I think using tools in counselling like pens paper, stones, playdo or clay and a white board help so much with the clients process. You may or may not agree.
I find it really hard to hear counsellors that are scared or worried about using tools in there work. I know its all down to the client if they want to use them they can, I would not force a client to use tools if they didn't want too. I would give the client a choice, therefore giving the client the power.
I hear from trainees from person centered courses scared to use tools and even asking questions to the client. I don't know where all this Um and ah, as a person centered counsellor comes from? Rogers? I don't think so!
Watch the following and see what you think?
Carl Rogers part 1
Carl Rogers part 2
Hope you enjoyed the videos.
I love using art materials in my own processing and I have no problems as a person-centred therapist about their use in therapy, after all they just offer an additional way for the client to express themselves. I wonder if calling them tools is what causes the problem? I think a lot of courses teach that "we don't use tools and that is one of the things that makes us stand apart from other approaches" and people take that rigidly. I wonder how those people explain away the work of Natalie Rogers or the work done by person-centred art therapists. Thanks for the links to Gloria - it's been years since I saw that :-)
ReplyDeleteThe not asking questions thing comes from some counselling skills courses. I've heard diploma trainees saying that their earlier counselling training taught them that it is wrong to ask questions. It's scary if they are finishing diplomas still believing that's true. Of course, it does depend on the question - some times it's easier to ask a question than to express empathy and so the question can be used to deflect the client away, rather than deepening the exploration.