Self Awareness of a Counsellor

Counsellors deal with wide diversity of cultures, religion, language, lifestyle, and values of people. In order to counsel effectively, a therapist must recognize his own value system to have respect for human individuality and freedom of choice. When a counsellor assesses his own values, he can begin to positively assist the client in developing alternatives for problem solving.
Self-awareness can improve one’s judgment and help one identify opportunities for professional development and personal growth. Counsellors with well-developed emotional self-awareness are more effective intuitive decision makers. Intuitive qualities create a “gut feeling” or a “sense” of what is best. This can help guide in the counselling sessions for a more effective approach. Self-Awareness also enables the counsellor to be honest to self and to the clients. It also helps to avoid unethical behaviours
Counsellors are also human beings with needs, values, feelings and biases. Unless he knows himself, he will not understand his clients. Unless his own bias’s, prejudices, personal interests and emotional vulnerability, are understood, he will not be able to understand why his clients behave or react as they do. To effectively assist clients, he needs to know himself well and continually work for self-assessment and personal development. (Prince, 2010)
When a therapist fails to continue to self assess himself, his counter transference and his values, occupational crisis can occur. “Occupational crisis is a function of work overload, interpersonal problems and frustration at work, organizational changes, and threat of job loss and / or family worries”. (The role of Stress and Negative Emotions in Occupational Crisis, 2002) This is often characterized by anxiety, suppressed anger and depressive symptoms. In order for a counsellor to stay healthy and experience personal growth, it is important that self-awareness and assessment continues.
In conclusion, regular self-assessment of a counsellor and his values will keep his behaviours and emotions in check. Who we are is a direct result of our strengths and weaknesses, our drives, our personalities, our habits and values. A counsellor must spend time on self-reflection to better serve clients