CHCCSL007 - Support Counselling Clients in Decision Making Process Assignment

Assignment Task

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An Introduction To Decision MAKING Estimate

Introduction to Decision-Making/Problem-Solving

a) Counsellors often help clients in the decision-making process by assisting them to identify, explore, or develop an appropriate course of action/solution to the problem that they have encountered.

b) One way in which counsellors may assist clients in the decision-making/problem solving process is by helping clients change their emotional reactions and coping abilities.

c) In some cases, the difficulties that clients have in making decisions and solving problems may be linked to a lack of flexibility and over-reliance on one style of decision-making in situations where other styles would be more appropriate.

Briefly outline three (3) key counsellor tasks involved in helping a client through a structured problem-solving/decision making process.

The Seven Step Problem-Solving Approach

In your Study Guide, you learned about the ‘seven step’ problem-solving model that counsellors often use to help guide their clients through the decision-making process. List the steps you would need to take as a counsellor using this approach.

Clarify and Define the Problem

During which stage or stages of the counselling process is a counsellor most likely to help the client clarify and define the problem?

Establishing Realistic Goals

Why are counsellors interested in assisting their clients to identify specific goals to work towards?

Identify and briefly describe four (4) techniques which counsellors can use to encourage clients to identify and explore their aims, requirements and ideas.

Select whether the following statements are True or False

a) “Long-term” goals can be described as goals that the client hopes to achieve over the next few weeks.

b) Counsellors often assist clients in developing specific goals to work towards from a client’s initial broad goals.

c) Counsellors should seek to ensure that the client is setting realistic goals for themselves

d) One factor that counsellors should consider when helping the client to set realistic goals is to consider whether the client has the resources (or ability to develop the resources) required to achieve their goal.

e) Goals that relate to changing the behaviour of other people (rather than the client) are likely to be more effective than goals relating to the client’s own behaviour.

The SMART model can be used to help clients identify practical goals. Briefly outline the five elements of the SMART model and explain how using these elements can help to make goal setting more effective.

John is 45 years old and married with three children. He and his family have recently moved to Sydney from Brisbane and he is still feeling unsettled. His new job is demanding and requires a lot of overtime. He has not made any friends and spends his weekends catching up on paperwork. He is tired, feels down and has back pain.

John’s relationship with his wife is strained – she did not want to move and has made no attempt to find another job. The family has incurred substantial expenses due to the move and his wife has been spending a lot of money on new clothes and jewellery resulting in significant financial strain. John feels worried and stressed all the time.

a) Identify three (3) possible issues or problems that John and his counsellor could focus on in counselling.

b) Choose one of the issues or problems that you identified in the question above and write down a practical goal that would address the issue or problem.

c) Imagine that John says his goal is to get his wife to want to go back into work to ease the financial pressure. Why might this goal difficult to achieve?

Evaluate and Compare Solutions

Describe four (4) factors which may influence a client’s choice of, or ability to achieve, a particular course of action.

When exploring potential courses of action with a client, counsellor should encourage clients to consider the potential implications and consequences of each course of action. List two (2) personal and two (2) social consequences counsellors should encourage clients to explore.

Mike, a married father of two young children, is very unhappy in his current job as a truck driver. His counsellor used the ‘seven-step’ model to help him decide what to do and they have brainstormed a number of options.

a) What could the counsellor say to Mike to help him assess the possible advantages and disadvantages of each option? List two (2) questions that the counsellor could ask. 

b) One of the options that Mike and his counsellor identify is to return to study full time to complete a Diploma in Counselling. Consider Mike’s situation and list two (2) potential pros and two (2) potential cons that Mike would be likely to identify in regard to this proposed course of action.

Decide on a Feasible, Appropriate Solution

What are contingency plans and why are they important?

What should a counsellor do immediately after client actions and contingency plans have been decided on and agreed?

a) Document the client’s decision in the counselling plan. 

b) Evaluate the outcome of the options.

c) Assess pros and cons of potential courses of action.

Monitoring The Counselling Process And Ensuring Effective Counselling

The Z Model

Briefly describe the Z model of decision making and the four (4) steps counsellors can take under this model to help clients real a more holistic, well-informed decision.

Jonas uses the Z model with his client to help his client explore career options. Complete the table below by selecting which step of the Z model Jonas is completing with the client.

Which types of clients would the Z model be particularly helpful for? Why?

Decisional Balance

What is the aim of the decisional balance tool?

Select whether the following statements are True or False.

a) When using the decisional balance tool, counsellors should encourage clients to consider the emotional implications of their decision to change.

b) The decisional balance should only be used for clients who are considering making changes to their level of substance use.

c) The goal of the decisional balance tool is to help convince the client to stop their risky behaviours.

Four Option Model

Briefly outline the four option model and why it might be used with a client.

Arnold is experiencing workplace bullying following the appointment of a new supervisor at this work. He decides to consult to a counsellor to help him weigh up his options – should he 20 leave? Consider what you have learned about the four option model and write down four (4) potential courses of action that Arnold and his counsellor might explore.

Practice Considerations

Obstacles and Challenges

Why might the decision-making/problem-solving process be challenging for clients and counsellors?

Complete the following table by identifying which obstacle or challenge is included in each scenario.

Ethical Decision-Making

Counsellors must ensure that they act in a legal and ethical manner while assisting clients in the decision-making process. Read through the following examples and identify which legal/ethical principle is most involved in each scenario and what the counsellor should do to ensure legal/ethical practice

a) Huan has been involved in an escalating conflict situation with his inconsiderate neighbours. He discloses in his counselling session that he and his friends are going to ‘sort them out for good’ on Saturday. The counsellor believes that Huan means to physically assault his neighbour.

Which legal/ethical principle is involved here?

i. Duty of care

ii. Discrimination 23

iii. Privacy

iv. Work health and safety

b) Eliza comes to counselling to discuss her options for an unplanned pregnancy. The counsellor, Carol, assumes Eliza won’t be a good mother because she is young and economically disadvantaged and finds herself persuading her to give the baby up for adoption. The ethical principle involved here is: (Circle the correct answer). Which legal/ethical principle is involved here?

Which legal/ethical principle is involved here?

i. Duty of care

ii. Discrimination

iii. Privacy

iv. Work health and safety

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