Counseling as a Process

1. Counseling
Prof. Yury R. Delgado, MS. LCPC

2. Counseling Process Structure
1. Rapport and Relationship Building
2. Assessment / Problem Definition
3. Goal-setting
4. Initiating Interventions
5. Termination
Hackney & Cormier, 2001, pp. 23-42.

3. Rapport and Relationship
Psychological climate resulting from the
interpersonal contact of client and counselor
Hackney & Cormier, 2001, pp. 23-42.
What factors will you consider to build a
psychological climate of trust, respect and
collaboration?

4. Assessment and Problem Definition
Involves specific skills
• Observation
• Inquiry
• Associating facts
• Recording information
• Forming hypotheses (clinical
“hunches”)
• Recognize a client need
• Understand that need
• Meet that need
Four-Dimensional Analysis
Beliefs about the problem or “being the problem”
Emotions and Feelings related to the problem or
“being the problem”
Behaviors connected with the problem or “being
the problem”
Patterns of interaction and/or communication
around the problem or “being the problem”
Hackney & Cormier, 2001, pp. 23-42.
Cormier & Hackney, 1999, pp. 120-133.

5. Categories of Counseling Interventions
Counseling interventions may be described within the
major categories through which problems are enacted:
• Affectively experienced problems
• Cognitively experienced problems
• Behaviorally experienced problems
• Problems that are interactional/systemic in nature
See Table 7.1 Counseling Strategies and Corresponding Manifestations of Client Problems. p. 120 Chapter 7. The professional
Counselor. A Process Guide to Helping. By Harold & Hackney and Sherry Cormier

6. Four-Dimensional Analysis
Affective Behavioral
Presenting Problems
Cognitive Systemic Aspects
The professional Counselor. A Process Guide to Helping. By Harold & Hackney and Sherry Cormier

7. Goal Setting
• Indicates how well counseling is
working
• Indicates when counseling
should be concluded
• Prevents dependent relationships
• Determines the selection of
interventions
Hackney & Cormier, 2001, pp. 23-42.
Mutually defined by the client and
counselor
How to define SMART goals
S
• Specific
M
• Measurable
A
• Achievable/Attainable
R
• Realistic/Relevant
T
• Time-based

8. Interventions
• Initiate and facilitate the client’s change
• Must be related to the problem
Hackney & Cormier, 2001, pp. 23-42.
“How shall we accomplish these goa
Selecting an intervention may become an adaptive process.
The Counselor's Theory
Counseling Experience
Character of the Problem
Client's typical response to the problem
Character of the Goal
Six Factors for Establishing the Counseling Strategy

9. Some Techniques and Interventions
Affective Model Cognitive Model
• Feelings Identification
• Sorting out feelings
• Focusing techniques
• Role reversal
• Alter ego exercise
• Empty chair exercise
• Dream work
• Emotive Imaging
• Active listening
• Empathy
• Positive regard
• Genuineness
• Awareness techniques
• Dream work or dream analysis
• Bioenergetics
• Free associations
• Transference analysis
• ABCD Analysis
• Disputation
• Decibels and Countering intervention
• Role reversal
• Re-decision work
• Cognitive re-structuring
• Thought stopping
• Positive Self-Talk
• Anchoring
• Re-framing
• Bibliotherapy
• Brainstorming
• Identifying alternatives
• Coaching
• Prescribing the problems (paradox intervention)

10. Algunas Técnicas e Intervenciones
Modelo Conductual Modelo Sistémico
• Modelaje Social
• Modelaje “en vivo”
• Modelaje Simbólico
• Adiestramiento en relajación
• Desensibilización sistemática
• Automonitoreo
• Autorrecompensa
• Autocontrato
• Construcción de jerarquías
• Modelaje usando Imaginación/Visualización (Covert
Modeling)
• Representación de roles/ Ensayo
• Genograma
• Escultura Familiar
• Intensificación
• Confrontación
• Cambios en la secuencia de interacciones
• Facilitar conocimiento de las triangulaciones
• Definir los limites

11. Termination
Sperry, Carlson, & Kjos, 2003, pp. 176-179
• No clear cut ending, but no need to continue
beyond usefulness
• Awareness by the counselor and the client
that the work is accomplished
• May take the same number of sessions as
rapport building
Methods & Process
• Gradual tapering off of sessions
• Therapeutic vacations, taking a break without breaking the connection.
• Direct (imposed) termination
Therapist must carefully consider the most effective way to terminate each client.
1. How will termination impact the client?
2. What is the client’s history of separation? Is the client likely to regress?
3. What is the client’s reaction / opinion about termination? Can he / she see it as a positive step?
Sperry, Carlson, & Kjos, 2003, pp. 176-179
Hackney & Cormier, 2001, pp. 23-42
1. Suggested termination, with client agreement
2. Imposed termination
• Continuing the process is against the client’s best interest
• Client is deteriorating, not progressing
• Incompatibility with the therapist
• Client using therapy in place of life
1. Situational termination (Client moves, Employment or
insurance changes)
2. Early termination: clients just don’t return

12. References
• Cormier, Sherry & Harold Hackney. Counseling Strategies and
Interventions, 5th Edition. Allyn & Bacon, 1999.
• Hackney, Harold L. & L. Sherilyn Cormier. The Professional
Counselor: A Process Guide to Helping, 4th Edition. Allyn &
Bacon, 2001.
• Sperry, Len, John Carlson, & Diane Kjos. Becoming An
Effective Therapist. Allyn & Bacon, 2003.