Video Role Play Simon: Illustration Well-being Counseling
Channel: Existential Well-being Counseling: A Person-centered Experiential Approach
Date: 2017-08-31

In this Well-being Counseling session the counselor Prof. Dr. Mia Leijssen works with a three steps protocol:

1. “Making Space” as a short preliminary exercise to relax, developing a receptive attitude, paying attention to bodily felt sensations.
2. Looking at the personal experience of well-being. 
3. Reflection on personal strengths. 

The counselor interacts with the client in a Person-centered Experiential way. This means that the counselor starts with an attitude of unconditional positive regard – in a friendly welcoming, non-judgmental - acknowledging whatever the client is expressing. She respects the client in his autonomy. She is responsible for offering a clear time frame and a safe structure where the client is invited to express and explore personal themes. She is fully engaged in their interaction by being personally present. She explains her line of thought during the session and openly shares her reasons and motives. Sometimes she offers words to feelings and thoughts evoked by the client’s story, without imposing her personal values. She encourages the client’s self-exploration by giving empathic reflections. Thus the client learns that he can trust his feelings and use them as a compass for directing his life. From time to time she introduces questions and process-oriented suggestions in order to deepen certain themes and to focus on the inner felt wisdom of the client.

This clip is part of the MOOC Existential Well-being Counseling: A Person-centered Experiential Approach.

You can enroll for free using this url: https://www.edx.org/course/existential-well-being-counseling-person-kuleuvenx-ewbcx