The Counselling Academy. (2008). Counselling Practice – Becoming a Reflective Practitioner. The Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors National Newsletter, Issue 4, pp. 4-7.
As important as methods may be, the most practical thing we can achieve in any kind of work is insight into what is happening inside us as we do it. The more familiar we are with our inner terrain, the more sure-footed our [work] – and living – becomes.P.J. Palmer (cited in Skovholt, T.M., 2001)
The quest for self-awareness or self-understanding is a major component of effective reflective practice. Counsellors need not only to be aware of their skills, knowledge and performance as professionals, but also mindful of any personal factors that may interfere or impede their ability to provide an effective and objective service.
It is likely you have already developed a mechanism for analysing your actions, beliefs, reactions and thoughts. Perhaps you reflect through discussion with your partner, family members or friends. Maybe you spend some time thinking about your actions before undertaking them. You may be a journal writer or perhaps utilise BLOGS (online web logs).
Reflective counselling practice is mindful practice. Reflective counsellors are aware of their own strengths and limitations. They conduct counselling with purpose and intention. They monitor their own levels of stress and are mindful of personal matters that may interfere with their performance. Reflective counsellors take the time to evaluate and refine their performance after each counselling session and are committed to ongoing personal growth and professional development.
There are many processes that contribute to effective reflective practice. Some of these include:
- Evaluating own performance.
- Developing self-awareness.
- Monitoring potential for burnout.
- Ensuring adequate self-care.
Dewey (1933 cited in Sharpy, 2005) first described reflection in terms of ‘thinking about thinking’ and encouraged professionals to examine the underlying rationale for their choices. In the early 1980’s reflection took on a wider scope or meaning when Schon (1983) coined the term ‘reflective practice’.
Counselling professionals in their everyday practice face unique and complex situations which may be unsolvable by only technical rationale approaches. Reflective practice is an important learning strategy by which professionals become aware of their implicit knowledge base and learn from their experience.
In effect, reflective practice is a form of experiential learning which enables the professional as the student or learner to move from their own concrete experiences to abstract conceptualisation of an idea, on which further action, leading to further experience, then occurs (Kolb, 1994, cited in Sharpy, 2005).
As with all professions it is important to evaluate your performance as a counsellor. No one is perfect. No one gets it right 100% of the time. Most people are hesitant to objectively look at their performance. However, in counselling, as in many other professions, it is important to be able to critically evaluate how you performed. In this way you can identify any areas that may require change.
There are a number of strategies that can be implemented to assist you in monitoring and/or improving the way you conduct your counselling sessions. Here are a few examples:
Self evaluation: This is the process of reflecting on your own skills, your professional strengths and limitations. Awareness in these areas will enable you to choose professional development or training activities to fill any identified skill or knowledge gaps. Self-awareness of this nature will also enable you to identify clients that are beyond your scope of expertise and will ensure that you refer responsibly.
Client feedback: Providing client with the opportunity to review the counseling process can be tremendously beneficial for both counsellor and client alike. Not only does it acknowledge the client’s opinion as valid and valued, it also provides an opportunity for the counsellor to evaluate his or her current approach and adjust or continue accordingly.
Peer review: Peer review enables counsellors to come together and discuss individual cases, ethical dilemmas and brainstorm intervention options. It is a process that can increase counsellor accountability and improve the quality of service offered to clients (please ensure confidentiality policies are appropriately upheld).
Professional supervision: Supervision is an integral part of counseling practice. Within supervision, counsellors can enhance their skill and knowledge base, ensure responsible and ethical practice and monitor their self-care and professional competence. Supervision acts as a mechanism to ensure that a counsellor’s approach is aligned with professional standards and reflects the requirements of the industry.
This importance of continually reviewing and updating your skills cannot be over-emphasised. Counsellors would, ideally, use all of the strategies listed above to ensure that they maintain a professional and ethical approach to their work.
Developing Self-Awareness
Schon (1987 in Sharpy, 2005) identified two types of reflection; reflection-in-action and reflection-on-action.
The first, reflection-in-action, occurs when the professional reflects on their own behaviour as it occurs, which enhances their following actions immediately.
Compared with reflection-on-action which is essentially reflection after the event, where the professional counsellor reviews, describes, analyses and/or evaluates the situation, to gain insights for improved practice in the future.
Self-assessment: By engaging in a reflective process the counsellor begins the ongoing process of blending solid and effective counselling therapy techniques with their applied practice.
Reflection therefore, requires thoughtful and honest recording, reporting and analysis of actual practice, philosophy, and experience. Understanding why an activity or practice was productive or non-productive in the therapeutic context is an important component in the progression from novice to master (Self assessment, 2006).
The self-reflection cycle can assist the counsellor to learn how to guide their questions in an effort for them to be better able to understand the reflection process.
It also offers a structure or process to guide the counsellor, whilst at the same time allowing flexibility for counsellors to be able to apply their knowledge, skill, and ability in the context of their practice area (Self assessment, 2006).
The structure of how a counsellor can undertake self-reflection is described below (see Figure 1).
Step 1: Select. The first step is to identify and select the issue or situation requiring reflection.
Step 2: Describe. The second step is to describe the circumstance, situation, concern or issue related to the topic that has been selected in step one. Who, what when, where questions are then asked here (for example, who was involved (the client/s)? What was the context, circumstance, concern, or issue requiring reflection? When and where did the event occur?).
Step 3: Analyse. The third step in the process of reflection involves analysing and assessing the situation (i.e. to ‘dig deeper’). This step explores ‘why’ and ‘how’ the action was taken or ‘why’ and ‘how’ the decision was made.
Step 4: Appraise. The fourth step requires the counsellor to appraise their behaviour by interpreting the situation and evaluate its appropriateness and impact. This is where self-assessment actually occurs.
