Confessions are not an indication of bad counseling. The confessional dynamic arises more from the unequal power relationship inherent in the risk assessment process than from the personalities of the client or the counselor. One approach is to gently confront a client's statements of guilt or remorse by pointing out the confessional roles that these engender. Because I knew better. Well that's not stupidity.
Stupidity is about ignorance.
You're totally informed. You've demonstrated that by coming here today. Counselors should be alert that clients may make confessional statements as a way to preempt further discussion. The counselor can ask the client how realistic he or she thinks this is and under what circumstances he or she might someday decide differently. Confessional dynamics can influence a client's reasons for seeking a test and keep him or her in denial about underlying issues.