How to Become a Good Counselor

While a quality education and certification play a part in becoming a good counselor, there are qualities and abilities that good counselors have that set them apart from their peers. These are the things that allow a counselor to see a person as an individual and not a case study in a text book. Human beings are not toasters that can be fixed with the adjustment of a few screws. The client's unique perspective on life and the world has to be understood and used as a frame of reference. Good counselors use that frame of reference to develop insights that make a real difference in the lives of their clients. Developing these qualities and abilities will allow you to become a good counselor.

Instructions

• 1

  Develop and strengthen your sincerity and genuineness. A client will not open up to and trust a person whom he feels is fake, or not really interested in helping him. Getting a client to open up, and be vulnerable and trusting, is one of the most important foundations for effective counseling.

• 2

  Learn how to truly listen. It is all too easy to hear what we want to hear, or to talk over someone to get the response we want. To get to the heart of the problem, you must experience it in the way that your client is experiencing it, and that requires listening to their words and understanding their context.

• 3

  Pair the correct counseling method with the right personality and situation. Even though one may fit your philosophy and personality better, your client's needs come first and dictate the method used for treatment. Sometimes one client needs a direct approach, while your next client would benefit from a non-directive approach.

• 4

  Create a comfortable environment. Sit beside your client, not across a desk, and employ open body language. Use a neutral tone of voice and ask open-ended, but non-adversarial questions.

• 5

  Construct a concrete plan with steps and goals, so that your client knows where the counseling is going. Communicate that plan clearly. Having an idea of what to expect will help your client to stay calmer and be more cooperative.