comprise the following:
- Contracting stage – the initial stage in counselling, when the counsellor explains to the client what is on offer and how they work; this stage is important to encourage a power balance between the two parties and to foster client autonomy. That is, the client can decide whether to go ahead with counselling based on what is discussed.
- Middle stage – it is in this stage of counselling that the therapeutic work takes place; this is likely to be the longest stage in counselling, as the therapeutic relationship gradually develops and deepens, and the client feels able to explore more and more of what has brought them to counselling.
- Preparation for ending – because it is important not to spring the ending onto a client, but instead to work together towards this, counsellors will regularly review how the process is going, and prepare the client for ending. This is especially important when there are a fixed number of sessions (e.g. in a charitable agency) – the counsellor may remind the client of how many are left to go.
- Ending – at the final stage of counselling, there will often be a last review of progress made and work done, as the counsellor ensures that the client is safe and ready to end therapy, at least for now.
Immediacy (starts at 20.51 mins)
Immediacy is an interesting advanced skill in counselling. It can be used in various ways, but tends to involve the therapist investigating what is going on in the therapeutic relationship.
Immediacy involves an element of risk-taking, and is therefore most useful both when the counsellor has a reasonable level of experience and when the therapeutic relationship has been established and is therefore fairly stable. It involves voicing a feeling that you have become aware of in yourself; this may often relate to boundary issues. It is based on curiosity rather than judgement, and must be couched as such.
Another use of immediacy can be to point out apparent contradictions in the client – perhaps between different things they have said, or between their body language and words.