The document outlines the Skilled Helper Model for counseling. It has 3 stages: 1) Reviewing the current problem by clarifying the client's story and identifying blind spots. 2) Developing a preferred scenario by exploring possibilities and setting viable goals. 3) Determining how to achieve goals by brainstorming strategies, choosing the best, and creating an action plan. The model emphasizes taking action throughout by translating strategies into goal-accomplishing actions. A case example of a woman discovering her husband's pornography addiction is also provided.

1. Counselling Skills and Techniques
Unit 3

2. Skilled Helper Model

3. Stage 1: Reviewing the current scenario
Help clients identify, explore and clarify their problem situations and unused
opportunities.
Stage 2: Developing the preferred scenario
Help clients identify what they want in terms of goals and objectives that are based
on an understanding of problem situations and opportunities.
Stage 3: Getting there
Help clients develop action strategies for accomplishing goals, for getting what they
want.

4. Getting things done: A bias towards actions
Helps clients act on what they learn throughout the helping process; help clients
translate strategies into goal-accomplishing actions.

5. Case Example
Cathy had been married for 14 years to her high school sweetheart. Things started
out good but as their family grew to four children the first five years, their marital
relationship gradually deteriorated. Her husband, a sales manager traveled almost
every week. When he was home, he tended to ignore her and the kids. Cathy would
occupy herself with housework, church duties and helping neighbors and other
relatives. Most people thought Cathy had a good marriage, but inside she felt empty
and trapped. Feelings of frustration and anger would occasionally rise to the
surface, but most of the time she just kept it all inside. When Cathy started therapy,
she had just discovered her husband had an addiction to pornography. She was
surprised, hurt, angry and didn’t know whether she wanted to stay in the marriage
or leave. She was concerned about the kids.

6. Stage 1: Reviewing problem situations and unused
opportunities
Step I-A: Telling and clarifying the story
Help clients tell their stories as clearly as possible
Verbal and Voluntary VS Involuntary and Mute
Step I-B: Identifying and challenging Blind Spots
Help clients discover and deal with the kinds of blind spots that keep them from
seeing properblems and blind spots clearly and moving ahead

7. Step I-C: Searching for Leverage
Help clients identify and work on problems, issues, concerns or opportunities that
will make a difference in their lives.
Client action: The Heart of the Helping Process
Help clients act both within and outside counselling sessions.

8. Stage II: Developing preferred scenario
Step II-A: Developing preferred-scenario possibilities
Help clients develop a range of possibilities for a better future
Step II-B: Translating possibilities into viable goals
Help clients choose realistic possibilities and turn them into viable goals
Step II-C: Commitment to a program of constructive change
Help clients identify the kinds of incentives that will help them pursue their chosen
goals

9. Stage III: Determining how to get there
Step III-A: Brainstorming strategies for action
Help clients brainstorm a range of strategies for accomplishing their goals
Step III-B: Choosing the best strategy
Help choose a set of strategies that best fit their environment and resources
Step III-C: Turning strategies into a plan
Help clients formulate a plan, a step-by-step procedure for accomplishing each goal
of the preferred scenario

10. Action revisited : Preparing and Supporting Clients
Planning → institute and give direction to problem-managing and opportunity-developing
actions
● Immediate preparation for action (“forewarned is forearmed” phase)
● Provide support and challenge for clients during the implementation

11. Flexibility in the use of the model

12. Becoming a skilled helper
Basic and advanced communication skills
Ability to establish working relationships with the clients and help them
challenge themselves
Skills in:
● Problem clarification
● Goal setting
● Implementation of the action plan
● Ongoing evaluattion

13. Basic steps of the training process
● A conceptual understanding of the steps of the model
Reading book; listening to lectures
● A behavioral understanding of the model
Watching instructure use this model; videotape
● Initial mastery
Practice with fellow trainees with supervision
● Further mastery
Practicum / internship with supervision
● Lifelong learning

14. Case Management
Content Problem & Process Problem

15. Evaluation of The Skilled Helper Model

16. Shadow side of the helping process
● Rigidity
● Overcontrol
● Virtuosity
● Ineptness

17. Skills helpers need !
Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3
● Attending
● Active Listening
● Responding
● Probing
Foundational Qualities
● Integrating the data
● Challenging skills
○ Information
sharing
○ Advanced
empathy
○ Confrontation
○ Self disclosure
○ Immediacy
● Goal setting skills
● Program Development skills
○ Helping clients identify
program possibilites
○ Helping clients choose
programs
● Facilitating-action skills
○ Immediate preparation
○ Providing challenge & Support
● Evaluation skills
○ Quality of participation
○ Quality of program
○ Quality of goals