Empathy

Empathy is another of the core behaviours that staff must have with clients to have the best outcomes from drug or alcohol addiction rehabilitation, empathy cannot occur without good communication and an understanding of what clients are going through. Empathy builds trust in the staff and creates the feeling in clients that staff are doing the best for the client. The display of empathy towards clients can be so readily mistaken for friendship by the clients because it may be a rare event in the clients social circles. Being part of the Rogerian method, empathy also holds that staff should possess an unconditional positive regard for the client (Corsini, 2002, p. 849). An Anti-positivist, Carl Rogers is well known for his counselling techniques and his Person centred therapy (AKA Rogerian therapy), with empathy being at the core of the counsellors skill. The ideology of Phenomenological theory that drove Carl Rogers is the subjective experience of people and the meanings and understanding of all aspects of the human condition and differences (Demorest, 2005, p. 2; Wlison, 1996, p. 1214). Human beings are not without agency dictated by the environment, but do have free will and have control over their behaviour (Demorest, 2005, p.3). The environment is not without strong and at time without powerful influences on the individual, though the perceptions and subjective experiences also have influence on behaviour (Demorest, 2005, p.4). Being a response to behavioural paradigm, client centred method is based on the precept that clients have a choice in the direction their live will go and in the therapy clear communication is used to be based on being genuine, empathic and respectful (McCarthy, 2008). Rogerian therapy focuses on a good human-to human relationship, recognising the clients own subjective experience, opinions, viewpoint, and understanding (Wlison, 1996, p. 1214).

By concentrating on a persons growth, and the personality functioning rather than the development of personality theory (Wlison, 1996, p. 1214). Rogers viewed personality as a goal-directed behaviour, understanding that the person is at the centre of their reality reacting to an ever changing world, attempting to satisfy their needs as experienced in the phenomenal field (Wlison, 1996, p. 1214). The individual has a unique perspective based on their own private world, thus the therapist must assume a frame of reference from the clients perspective (Wlison, 1996, p. 1214). Emotional stability is based on facilitating goal-directed behaviour, and is structures on a self concept derived from evaluative interaction with others, which is fluid while having consistent patterns of self-perceptions (Wlison, 1996, p. 1214). The phenomenal field refers to everything experienced at any given time (Wlison, 1996, p. 1214). The internal frame of reference refers to the process by which therapists attempt to perceive the clients reality and experience as closely as possible (Wlison, 1996, p. 1214), somewhat like the Stanislavski method within theatrical acting. Rogers recognises that any individual is subject to their own subjective experience and perceptions that shape their understanding of reality that guide behaviour (Wlison, 1996, p. 1214). In treatment, therapists strive to understand clients by understanding their views of themselves and the environment in which they live (Wlison, 1996, p. 1214).

The self concept is considered by Rogers to be organized, consistent and learned attribute composed of thoughts about the self, derived by the interactions with others (Wlison, 1996, p. 1215). Thus the therapist must have a universal positive regard to challenge the clients negative self-view and self-worth, which was learned by the interaction with significant others, from childhood onwards (Wlison, 1996, p. 1215). Maladjustment behaviour stems from the inconsistency between the self-concept and their sensory and visceral experiences, with a lack of positive regard, concentrating on failure, imperfections and weaknesses (Wlison, 1996, p. 1215).

The quality of the therapeutic process is measured on the clients rating of accurate empathy, genuineness, unconditional positive regard, and trust within the experiential client-therapist relationship, which is closely associated with the success or failure of therapy (Wlison, 1996, p. 1216). All individuals are in this paradigm seen as persons in relationship not people in role (pigeon holed with labels) (Wlison, 1996, p. 1216).

Empathy reflects an attitude of interest in the client's thoughts, feelings, and experiences, empathy is a way of being that is powerfully curative, and has been described as the most important aspect of the therapeutic endeavour (Wlison, 1996, p. 1216). Those therapists that have this sensitivity to the client can in essence climb inside the client's subjective experience and their perceptions of reality (Wlison, 1996, p. 1216).

Communication

Communication is specified as one of the counselling or psychotherapeutic techniques, along with positive relationships with the client and identifying the client's individual needs and therapeutic goals (Sommers-Flanagan & Sommers-Flanagan, 2003, p. 7). It is important for anyone in the human services to value the client's perspective while simultaneously providing professional opinions regarding appropriate goals and strategies, striking a sensitive tactful approach with excellent communication skills (Sommers-Flanagan & Sommers-Flanagan, 2003, p. 21; Cohen-Mansfielf, 2004, p. 384). At time the most difficult aspect of excellent communication is in being a good listener while communicating active listening through body-language, open-ended-questioning transmitting understanding and empathy with facial expressions towards the client (Sommers-Flanagan & Sommers-Flanagan, 2003, pp. 53-54). Some suggest that 65% or more of a messages meaning is conveyed nonverbally (Birdwhistell, 1970) which include eye contact, body language, vocal qualities, and verbal tracking (ability to track the content of their clients speech by occasionally repeating key words and phrases) (Sommers-Flanagan & Sommers-Flanagan, 2003, pp. 55-57). Care givers in communication are in a unique position to have a glimpse of the inner experiences of a client by attending to the patterns of speech and the behaviour that accompanies it. These insights are only accomplished with the quality of attentiveness (Kay & Tasman, 2006, p. 8 ).

Persuasion is imbedded within communication, According to Carl Hovland and colleagues at Yale University (1950s), Persuasive communication revolves around two sources of credibility, being expertise (level of training), and trustworthiness (level of built trust) (Vargas & Yoon, 2004, p. 63).

Bulling

Bulling

Bullying is a form of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) that does stay with you for a long time. this can bring about fear that impacts on situations within life. This New bullion I found interesting because it puts a human face on the issue and to illustrate that many people suffer the same thing

The Season for trouble?

In the edition of the Sunday Telegraph on the 13th of January 2008 page 9, it was reported that the Christmas and New Year period divorce rates surge. During this period more than 10,000 start divorce proceedings, while NSW accounts for 3000 within the national figure. During hard times and with the compounding stress of Christmas, arguments arise. While we are thinking about others and trying to organize events, time is at the forefront of the concerns. Thus when things do not go the way you want them to go, stress level peak.

Individuals start blaming their partner and accuse them of not doing something, or not following orders, so that the events go off with success. The arguments that follow cause family breakdown, stress, and depression. It is reported that counsellors are flooded with calls at this time. While in homes statistics show that there is a 157 percent rise in domestic violence in NSW.

It is suggested that during the Christmas and New Year period couples look for alternative options in the way they deal with stress, as family breakdown does not solve any long-term problems. It is recommended that one fights to reconcile the relationship even when it may look hopeless.

One thing to focus on now is the way we look at this Christmas and New Year period. For instance we have a mental picture that Christmas MUST turn out like the way we see things to be on the movies and TV shows. To be sure that is not a reality, and when our own life does not fit that stereotype, we feel - let down, sad, stressed, depressed, and angry. Emotional flooding of these emotions overwhelms the individual, causing the person to lash out at the ones they love.

If you are at risk of these emotions, I suggest that you start calming down, enjoy the errors of planning, because those are situation you will look back at and laugh at. Also if stress gets a bit much, go for a walk, forget what is wrong and clear your mind. Walking is a great way to be with nature and time to think about what is important. You and your family. The things that are NOT important are having the meal on time, the house being in the best presentation, and whether the children are noisy.

If problems persist talk to Ripple Affect.