PCN 515 Week 3 Challenging a Client

Write a 750-1,000-word essay outlining at least four guidelines for effectively challenging a client. For each guideline, provide a case example illustrating the principle. Address the following in your paper:

How can counselors challenge a client without getting into a power struggle with a client, or provoking client defensiveness?
How can counselors help a client to identify unused resources and strengths?
How can counselors help a client to identify blind spots while continuing to provide empathy and support for the client?
How would counselors work with a client within an interdisciplinary treatment team?
How can a counselor act as a consultant when a practicing counselor asks for help to strengthen their challenging skills with clients?
For this part of the assignment, you may write in the first person. Reflect on your level of assertiveness. Do you feel you are assertive enough to challenge clients comfortably or do you feel you are too passive or aggressive? What might keep you from challenging a client?

Provide at least three scholarly references in your paper.

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Please refer to the directions in the Student Success Center.

This assignment meets the following CACREP Standards:

2.F.5.c. Theories, models, and strategies for understanding and practicing consultation.

2.F.5.g. Essential interviewing, counseling, and case conceptualization skills.

5.C.3.d. Strategies for interfacing with integrated behavioral health care professionals.

Week 1 DQ 1 What are some key things you would do in your first session with a client to get the therapy relationship started in a positive way? Be sure to include a least five communication skills from your text and discuss why they are so critical.

Week 1 DQ 2 The textbook describes the importance of empathy and presence. What are two or three things that you could do to prepare yourself to be fully present with your clients? Without empathetic presence, what might a client infer?

Week 2 DQ 1 Read and complete the “Empathetic Listening Practice Exercise.” What did you learn from the exercise? What went well? What could have gone better? How well did you feel you attuned to your volunteer client?

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Week 2 DQ 2 Read and complete the “Probing and Summarizing Practice Exercise.” What did you learn from the exercise? What went well? What could have gone better? How well do you feel that your probing and summarizing furthered the counseling process?

Week 3 DQ 1 You notice that a client has started to withdraw and engage in some “Yes, but…” behaviors. What are some strategies you could use to help reengage this client?

Week 3 DQ 2 Read and complete the “Challenging Practice Session.” What did you discover during the practice session? What did you learn about yourself as a new counselor to be?

Week 4 DQ 1 Provide a scenario involving a client that you imagine you might encounter in your future field placement setting. Describe what stage of the change process the hypothetical client is in. How would you move the client to the next stage?

Week 4 DQ 2 Read and complete the “Problem Identification5Practice Exercise.” How did your problem identification process go? What went well? What could have been better? What difficulties did you run into in identifying the problem?

Week 5 DQ 1 Why is identifying the “real story” important for effective counseling? What difficulties could occur if you do not focus your counseling on the “real story?” Explain how you would handle a client who states he is feeling hopeless and helpless. How would you assess for suicidality? If the client only has fleeting thoughts but no plan, what strategies might you employ?

Week 5 DQ 2 Read and complete the “Reframing Practice Exercise.” How did the exercise go? What did you learn from it and how will this impact your counseling practice?

Week 6 DQ 1 What are some strategies you can use to help clients envision different possibilities? Choose a counseling theory you are considering using and explain how it could be used to help the client see different perspectives. How might a client’s developmental stage impact the treatment plan?

Week 6 DQ 2 Read and complete the “Creating Possibilities Practice Session.” How did the practice session go? What went well? What could have been better? What did you learn from the process that will help with your counseling practice?

Week 7 DQ 1 What can you do as a counselor to help clients develop the support that they need to continue the progress they have made in therapy?

Week 7 DQ 2 Read and complete the “Action Planning Practice Exercise.” What did you learn from the exercise? What problems might you encounter in carrying out this action plan? How might this apply to your counseling practice?