Basic Counseling Skills
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  • A. TECHNIQUES
  • Pattern of Sessions
  • Active Listening
  • Body Language
  • Asking Questions
  • Paraphrasing/Tone
  • Summary
  • Note Taking
  • Homework
  • Goodie Bag/Fun Stuff
  • Technique References
  • B. THEORIES
  • Client Centered
  • Holistic/Biopsychosocial
  • Strengths Based
  • Cognitive/Behavioral
  • Solution Focused
  • Existential Therapy
  • Letting Go
  • Theory References
  • C. SAMPLE SESSIONS
  • 1. Client Centered Counseling
  • 2.&3. No Show/Cancellation
  • 4. Strengths Based
  • 5. Cognitive Beh. Counseling
  • 6. Holistic Health Counseling
  • 7. Solution Focused
  • 8. Existential Counseling
  • 9. Becoming Unnecessary
  • D. SELF HELP
  • Journaling
  • Mood Mapping
  • Whole Health Check In
  • Community Resources
  • Ten Things I Like About Me
  • Common Lies We Tell
  • Goal-Setting
  • A Why to Bear a How
  • Happy People
  • Self-Help References
  • E. CONTINUING EDUCATION
  • F. SITE MAP
  • G. CONTACT ME!
  • H. Readers Contributions
    • Articles >
      • Addiction and Sleep - Jessica S >
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        • Bereavement Counseling - Sally W
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        • 30 Min Reduce Anxiety - Paige M
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        • 3 Ways - Rid of Sunday Scaries
        • Conquer Fear of Flying - Sally W.
        • Document Anxiety through Journaling - Sally W
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        • Counseling the Impoverished - Sally W
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        • 4 Journaling Tips for Beginners - Shristi Patni
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        • Recall Report - Laura P.
        • Living Mindfully - Mollie Wilson
        • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - Sally W.
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        • Nutrition to Help Anxiety - Sally W
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        • Geriatric Counseling - Sally W
        • Counseling Seniors with Anxiety - Sally W
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        • Addiction and Sleep - Jessica S
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        • Indoor Air Quality Can Affect Mental Health - Sally W
        • Stress on Health - Sally W.
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        • Suicidal Thoughts and Alcohol Abuse - Julia W
        • Summer Side Gigs for Teachers - Joyce W
        • Tobacco in 2017 - Mary G.
        • Take Control of Your Life - Dorothy Watson
        • No More Winter Blues - Rufus Carter
        • How I Put Anxiety Attacks on Pause
        • 8 Effective Tips for Improving Mental Health - Camille Johnson
        • Manage And Reduce Stress For Your Employees With These Tips - Rufus Carters
        • Moving Forward When Grief Intrudes in Your Life - Camille J
        • Working Remotely - Emma Grace Brown
        • Unlock Greater Confidence - Rufus Carter
        • Coping With a Mid-Life Crisis - Rufus Carter
        • 6 Self-Care Tips - Laurie Abner
        • Help a Loved One After the Loss of a Spouse - Rufus CarterNew Page
        • Relocating After a Tragic Loss - Lucille Rosetti
        • Guidelines for Teens Who Want to Thrive as Entrepreneurs - Lucille Rosetti
        • 5 Common Lifestyle Habits That Can Cause Skin Damage - Andrew Mark
        • What to Do if a Loved One Is Battling Addiction
        • From Addiction Recovery to Financial Independence
        • Major Life Transition - Ryan Randolph
        • Find Your True Path - Ryan Randolk
        • Officers Coping With PTSD - Ryan Randolph
        • Self-Care Secrets for the Rookie Caregiver - Ryan Randolf
        • Self-Care Building Blocks for Improving Your Mental Health - Cheryl Conklin
        • Avoiding Burnout in the Counseling Profession
  • Reset Your Day Without Burning Out
  • The Big 6 Personality Traits
  • When Everything Breaks, Something Begins - Holli Richardson

Understanding the Multi-Faceted Role of Counseling in the Impoverished - Sally W.

At present more than 50 million Americans are living in poverty according to statistics released by the U.S. Census Bureau. Although counselors typically receive training on cultural diversity, this basic consciousness does not necessarily result in a proper understanding of what it entails to live in severe poverty. Despite being typically constructive, most training courses for counselors do not cover the important socioeconomic barriers that are prevalent across the world. Due to this, the average counselor often does not possess the necessary know-how when comes to dealing with patients living in poverty. It is imperative that counselors not only understand the impact poverty has on the psyche but also know how to tailor their interactions accordingly.

The dire impact of living in poverty

Apart from encountering countless obstacles that hinder basic survival, living in poverty can also result in a number of secondary concerns that can render therapy substantially less effective. Common concerns stemming from poverty include mental illness, substance abuse, and chronic illness. An individual living below the bread line may, for example, have contracted asthma due to living in a mold-infested room. As a counselor, it is important to not only address the emotional trauma experienced by the patient, but also the individual's physical living situation itself. If the room is filled with bacteria or mold, it is critical to consider how the patient can get their asthma treated and rid the room of the dampness that caused the respiratory distress.

The importance of meeting basic needs

When a person has to constantly worry about where their next meal is going to come from, it becomes increasingly difficult for them to make themselves emotionally available or counseling. Before traditional counseling can commence it is important that a patient’s basic needs are met. A lot of people living in poverty are of the belief that they are being let down by current systems that do not make provision for their basic needs. It is important that counselors are not only sensitive to these needs but try to help meet them as well. Many impoverished individuals live in absolutely horrible circumstances that include limited access to food, clothing, and shelter. While counselors may not have the means to improve the living conditions of a patient themselves, they can help facilitate the necessary assistance to improve the patient’s quality of life significantly.

Counselors need to fulfill various roles

A counselor will often take on various roles that far exceed traditional therapy and that may include, but isn’t limited to vocational training, transport, case management, and assistance with the acquisition of student loans. As difficult as it maybe it is important for a counselor to remain actively involved and focused on finding solutions to the concerns of the patient. Apart from offering guidance, a counselor can further enhance healing by helping a patient identify their own strengths and helping them build on it. Expanding on someone’s strengths is not only an effective way of providing much-needed hope but improve overall well-being as well.
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Being a counselor is not an easy task by anyone’s standards. By making the effort to understanding the effects of poverty better it will, however, become increasingly easier to assist those who need it the most.
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