Qualities of a good Counselor

Imagine that feeling of the weight of the world being on your shoulders; everything closing in and not being able to catch a break. We’ve all been there and sometimes an objective sounding board is all that is needed. But who do we go to so we don’t feel like we are being a burden? With all the helping professions out there, that too can be daunting.

Professional counselors are licensed mental health therapists providing assessment, diagnosis and counseling to people facing a variety of life stressors and psychological problems. The things to look for in a great counselor are:

• Acceptance – the ability to “start where the client is at.”
• Empathetic – the ability to feel what another person is feeling (a.k.a walk in their shoes).
• Rapport Building Skills – the ability to develop a strong relationship and cultivate trust.
• Communication – the ability to listen and be able clearly explain ideas, concepts, and thoughts to others.
• Problem Solving Skills – the ability to “help” clients identify and make changes to negative thought patterns and other harmful behaviors that might be contributing to their issues.
• Flexibiility – the ability to adapt and change to a clients needs.
• Self Awareness – the ability to recognize one’s own character, feelings, motives and desires to prevent own issues from affecting or influencing their client.
• Multicultural Competency – the ability to understand how cultural beliefs and differences affect and interact with problems within diverse patient populations.

Finding this type of counselor will bring about a greater outcome for success.