Current lectureReview:Large part of communication comes from nonverbal cuesCommunication is relational and contextualSelf as “barometer” of communication- interpersonal circle, using how you feelEffective communication requires interpersonal understandingGeneric Interviewing: definition: interactional communication, 2 or more parties, one has a pre-determined purpose or goalI. Helping interviews:Goal: to help with some concern, challenge, or difficultyTypes:Claims interview (ex: when did the accident occur?)Academic advising (ex: what are your interests?)Generic counseling (ex: does your family have a history of Phenylketonuria PKU?)Personal counseling (ex: how long have you felt this way?, how are you feeling?)Shared characteristics: interviewee seeks assistance, interviewer willing to helpII. Definition of CounselingInterview in which counselor and client collaborate to:Gain insight (help figure out about themselves & help understand why they feel that way)Increase ability to cope (navigate loss of family member)Better navigate a concern/challenge (lose job & help navigate what next)NOT to resolve the concern for the personIII. Types of Change1. Behaviors: e.g. stop misusing Adderall, stop smoking, start exercising2. Beliefs or attitudes: e.g. I’m not a worthy person, I cant break up with my partner because no one else will want me (not always conscious, could be deeper)3. Emotional processing: e.g. I’m feeling anxious most of the timeDecrease level of distressIncrease awareness of emotionIV. Providing counsel or counseling?Counsel:Give adviceProvide consultationAt which street do I turn?How do I complete the paperwork?Counseling:Professional guidance using specifically psychological methodsV. When does helping become counseling?1. Nature of interviewee goals:Specific answers (counsel) vs. personal change (counseling)Duration of the helping relationshipPsychological (counseling) vs. practical aid (counsel)2. Training of the person offering counseling?VI. Continuum of helping rolesAtkinson, Thompson, & Grant (1994)Expanded construct of “counseling”8 rolesAdvisor- provides adviceAdvocate- acts on other persons behalf to manage/navigate systemFacilitator of indigenous support systems- helps access those native systems (family, peers, community) (helping get in touch with support systems in community that will ultimately help them; ex: social groups, community centersFacilitator of indigenous healing systems: helps access those native systems (spiritual beliefs, ethnomedicine (ex: church, God, Chinese medicine-Acupuncture)Consultant: provides training or large scale supportChange agent: act on other persons behalf against system that is unfairCounselor: prevention, developmental approach to healthy functioning individual (less intensive)Psychotherapist: intervention, chronic and serve concerns (more intensive)Important because you have to define your relationship with client, and figuring out where your relationship stands (are you really helping them?)VII. A Narrative Approach to the Helping InterviewImportance of narratives (stories)Identity formed in story-telling interactionsPsychological problems as problematic stories, often lacking context (maybe only seeing one side of the story, therapist helps to zoom out & see whole story)Techniques: evoking and shaping client narrativesVIII. A Person-centered Approach to Helping InterviewImportance of empathy and deep understandingIdentity formed through the process of human connectionPsychological problems as conditions of worth (conditions of worth- feel unconditionally a valuable person, no matter what they have done; people put conditions on themselves ex: I am not smart I did bad on this test)Techniques: reflection of feelings/content, development of therapeutic relationshipIX. What makes a counseling interview effective?Is counseling effective? Does it really work?Overall answer- YESOn average, clients who receive treatment are better off than 75-80% of those who do not receive treatment (don’t need to know #’s for exam, just overall concept)Which approach is best? Is one approach better than others?Focuses on ways that approaches differ from one anotherWidely debatedX. Paradigms of PsychologySchool: psychoanalysisProblems: unconscious impulsesGoal: self-knowledge acceptanceSchool: behaviorismProblems: contingencies of reinforcementGoal: change reward structures (reward for things that make them feel better, punish things that do not)School: rationalism (cognitive)Problems: irrational thoughtsGoal: identify and dispute thoughtsWhich is best?Much research on providing one approach bestDifficulties with the researchFinding what we believe to be trueTherapist allegiance (therefore, not an equal comparison)What are the elements that approaches share that make them effective psychotherapies?The Dodo’s verdict“Everyone has won, and all must have prizes!”“The Great Psychotherapy Debate”Bruce Wamplod –establishes that dodo’s verdict is trueCommon factors vs. specific techniquesXI. What “common factors” may be important?1. Therapeutic relationshipHow good is the relationship?Does client feel understood by counselor?Does client trust the counselor?2. Therapist credibilityDoes client view counselor as credible expert?Does counselor communicate (verbal/nonverbal) in way that engenders “expertness”?3. Meaning-makingHow does the therapist explain clients concern?Does meaning fit for the client?Does it lend explanation or provide understanding for client?4. Listening activelyCommon to all approachesDiffers in what listened to or forImportant to counseling outcomeRelative Importance for Therapeutic outcome (Lambert)Techniques- 15%Expectancy & hope- 15%Therapeutic relationship- 30%Client characteristics- 40%* don’t need to know numbers, just overall concept*Applying Basic Attending Skills to Interviewing:Basic Attending SkillsActive ListeningEffective inquiryReflecting contentReflecting feelingXII. Levels of ListeningHearingPhysiological process of sensing vibrations in air that in turn transmit electrochemical signals to brainCan hear noise but not listen to itPseudo-listeningAttend to certain vocal cues tone, inflection so that you can respond, but not actually listening to words spokenEnjoymentListening in the momentHold words long enough to “enjoy” themOften do not remember muchMost frequent mode of listeningRememberingTakes concentration and workMost rate listening at 90% but test at 30%