Self-Awareness
Click below to access reflection on the video below
CNL 515: Practicing SOLER, Active Listening, Empathetic Listening, Probing, & Summarizing
These artifacts show how I first began to learn how to apply vital counseling skills into practice. These included SOLER, probing, active and empathetic listening, and summarizing. These key skills focus on helping establish the foundation for a strong therapeutic alliance. Additionally, these skills allow for a collaborative approach when working with clients. Learning and practicing these skills helped me become more intentional in how I communicate and respond to clients. They also helped me recognize the importance of being fully present and attentive to the client’s verbal and nonverbal communication. As I continue developing as a counselor, these foundational skills will remain essential in creating a safe, supportive, and client-centered therapeutic environment.
“Do not go outside yourself, but enter into yourself, for truth dwells in the interior person.
-St. Augustine
How I demonstrate authenticity in relation to myself and others to avoid harm on others?
How do I bracket personal beliefs and values when faced with ideas different from others
Because of my personal faith, I believe that every individual possesses inherent dignity and deserves to be treated with respect and compassion. I recognize, however, that my personal beliefs and values may differ from those of my clients and should not influence their autonomy or counseling experience. The lesson from the quote, “Do not go outside yourself, but enter into yourself, for truth dwells in the interior person,” reminds me to first examine my own beliefs, assumptions, and emotional reactions so I can distinguish my personal values from the client’s needs. By looking inward through self-awareness and reflection, I can bracket my personal beliefs, remain open and curious about the client’s perspective, and provide ethical and culturally responsive counseling that honors their autonomy and individual values.
I demonstrate authenticity by being genuine, self-aware, and transparent in my interactions while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries. This same quote reminds me that authenticity begins with honestly examining my own emotions, beliefs, values, biases, and reactions. By looking inward, I can better recognize how my internal experiences may influence the way I perceive or respond to others and become more intentional about preventing those reactions from causing harm. Through self-reflection, openness to feedback, and regular supervision, I can identify personal blind spots, regulate my responses, and ensure that my interactions remain respectful, compassionate, genuine, and focused on the well-being of others.
ACA Code of Ethics (2014)
B.1.a.Multicultural/Diversity Considerations
“Counselors maintain awareness and sensitivity regarding cultural meanings of confidentiality and privacy. Counselors respect differing views toward disclosure of information. Counselors hold ongoing discussions with clients as to how, when, and with whom information is to be shared.”
C.2.a. Boundaries of Competence
“Counselors practice only within the boundaries of their competence, based on their education, training, supervised experience, state and national professional credentials, and appropriate professional experience.”
CACREP Common Core Standards (2016):
2.F.2.d. The impact of heritage, attitudes, beliefs, understandings, and acculturative experiences on an individual’s views of others.
Program Objectives
Counseling and Helping Relationships.
Human Growth & Development