WHAT MAKES A GOOD COUNSELOR?
It takes a particular person to be able to be a counselor. This is because a lot of the times, counselors have to handle the weight of their own problems, in addition to their clients’ problems; this can be exhausting. Here are some of the top characteristics that are crucial to being a successful counselor:
- Empathy
Counselors must be open-minded and understanding, giving them the ability to understand where clients are coming from and being sensitive to their needs.
- Interpersonal skills
Because counselors work with people from all different walks of life, they must have the ability to make others feel comfortable and be able to get along with just about any one.
- Listening skills
A lot of a counselor’s work lies in listening to the client’s story, so they can gain an understanding of the particular situation at hand and come up with strategies to help the client.
- Patience
It usually takes time in the counseling process to come to a breakthrough with a client, sometimes months and other times, several years. Therefore, the ability to engage in repetitive conversations and practices is essential.
- Speaking skills
Because counselors deal with a range of people, they must be able to communicate effectively with clients from various backgrounds—age, education level, cultural backgrounds, etc.
PROS AND CONS OF BEING A COUNSELOR
The counseling occupation can be highly rewarding, but like any career, it also has its drawbacks. Here are the top pros and cons of being a counselor:
| PROS | CONS |
| Highly rewarding/fulfilling | Emotionally taxing |
| The ability to help people overcome problems | Not being able to help ALL clients- some clients will just not put the work in to overcome their issue(s) |
| If you are a great counselor, you can make a substantial income | Unless you are passionate about the career, the income can be discouraging for the amount of work there is at times |
There are few individuals that possess ALL the attributes of a successful counselor, at first. However, these skills can be honed in, over time. The most important requirement for an individual to be a successful counselor is the deep desire to help others, along with the willingness to put in the time and effort required to learning how to help others.
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