Step 5: Transform. The final step is transformation. This step requires counsellors to shift from analysis and reflection into action. What changes can be made to your approach to practice? Has this made any shifts in your practice framework? What differences do you expect to see in the way you approach clients?
Figure 1: Adapted from Self Assessment (2006)
Further, becoming a reflective practitioner requires time, practice, and a supportive environment conducive to the development of the reflective process. It is an individualised process whereby the counsellor should discover the best structure and method of reflection that works for them.
Reflective Writing or Journaling
Learning to write reflectively is a process. In contrast to academic writing, reflective writing involves recording personal views, understandings, ideas or observations and opinions about counselling practice (University of Melbourne, 2006). Reflective writing is more than simply a description of a counsellor’s self-observations or thoughts.
Reflective writing asks counsellors to shift their perspective; to see situations from all angles. Through reflective writing, counsellors can begin to, not only, process and assimilate their experience but also learn, grow and develop their skills.
Culturally, we have come to associate stress with negatives such as anxiety, high blood pressure, headaches and irritability. Yet, without some form of stress in our lives we would likely suffer from profound boredom and overwhelming apathy.
Figure 2 below illustrates that there is an optimal level of stress that enhances our performance.
Figure 2: The stress underload/overload continuum
| Stress Level | Effects |
|---|---|
| Underloaded |
|
| Optimal |
|
| Overloaded |
|
A lack of stress (as indicated on the left side of the diagram) can lead to boredom, decreased motivation as well as a lack of interest and enthusiasm for life. These symptoms can ultimately lead to ongoing apathy, inactivity and flat moods. On the other hand, an overload of stress (as indicated on the right side of the diagram) can result in insomnia, irritability, increased errors and indecisiveness. Stress overload can ultimately lead to elevated blood pressure, anxiety and mood swings.
The optimal stress level will be different for all people. It is important, however to recognise when you are moving beyond your optimal level to either stress overload or stress underload.
It may be helpful for you to think of yourself as being made up of three primary aspects:
- Your physical self – your body and its function;
- Your emotional self – your feelings, emotions and responses;
- Your intellectual self – your thoughts, perceptions and interpretations.
These three aspects are very closely interlinked and form the basis on which we can analyse stress and its effects on your life. By approaching the management of stress and life pressures as a long-term commitment to continually renewing those three aspects of yourself, you can ensure the effectiveness of any stress management technique is maximised.
Stress can deplete us in these three main aspects of our lives. For some people, stress takes primarily a physical toll, leaving them tired and exhausted. For others stress may impact in another way, such us making them tearing or depressed (emotional) or influencing their thinking in ways like forgetfulness or self-defeating thoughts (intellectual mental). For many, stress impacts on all three aspects in varying degrees.
It is important to be aware of the way in which stress may be impacting on you and your life. Which aspects of you are more susceptible to the influence of stress?
If you are depleted in any of the three aspects, you may find that prolonged exposure to stress leads you to exhibit signs and symptoms that are related to that aspect.
It is important to be aware of the way in which stress may be impacting on you and your counselling work. Which aspects of you are more susceptible to the influence of stress?
Relaxation Strategies
Relaxation exercises allow you to create a state of deep rest, which is very healing to the entire body and can contribute to self-care.
“What do you find relaxing? Is it dancing, art, meditation, fishing, going for a walk with friends, reading a book, listening to music, shopping, a gym work out, talking to a friend or playing sport?”Source: “Advice from the Mental Health Association NSW Inc.” (2002)
The above quote highlights the diversity of activities that individuals may find relaxing. It is important to find ways to incorporate relaxing activities into your weekly routine as a means of preventing burnout.
When you are in a relaxed state, your body responds in a number of ways:
- Metabolism slows, as do physiological functions such as heart rate and blood pressure.
- Muscle tension decreases.
- Brain wave patterns shift from the faster waves that occur during a normal active day to the slower waves, which appear just before falling asleep or in times of deep relaxation.
Not all relaxation exercises suit everyone. So it is important to try a number of techniques to find one which suits you. We are going to look at one particular relaxation technique. The following exercise has been selected because it takes only a few minutes of your time and can be used almost anywhere. When a technique is practiced regularly, you will find that it becomes easier, and therefore will be more effective in reducing your stress and anxiety level and also be more able to centre your thoughts and emotions.
Relaxation Technique – Erasing Stress
Erasing stress is a visualising technique. It allows you to visualise the thought or situation which is constantly on your mind and helps erase it from your thoughts.
Sit or lie in a comfortable position. Breathe slowly and deeply.
Visualize a situation, a person, or even a belief (such as, “A situation at work which is confronting” or “A home renovation which is causing disruption in the household”) that causes you to feel anxious, fearful or upset.
As you do this you might see a specific person, an actual place, or simply shapes and colours. Where do you see this stressful picture? Is it below you, to the side, in front of you? How does it look? Is it big or little, dark or light, or does it have a specific colour?
Imagine that a large eraser, like the kind used to erase chalk marks, has just floated into your hand. Actually feel and see the eraser in your hand. Take the eraser and begin to rub it over the area where the stressful picture is located. As the eraser rubs out the stressful picture it fades, shrinks, and finally disappears. When you can no longer see the stressful picture, simply continue to focus on your deep breathing for another minute, inhaling and exhaling slowly and deeply.
Throughout this article you have explored the four components of reflective practice. Reflective practice is the linchpin of effective counselling practice. Without continual upgrading and refinement of skills your effectiveness as a counsellor may decline and your enthusiasm may wane. Additionally, making sure that you have adequate self-care and work-life balance will protect you from burnout, enhance your motivation and maximise the longevity of your career.
