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Caption:
night-camera-photographer-canon-shooting-girl
The journey of a beginning
helper is a lengthy one with each individual traveling at a different pace,
bringing diverse abilities and talents to the table of counseling (Young,
2017). Waiting to get to our destination may elicit emotions such as anxiety,
worry, impatience, anger and frustration. However, arriving at the intended
location brings relief, joy and happiness. For Christians, the pleasant effect
of waiting can be seen in the scriptures: “But they that wait upon the Lord shall
renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run,
and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31, King James
Version). It is worth the wait when we hope that patience will
eventually end with something pleasurable. The impact of patience isn’t only
internal but also external. Being patient with the client allows him or her to take time to
share what needs to be shared without feeling rushed. Attentive silence, as
Young (2017) calls it, is an example of a skill that elicits some form of
patience––waiting for the client to fill up the “voids”.
As developing counselors, it is easy to
look at the future and lament the length of time it will take us to become
professionals, whether receiving your masters or going further to be licensed. In an article Young (1998) published
concerning some skills training counselors undergo, he lists some terminology associated
with the helper’s development, which was based on Hoffman, Shadboldt, Burton,
& Klein (1995). Young (1998) defines a novice as a new counseling student. He also describes an apprentice as student who continues beyond
the basic-level course. He adds that this apprenticeship could last for approximately
12 years. With this idea of the development of the helper, we know that learning
never ceases even after graduate school.
Waiting can be very difficult for some of us as time elapses.
Nevertheless, what is done during that time is what is most important. As Joyce
Meyer once said, “patience is not simply the ability to wait – it’s how we
behave while we’re waiting.” Being teachable and aware of what is going on in
and around us prepares us for the ultimate goal in becoming counselors. Likewise,
as the young lady in the image waits patiently for a clear view to capture
her perfect shot, we as emerging counselors wait unwavering in our desire to bloom and grow into
whom we imagine ourselves to be.
References
Meyer, J. (n.d.). Patience
Quotes. Retrieved February 10, 2017
https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/joycemeyer567645.html
Young, M. E. (1998).
Skills-based training for counselors: Microskills or mega-skills?
Counseling
and Human Development, 31(3), 2. Reprinted with permission of Love
Publishing.
Young, M. E (2017). Learning the Art of Helping:
Building Blocks and Techniques
(6thed.).
Boston, MA: Pearson.
Patience is definitely a critical piece of any relationship in general. This is especially true for those within a counseling context. When a client comes to counseling, so often that individual only needs to be heard and understood. Certain people, due to their personalities, can be more or less open and expressive when it comes to emotions and thoughts. The concept of patience is definitely needed for those who are on the lesser end of that scale. In order for these clients to gain something out of the counseling sessions, sometimes patience in the form of silence or identifying key feelings is necessary. It is through patience that we grow and learn.
ReplyDelete"Waiting to get to our destination may elicit emotions such as anxiety, worry, impatience, anger and frustration." I almost laughed, but cringed at how relatable this statement is. I feel like I experience all of these emotions every week when I think about all the time in training ahead. It is so easy to get overwhelmed in this program.. I just want to be working now! This season is teaching me how to be patience and embrace each moment so I can enjoy the blessings surrounding me. I want to remain excited and teachable.
ReplyDeleteI do agree. This period has taught me so much about the essence of standing still amidst all the uncertainty. It does indeed get overwhelming, especially being currently unable to work as professional counselors. This frustration however does motivate us to move from this uneasy, uncomfortable feeling to a place where we can see the bigger picture; waiting for what awaits us. Also, it is good to desire to remain teachable because we know that education and learning never ceases, especially for us counselors who will be learning from our clients every day. To have that mindset sets you a step forward ready to start the race.
DeleteI really enjoyed this post. Patience is such a key element in counseling. Patience is a behavior as much as much as it is attitude. Coming to counseling is a very big step for many individuals. Thus, we have to be patient and allow them to share when they are ready. Patience is a pathway to see the client's transparency and vulnerability. Personally, I know that I need to work on my patience. Very helpful.
ReplyDeleteYes, I do agree the path of becoming a professional counselor will take quite some time and much more than I thought. I came into the program blind because I imagined a masters would take just two years to equip me with mostly what is needed to be a counselor. I knew I would need actual practice with clients and believed to gain such hours during the couple of years in the program. Now, I laugh at how clueless I was coming in, but I can respect the process because I believe anything worth having is worth working for. Initially, I may have felt shocked, however now I feel patient, like the girl in your image.
ReplyDelete