This document provides guidance for counselors on an upcoming assignment due September 23rd. It instructs counselors to listen both linearly and nonlinearly during client assessments to build a strong therapeutic alliance and identify client needs, resources, strengths and gaps in their stories. Counselors are advised to consider both the conscious and unconscious parts of client stories, including recognizing potential adverse childhood experiences and how that might inform the assessment, guide goal development, and affect client readiness to change.

1. Assignment 1: Due Monday 9/23/19
By using linear and nonlinear methods of listening, the
counselor can respond in meaningful ways which can create a
healthy therapeutic alliance. During the assessment, the client
will often provide a wealth of information. It is the job of the
counselor to listen in order to identify needs, resources,
strengths and abilities. The counselor may pick up on gaps in
the client's story during the assessment. This is likely because
the client will tell the conscious part of the story. However, we
must also listen to what is NOT being said.
Counselors must consider the unconscious part of the story
during the assessment. One way for the counselor to do this is
by being mindful of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES).
How might recognizing ACES:
1) inform the counselor during the assessment?
2) guide goal development for the treatment episode?
3) affect the clients readiness to change?