

Where problems are complex, several sessions may be needed to fully understand where help is most needed (Sommers-Flanagan & Sommers-Flanagan, 2015). Can you think of any friends or family members who may be able to offer you some support?” “From what I’m hearing, you are facing your problems all on your own. Can you think of any positive aspects as well?” “You have spoken a lot about the negative aspects of your life.

Variations of the following comments can be helpful (modified from Nelson-Jones, 2014): The therapist can remind them by asking selective questions. The client may be unaware or have forgotten that they have the tools to cope. Understands the client’s strengths and coping skills.The therapist should be ready for a crisis, maintain a sense of calm, listen closely and observe well, and assess the severity and risk of damage to the client and others.

The therapist must be able to define the crisis and know what is causing excessive stress 139).ĭuring crisis sessions, the following is vital (Nelson-Jones, 2014): They must make “immediate choices to help clients get through their sense of being overwhelmed” (Nelson-Jones, 2014, p. Therapists will sometimes face a client in crisis. Would you care to explain what is bothering you?” “ Please tell me what has brought you here today.” Meeting and greeting counseling skills are fundamental early on and may include the following types of opening statements and scripts (modified from Nelson-Jones, 2014, p. A shared definition of problems in terms of skillsĬlient problems should be restated in terms of skills (or lack of skills) that perpetuate issues.Īim to agree on preliminary statements of working goals as skills to be developed.ĭecide on a practical approach for how, when, and where to meet–potentially digital–plus fees.The therapist builds a working model – a “set of hypotheses about how clients function in problem areas and is a statement of how they feel, think, and act” (Nelson-Jones, 2014, p. While plans will capture the higher-level approach and timelines involved in treatment, they are typically broken down into individual counseling sessions that serve vital functions and help the client progress toward a successful outcome (Gehart, 2016 Nelson-Jones, 2014).Ĭounseling sessions are opportunities for the therapist and client to get to know one another and for the client to talk about the issues that have brought them to counseling.Įach session will vary between clients based on their specific challenges and the treatment style.Įxamples of individual sessions and samples of scripts include (Nelson-Jones, 2014): Early (and ongoing) sessionsĮarly on in counseling, session time is spent developing each of the following five therapeutic elements:Ī robust therapeutic bond is vital to successful counseling. Counseling Sessions Explained: Examples & Scriptsįrom the outset of therapy, mental health professionals support clients as they grow their skills, helping them reach their goals and tackle the problems that stand in their way (Nelson-Jones, 2014).
