Reflection paper

1. psychology micro skills

Learning this course has been a wonderful experience that has equipped me with essential tools and insights o pursue my work in the field of psychology. For instance, the eight psychology micro skills can especially be of great importance in a counseling process. They can be of great importance in the gathering of deep thoughts of clients thus enabling clarification of their future dreams.

Confrontation

This is a micro skill that can assist increase of self-awareness amongst clients. The skill can be used to highlight discrepancies that clients have been previously aware  (Brew & Kottler, 2008). The course is insightful that this skill is often used when the counselor observes mixed messages or inconsistencies in the client’s words, behaviors or thoughts. The skill can only be effective after developing of rapport in the counseling process.

Disputing beliefs

In a counseling process, the counselor has the obligation of disputing irrational beliefs. From the learning process, the course provides insights that the disputing exercise is of three parts; detecting, discriminating and debating irrational beliefs (Ivey,  Ivey & Zalaquett, 2014). It is also imperative noting that this skill will also be essential in helping clients to develop rational beliefs.

Interpretation

This is another essential skill where a counselor is expected to help the client interpret their experience. As a counselor, one is expected to help the client perceive the experiences in positive fashion. The course gives insights into how a counselor is expected to reframe a challenge and client to view it as an opportunity.

Providing information

As a professional in psychology, one is required to provide information to clients that may be of great importance to them. In most cases, the clients lack a definite starting point to look for information and counselors have the obligation to help them find the starting point.  The course provides insights on when and how to give and use available information.

Giving feedback

The course also emphasizes the importance of giving the client an opportunity to review the counseling process. From the course, I have learned that giving feedback is of mutual benefit to both the client and the counselor. The course outlines the importance of the valuing the clients information and adjusts as the process dictates (Ivey,  Ivey & Zalaquett, 2014).

Silence

Silence is an essential aspect of any form of therapy. It is the silent moments that give the clients time to reflect and gather his thoughts. It also provides time for deeper feelings and emotions and thus as psychologists it is critical for developing an effective therapeutic alliance.

Self-disclosure

Self-disclosure is also another imperative skill learned in this course. It is imperative noting that self-disclosure is essential for the establishing of an effective bond in the therapeutic alliance. It is this skill that help in determining the cause of problem and solution to clients problems.

Reflection of Meaning

This implies the deeply held thoughts and meanings underlying life experiences. From the course, it is evident that professionals who use the reflection of meaning in a therapy will find that clients have an opportunity to search deep on their life experiences (Ivey,  Ivey & Zalaquett, 2014).  This provides clients with an opportunity to explore their values and goals in life through understanding deeper aspects of their life experiences.

2. Competencies and Ethical Standards

The course has also provided insights on different competencies and ethical concerns that would greatly affect the applicability of the psychological work (Brew & Kottler, 2008). During the course, I have learned different areas of conflict especially between ethics and laws, regulations, and other governing legal authority. However, the course has outlined insights to conflict resolutions as well as the expected ethical and legal aspects to be followed in the work.

3. Evidence-Based Practice

This is a common therapeutic process in psychological work. According to the course, EBP is a process that involves the use of the conscientious, explicit and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about treatment in a therapeutic process (Ivey,  Ivey & Zalaquett, 2014). The course provides insights ion how an integrative process can help reach a definite conclusion to a therapeutic problem.

4. Open- and Closed-Ended Questions in Psychology

The questioning process is an essential aspect of a therapeutic process. The course emphasizes the importance of an effective questioning process that may help in enriching the client’s story. Throughout the interviewing process, the profession must be conversant on how to combine open and closed questions to get the necessary information (Brew & Kottler, 2008). When one needs a definite answer, the profession may adopt closed questions while open questions would be instrumental where a lot of information is required.

5. Working With Diverse Clients

The course has also outlined the importance for psychologists to serve people with diverse cultural and social status. With this in mind, the course has helped me understand that clients are complex individuals who belong to diverse cultures and groups. The course has provided insights on how one can improve service delivery to people with different values, social and religious beliefs (Brew & Kottler, 2008). It is also prudent understanding that the course has been instrumental in outlining possible conflicts incurred while working with diverse clients. In essence, the course has provided numerous insights that will be vital to practical works in the psychology field.

References

Brew, L., & Kottler, J. A. (2008). Applied helping skills: Transforming lives. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Ivey, A. E., Ivey, M. B., & Zalaquett, C. P. (2014). Intentional interviewing and counseling: Facilitating client development in a multicultural society (8th ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.

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