for anyone who might just need someone to talk to. There are a number of effective techniques to use in counseling. They each take a very different approach but ultimately achieve the same goal.
Open and Closed Questions
An important aspect of counseling is having a plan of attack. Deciding which types of questions to ask will help you direct the flow of the session. An open-ended question will solicit a lot of information. These are designed to just get a person to start talking and allow his mind to freely flow. Open-ended questions start with phrases such as, "How did that make you feel?" or "What do you mean by that?" Closed-ended questions go for more specific responses and get typically yes or no responses. Counselors can use them to clarify certain points that may not be clear. Examples might be: "Did that make you feel good or bad?" or "Is that all you think about?"
Active Listening
A lot of people who enter counseling will tell you that they just need someone to listen. Active listening is an essential tool for any counselor. The idea behind active listening is to allow your client to speak and to use your body language to encourage her to continue speaking. You'll want to say as little as possible to avoid throwing verbal road blocks in their path. You have to genuinely show interest by facial expressions and by occasionally dropping in an "OK," "go on" or "right." Take mental or actual notes of any relevant points that the client makes. She might say something that inspires another question or helps you better understand her problems.
Reflection
The idea of reflection is the counselor rephrasing what the client has said and saying it back to him. Counselors will often use phrases such as, "I hear you saying," "It seems that you are" or "I can feel that you are experiencing." The idea behind this is not only to illustrate to your client that you are listening intently, but it also gives him the opportunity to hear what he's saying. Sometimes listening to your words come from someone else will provide you with a new context and clarity.
Sandplay
Sandplay is a technique commonly used when dealing with children or young adults. Sandplay involves a tray of sand, a container of water and an assortment of action figures. The counselor asks the client to use the figures to either tell a story or share her view of the world. This gives the counselor an actual physical illustration of the client's state of mind. Sandplay is helpful to the client for much the same reason.
