Chapter 14 - Modeling

The modeling technique is used to help clients learn by watching and modeling the behavior of others. For this technique to be beneficial, the client and counselor must select a favorable behavior to replace the unfavorable one. Once a behavior is selected, the counselor is to help the client to carry out the modeled behavior by demonstrating and leading the client into a discussion about the modeled behavior. This chapter portrays a case where the counselor is modeling deep breathing techniques to help a client to relax in stressful situations. The counselor helps the client to reinforce the behavior by having the client practice the steps and then having the client try it on her own. I think this technique can be very helpful to use with clients. It is not nearly as controversial as "spitting in the soup" and appears to be helpful to clients. Modeling can also be useful in teaching clients personal and social skills in addition to helping clients to ward off anxiety attacks and stress. It can also be helpful to open up and change unhealthy communication patterns. I can see myself using this technique in the future.

Chapter 13 - Role Reversal

Role reversal can be used with clients who are experiencing a conflict within themselves. In this technique, the counselor takes an active role by identifying the different roles the client is playing in a given situation. The client is asked to take on the "role" that is causing the anxiety in order to be able to examine both sides of the situation and identify any underlying issues. This technique can be used for situations where issues with another person may exist and that person is having difficulty understanding where the other person is coming from. For instance, this can be used during relationship issues, whether that is boyfriend/girlfriend, husband/wife, or even mother/daughter. This can also be useful for students when they may be having difficulty with communicating with teachers. I really like this technique, because it helps clients to understand opposing view points and learn how to effectively communicate with others. I can definitely see myself using this with clients in future counseling sessions.

Chapter 11 - Empty Chair

The empty chair technique can be used after establishing rapport and having built trust with a client. There are six steps to implementing this technique. The first step is an explanation of why the counselor is using this technique and setting up two chairs to demonstrate the polarity of the situation. Next, the counselor works with the client to "deepen the experience" by having the client choose the side for which he/she has the strongest feelings. After this the client will express the dominant side of the polarity. Once the client has done this, they will then sit in the opposite chair to express a reverse argument. During the fifth step in this sequence, the counselor will have the client switch seats until each side is clearly articulated. The final step is to have the client focus on blending the two sides to create harmony. This technique can be used with clients who may be dealing with post traumatic stress, and those who may have unfinished business or need closure in a situation. I do like this technique to help a client express conflicting emotions or help a client discover emotions that may be lurking beneath the surface.

Chapter 8 - Spitting in the Soup

Spitting in the soup can only be used after a strong rapport is established with the client. It can be a somewhat controversial technique to use and the client could end up rejecting it if not used properly. This technique is used to bring about change in a client's behavior by helping them to realize that they may be somehow benefitting from their "problem". The professional counselor acknowledges that the client may continue to use his/her symptoms of the problem, but the client will now know why they have these symptoms. Therefore causing the client to lose their "good taste" of keeping these symptoms. This can be applied to clients who may be having somatic pain symptoms. This can also be used with clients who may be showing symptoms of anxiety or apathy towards a given situation. I think that the use of this technique is very controversial. If it is used incorrectly or a proper rapport is not established with a client, it can backfire. If I use this technique in the future I will be very careful about who I use this with, what situation I apply it to, and how I use it with a given client.

Chapter 7 - Acting As If

The "acting as if" technique asks the client to identify and act as if he or she had the skills to handle a difficult situation effectively. This technique allows the client to to think of someone who they envision having the skills to handle a given problem and then act how that person would in that situation. The client hopefully learns that they not only have the skills to handle the problem present, but that they can become a different person in the process. This type of technique can be applied to numerous situations. For instance, it can be used for a person who may be a victim or a bystander to bullying, or with a person dealing with a bad break up with their boyfriend/girlfriend. It can also be used for clients who may be struggling with low self-esteem or a negative self image to learn to gain confidence. I think that this particular technique is very helpful in a variety of situations. It can also be used in combination with other techniques such as "flagging the minefield". Once the client can identify an "old" behavior using that technique, they can use "acting as if" to correct the problematic behavior/thought process. I can definitely see myself using this as an effective problem solving counseling tool in my future endeavors.

Chapter 6 - I-Messages

This chapter focused on the use of I (personal) statements during expressing feelings in order to minimize hurt feelings from others and counterattacks. These are sometimes referred to as responsibility messages because people are sometimes unaware of their impact on others. The book shows the use of this technique with a couple that are dealing with marital problems. The counselor sets up a scene that typically ends in an argument in order to see how they typically communicate with each other, and then interrupts before they start an argument and asks them to use this technique when talking to each other. I-messages can be used in any situation where there are issues with negative communication or interactions between people. This can help people to take responsibility for their own feelings and thoughts, while also expressing those thoughts to others in a non-confrontational manner so as not to cause an argument. It can also be helpful in situations where a particularly passive person is having difficulty communicating his/her thoughts or feelings to another person. I think that this technique, when used correctly can be helpful in taking responsibility for your own actions and feelings. However, sometimes I feel like sometimes this technique, if not used properly, can end up in an argument anyway due to intentional misinterpretation. It may only work with people who are willing to attempt to see the other person’s side of a given situation.

Chapter 5 - Flagging the Minefield

Chapter five dealt with the applying concepts that clients learned during counseling sessions to future situations that they may encounter. In using the flagging the minefield technique, counselors and clients can mark future situations in which the client has learned to avoid setbacks. The situation in this chapter revolves around parents who are having trouble with a particularly difficult child. The counselor helps the parents identify a situation where they may encounter difficulties with the child, and talks them through the process of using the techniques they learned during their past counseling sessions while solving the possible problem. This technique can be used in a number of situations. Counselors can use this technique with clients who have had past behavioral issues, helping them to identify when they may have a problem and talk them through the process. This can also be applied to clients who have suffered from depression or other low emotional states. I think it is incredibly helpful for clients to be able to identify where they may have problems in “real-life” situations and get help figuring them out before they are actually in the situation. A lot of the time when a person is in a heightened emotional state, it is difficult to remember techniques to handle a particular situation, so I can see how identifying and talking through a difficult situation would help people to remember the problem-solving skills they learned during counseling.