Discussion 1 for spring addiction

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Reflective counseling centers around a counselor’s empathy and ability to listen actively to clients. By actively listening, the counselor can reflect on the client’s thoughts, which helps build rapport and trust. The client benefits from gaining insight and understanding about their behaviors, thoughts, and feelings. It allows for the client's personal growth while allowing the counselor to participate in problem-solving and decision-making. Implementing reflective counseling is also about accountability. A reflective counselor commits to developing personal awareness by monitoring their thinking, automatic reactions, decisions, and prejudices (Young, 2021). Not only is reflection necessary within the therapy realm but it must also be used personally by the counselor. In a study by Sadusky and Spinks (2022), they found that through the ability to engage in reflective practices, psychologists may recognize when they need support, especially in professional or peer supervision and private therapy (pp. 593-606). Reflection, both as a counselor and human being, has been essential to my life for the past eleven years. As a recovering IV heroin addict, self-reflection was one of the first techniques that helped me grasp sobriety. As someone who would chronically relapse and self-destruct, reflective counseling gave me insight into why I constantly set myself up for failure. Miller and Rollnick (2002) mention that beliefs about a person’s ability to change can ultimately become self-fulfilling prophecies. It took many failed attempts, incarceration, loss of relationships, and pain for me to understand how true this statement is. Reflective counseling allowed me to take a complex and very uncomfortable look at myself, which, in turn, allowed me to start the healing process. “Perceived prognosis influences real outcomes” (Miller & Rollnick, 2002, p. 27). If I believed that I could maintain sobriety, if I believed that I could overcome my past trauma, then I could be successful. As a mother of three boys, two of whom are identical mirror twins, balancing recovery, life, and motherhood can be demanding. One of my twins is autistic, and this is where my second experience with reflective counseling has had the most impact. Wodzinski and Gołaska- Ciesielska (2021) wrote that relations between neurotypical people and people with ASD seem to be lined with feelings of fear, uncertainty, and misunderstanding. By practicing reflection with my son, he can better understand how to navigate certain social situations. When his peers seem uncomfortable or uneasy around him, he can use humor and kindness to break down the preconceived notions. The article by Evans et al. (2021) was interesting. I feel that I must mention that the random sampling took place within the Midwest, the second most Christian-based area in the US (the South is first). I also noticed (and am glad the limitations mentioned this) that every person who responded was a Christian, “to which none indicated zero to five years” (Evans et al., 2021, pp. 309-326). As stated previously, I am eleven years sober. I only found my faith again in the last five years, so I am still soul-searching and figuring out what being a Christian means to me. With

that being said, I do agree that “Christians who are counselors” are viewed differently than “Christian Counselors.” Evans et al. (2021) mention that Christian counselors have a more dogmatic approach regarding the bible being the sole basis of authority. I believe this is where a majority of the conflict arises. A Christian who follows the bible strictly and figuratively may not be able to work with diverse clients as the results seem to favor. As a believer who uses the bible as more of a guide, a metaphor, I feel that I could work with anyone, even people with opposite beliefs. I can also attest to the fact that many non-Christians will not entertain the idea of a Christian counselor. I currently volunteer in a methadone clinic, and some clients will shut down the second religion is mentioned. A counselor who is also a Christian may not broadcast their faith; their professional ethics and personal morals would influence their therapy style. A Christian Counselor, however, may use the bible and strict commandment-type morality to structure their style. Again, I believe the two are different, and as a person working on understanding my faith, there is a need for both types in the world of therapy. References Evans, C., Brown, D., & Davis, J. (2021). Professional counseling from a Christian worldview. Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health , 24 (3), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/19349637.2021.1885004 Miller, W. R., & Rollnick, S. (2002). Motivational Interviewing: Preparing People for Change (2nd ed.). Guilford Press. Sadusky, A., & Spinks, J. (2022). Psychologists’ engagement in reflective practice and experiences of burnout: a correlational analysis. Reflective Practice , 23 (5), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/14623943.2022.2090326 Wodzinski, M., & Gołaska-Ciesielska, P. (2021). The Construction of Autism: Between Reflective and Background Knowledge. Constructivist Foundations , 17 , 33–47. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/357394865_The_Construction_of_Autism_Between _Reflective_and_Background_Knowledge Young, M. E. (2021). Learning the Art of Helping : Building Blocks and Techniques (7th ed.). Pearson.

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