THE CLIENT, THE PERSON, THE CHILD

People who have feelings, values and dignity

P-I-N (person in need)
Responding appropriately to him and his needs must serve as the hallmark of
counseling. therwise we are in danger of !eing mechanical technician" trying to
#$ people%s lives without any personal involvement
&he P-I-N or 'lient is(
) worthwhile person
) uni*ue person
) dynamic person
) responsi!le person
3 implications in viewing persons as responsible
+. ,e treat them as persons who have some control over their lives, situations and
environment
-. It means that people have the capacity to choose
.. People could !e regarded as resourceful
!n"erstan"ing t#e Client
&here is really no need to overemphasi/e the necessity for having a positive
regard for the client.
,hat is urgent is the need to properly understand the client, his feelings,
thinking and !ehavior when he presents himself for counseling.
0I don%t understand my client, I don%t know why they are so resistant to help
and I%m not sure if I know or am doing the right thing with them.1
2aving a proper regard for the client opens the door to understanding him.
&he '3I4N& is our primary focus of attention, 2is PR53467 is our target of
intervention.
&he '8N743R must always enter into the client%s world and !egin from
there. 2e must appreciate the di9culties e$perienced !y the client in coming
for counseling.
It is e$pected that a person would have a proper sense of pride in himself,
digni#ed in his own way.
&o have to reach out for help is a great loss of face and dignity.
&here is a social stigma attached to seeking such help.
Clients reactions to Co$nseling
+. )n$iety
-. Reluctance
.. :efensiveness
;. resistance
T#e Rel$ctant Client
usually referred to as involuntary client
2e is under coercion from family, teachers, some o9cial power structure to
!e in counseling
&hey do not want to see any!ody, least of all someone who purports to !e
a!le to help them
6ost of these people !elieve they have no choice and some in fact are given
a very di#cult alternative. &hey either get to see a counselor or face
punishment.
Not interested in counseling
8sually see no pro!lem in themselves
4ven dou!ts a!out the usefulness of counseling
T#e Resistant Client
'ould also !e reluctant !ut in most instanced he is fairly willing to seek help
) voluntary client !ecause he would !e agrea!le to counseling even though
with some reluctance.
&he resistance is a way of slowing or su!verting the; process of counseling.
&here is a great del of an$iety and apprehension a!out the counselor,
counseling and outcome of the counseling he is su!<ecting himself to.
%#& Clients are Resistant'
)n$iety a!out a dependent relationship
=ear of the unknown
&he relationship with the counselor
6eaning of symptoms or pro!lems
'onfusion and fear
E(pressions o) Rel$ctance an" Resistance
7ilence
7uper#ciality
4$cessive talking
)rguing
Intellectualism
Refusal to cooperate
'oncern a!out the counselor