As Advisers we have to interact with "clients". This interaction
could perhaps be described, at least in the early stages, as an
"interview". The following five stage structure refers to Counseling.
In what way(s) might it have relevance to Advising?
Definition of the Stage
|
Function and purpose of the Stage
|
Cultural and Individual Issues
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| 1. Rapport/Structuring.
"Hello" |
To build a working alliance with the client and
to enable the client to feel comfortable with the interviewer. Structuring
may be needed to explain the purpose of the interview. Structuring
functions to help keep the session on task and to inform the client what
the counselor can and cannot do. |
With some clients and some cultural groups,
rapport development may take a long time so that trust can grow. Methods
of rapport development and decision making will vary with individuals and
cultures. |
| 2. Data gathering. Defining the problem and
identifying assets.
"What’s the problem?" |
To find out why the client has come to the
interview and how he or she views the problem. Skilful problem definition
will help avoid aimless topic jumping and give the interview purpose and
direction. Also to identify clearly positive strengths of the client. |
No all clients appreciate the careful problem
delineation typical of middle-class helping. However, once goals are
clearly established, it may be helpful to return to this stage. |
| 3. Determining Outcomes. Where does the
client want to go?
"What do you want to have happen?" |
To find out the ideal world of the client. How
would the client want to be? How would things be if the problem were
solved? This stage is important in that it enables the interviewer to know
what the client wants. The desired direction of the client and counselor
should be reasonably harmonious. With some clients, skip phase 2 and
define goals first. |
If work is clear and concrete here, specific
resolutions may be immediately apparent. Some cultural groups and
individuals prefer to start here. |
| 4. Generating alternative solutions.
"What are we going to do about
it?" |
To work towards resolution of the client’s
issue. This may involve the creative problem-solving model of generating
alternatives (to remove stuckness) and deciding amongst those
alternatives. It may also involve lengthy exploration of personal
dynamics. This phase of the interview may be the longest. |
It is critical that individual and cultural
differences in decisional style be acknowledged. What is the
"correct" decision from your point of view may be highly
inappropriate to another. With some groups, a highly directive style on
the counselor’s part may be appropriate. |
| 5. Generalization. Transfer of learning.
"Will you do it?" |
To enable changes in thoughts, feelings, and
behaviours in the client’s daily life. Many clients go through an
interview and then do nothing to change their behaviour, remaining in the
same world they came from. |
The degree of generalization will also relate
highly how effectively you took cultural and individual differences into
account in the early stages of the session(s). |