After listening to the audio of a telephone counsellor assisting 15-year old Ryan, you are required to complete a written critique of the telephone counselling skills utilised by the counselor. This...

Running Head: HEALTHCARE        1
HEALTHCARE        2
HEALTHCARE
Table of Contents
Introduction    3
Skills Required For Telephonic Counselling    3
Strengths of the Counselling Approach Identified From the Telephone Counselling    4
Weaknesses of the Counselling Approach Identified From the Telephone Counselling    6
Conclusion    7
References    8
Introduction
    Counselling someone could be a very difficult task and this is majorly because of the thought process going through the mind of client. A physical counsellor can could visualise the client based upon their facial expressions or body language; however, telephonic counselling process does not offer these facilities. This critique would be based upon the telephonic counselling session between a 15-year old Ryan and the counsellor where Ryan discussed issues related to his sexuality, drug use as well as suicidal thoughts with the counsellor. Efforts would be made to present the strengths and weaknesses of all the counselling approaches used by counsellor.
Skills Required For Telephonic Counselling
    Telephonic counselling might be considered as a more feasible option for the clients as well as counsellors to reach and communicate each other; however, it is more complex and difficult for the counsellors than the physical counselling sessions. Telephonic therapists are professionally qualified as well as fully accredited counsellors, similar to the physical counsellors; however, the only difference lies in the means of communication used.
    Cheng, (2015) suggested that despite of all the positives offered by telephonic counselling; one of the major challenge for counsellors is non-availability of visual cues. This includes the observations related to client’s expressions, body language and much more. However, the only aspect that the counsellor could examine is the client’s tone as well as the emphasised scenarios or words.
On a telephonic counselling session, understanding client’s silences is an essential skill, which the counsellors must possess. Likewise, counsellors must also be comfortable while working with fantasy and transference because they would have to deal with clients with dynamic thought process and variable counselling needs. Further, relationship development with the client along with recognising and responding to their feelings through analysis of their voice is another major skills required for telephonic counselling.
Strengths of the Counselling Approach Identified From the Telephone Counselling
    It was evident from the recording that the counsellor was highly professional as well as experienced. Professional behaviour and welcoming attitude reflected from her tone as well as the way, in which she conveyed her message or suggestion to Ryan. One of the major aspect to consider here is that Ryan was a 15-year-old child that is, he was not even an adult and Counsellor was required to acknowledge this information.
The Counsellor was very welcoming to Ryan and this is evident from the conversation where Ryan refuses to open up much in front of the counsellor because of fear related to judgements and prejudice. Here the counsellor reflected the aspect of being trustworthy as she straightway informed Ryan that every information shared would be kept confidential. Moreover, she also informed Ryan that the telephonic...