Essay On Self Awareness In Counselling

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broad range of clients. Awareness and respect for diversity and multicultural values facilitates good communication and therapeutic relationship. 2.4. Non-Maleficence: A Commitment to Avoiding Harm to the Client The concept of non-maleficence extends from the principle of beneficence, which is upheld by not inflicting intentional harm (e.g. torture, degrading or inhuman behaviour) on client and taking precautions to prevent unintentional harm by avoiding risky behaviours (ACA, A.4.a. Avoiding Harm). This can primarily be assured by maintaining competence and practising within boundaries of education, training and supervised experience. Intellectual competencies attained through study and research for instance, ensures proper conceptualizing of issues and planning of treatment, thereby preventing misdiagnosis. Emotional competencies also encompass another aspect wherein counsellor knows oneself, and is willing and skilful in objectively detecting influential elements in client’s issues and intrusion of personal bias and also able to contain emerging emotional issues in self through self-therapy without which therapeutic …show more content…

They should be sensitive towards the client’s emotions and not be judgemental. Approach should also be developmentally and culturally appropriate and interaction void of any prejudice and discrimination (see ACA E.5.b. Cultural Sensitivity (in Diagnosis of Mental Disorders) & E.6.c. Culturally Diverse Populations (in Instrument Selection)). For example, while counselling a child, counsellor must be able to understand the perception of the child which may involve elements of immaturity and fantasy and not seek to correct the child’s worldview to match that of an adult. Such behaviour will diminish the child’s self-esteem and stress the child, causing harm instead of

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