caption: Abide In Me
Retrieved from: www.Jeshua21.wordpress.com
Retrieved from: www.Jeshua21.wordpress.com
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me
Chapter 7 of Therapeutic Expedition by Thomas and Sosin, the
writers talks about the power of the tongue. Receiving feedback has always
being something that was hard for me to do. As a substance abuse counselor, I remember
doing everything in my power to not have my weekly supervision with the
clinical supervisor. I was worried about what would be said about my work as a
counselor whether good or bad. In reading this chapter I learned that it was imperative
to be very sensitive when giving a feedback because it might make the counselee
feel wounded. The chapter also talks about the skill of confrontation. Jay
Adams, the founder of nouthetic counseling speaks to the value that
confrontation plays in the helping process. Sometimes working with addicts requires
the counselor to be confrontational. I believe that this helps the counselor to
point out the issue to the counselee without sugar coating it. I have
personally had clients come back to thank me for not sugar coating what they
needed to hear. One major tool that I learned from this chapter is silence. Silence
is something that I struggle with and I hope to improve on as I go through my
training as a counselor.
Chapter 8 also talks about the termination process. This is
one process that I never paid attention to in the past. This is because addicts
in the methadone treatment are always known to come back to treatment after
they taper off the methadone. I never knew the effect it had on the client.
The last chapter which is 9 also talks about managing the
counseling session. This chapter brings to light the different stages in
counseling.
I truly enjoyed reading the three chapters and one thing
that stood out the most was the AIM model. I like the fact that it was derived
from Abide in Me. In everything we have to depend on our heavenly father!
I agree that receiving feedback may be difficult for anybody not just the client. If used wisely, it can provide an opportunity for growth.. Feedback is also important in helping the client to move forward and therefore can be beneficial if used in the correct manner .the mode of communication of the feedback is as important. The client needs to feel encouraged through positive feedback which is given in a caring way. At the same time, the feedback should not be filtered and non-judgmental. I like the way you phrased it that it should not be sugar coated. Temptations may arise at this point where the counselor wants to give advice. Instead the counselor should explore the available options for the client.
ReplyDeleteHeater,
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your vulnerability in regards to feedback / constructive criticism. I have always had a difficult time handling suggestions. I so easily feel defeated because I take it more like criticism, rather than helpful feedback for my personal growth and well being. I think a lot of this is derived from my childhood. My father was phsyically and verbally abusive. Even though I don't mean to, I often automatically correlate the feedback with criticism or intentional hurt. I have grown up my whole life feeling not good enough or individually sufficient, because Inwas told that my whole life by my father. However, as the Lord has been refining my heart and mind, I amstarting to be able to differentiate between constructive feedback and purely hurtful criticism. Scripture mentions numerous times that those who are wise take to heard constructive feedback. Feedback, she done correctly, is to bring life is meant to bring life and freedom to the receiving individual.
Blessings!
Vester,
ReplyDeleteI found your blog to be very open and honest, I enjoyed reading it! Words can be used as a very powerful tool when used correctly. Feedback is definitely one of the areas that needs to be well thought out by the person who is giving it, like you said earlier it can be hard to sugar coat it or some clients may just need to hear it directly. Personally I like to use the sandwich affect, it still lets the person know what they need to work on but also points out some positive things that they are already doing.