The more I read and learn about the field of School Counseling, the more I realize how important it is to keep an open mind about all of the different techniques and styles of counseling that can be used. Dr. Garner really drove home in Theory & Practice I that we all need to have one counseling style that we “specialize” in. In the case of the School Counseling program here at Millersville, it was suggested that we choose Solution Focused Counseling. I am completely comfortable with Solution Focused Counseling and really enjoy focusing on the client being the expert of their own experience. Also, ever since I started my own journey through Solution Focused Counseling, it has been nothing but a positive experience for me.
While I want to continue to craft my skills in the world of Solution Focused Counseling, I also know that it is extremely important to have an eclectic skill set. Even though Dr. Garner talked to us about having one type that we can use to describe our counseling style, I believe that it would still be extremely beneficial for us to say that we have an eclectic skill set based on the needs of each client. Essentially, we should be able to get to know the client, evaluate their needs, and use whatever counseling style or technique that fits their needs. It shows how you should assess each client in the Counseling Strategy Selection Chart that is shown in the Nelson article. While I agree that the chart would be an effective way to choose a counseling strategy, I feel like it will take a lot of experience for someone to be able to assess a client that quickly and choose a style that is catered to them.
Dr. Garner suggested that we shouldn’t really come out and say that we are an eclectic style counselor when we eventually go through a job interview, or when somebody simply asks us. Maybe it would be more appropriate to mention that we have an eclectic skill set that caters to all clients or students, but still driving home the fact that our expertise is in Solution Focused Counseling. Maybe I am being completely naïve to the situation, but I still question whether the administration would even care what you would choose as far as a counseling style. I would think that they would be more interested in hiring someone that would simply have the knowledge to be able to cater to their students needs, and would have the skill set to use many different effective styles of counseling.
Nelson, M.L. (2002). An assessment-based model for counseling strategy selection. Journal of Counseling & Development, 80, 416-421.
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