One simple way to view counselling is that there is a beginning to the sessions, a middle and an end. In the beginning, counsellors are especially concerned about establishing rapport and a therapeutic relationship. This means essentially that we want to be able to connect with the client, to listen attentively and try to understand empathetically what the client is communicating. Some counsellors believe that until there is sufficient understanding and empathy communicated in the counselling session there may not be much therapeutic change. They claim that clients need a certain degree of safety, trust and confidence in a counsellor before they are willing to explore fully what needs to be addressed. While there are certain skills involved in establishing a trusting and respectful relationship, the clients determine ultimately whether the counsellor is genuine in his/her efforts to understand the nature of their concern. The first phase of counselling, rapport and relationship building, needs to be present throughout all counselling sessions. The middle phase of counselling is where the hard work begins for both the counsellor and client. While understanding and rapport are essential, more intensive work in the cognitive, affective and behavioural domains is often required. Sometimes beliefs need to be examined, clarified and even challenged. Sometimes feelings need to be explored and expressed, and sometimes various behavioural options and their consequences need to be discussed in detail. The middle phase of counselling is often where counsellors feel challenged and clients begin to question the amount of work involved in the counselling process. The final phase includes proper closure as an important aspect of a counselling session. As a rule, it is beneficial to close each session with a short summary of the
As a counsellor, I have chosen a profession the overarching goal of which is to help clients reach deeper levels of awareness about themselves. To be a part of this professional community and to actively refrain from becoming aware of one’s own racial identity and the role that race has played and continues to play within society seems almost ironic, were it not that the social construction of race and racial identity is the farthest thing from being amusing. For counselling practitioners to ask their clients in good faith to explore their issues and develop awareness, it is necessary that the counselling practitioners themselves be willing to explore and develop an awareness of their own racial identity. Upon the completion of my research into race, racism, racial prejudice, racial identity, the socio-historical context of race within Kenya, as well as writing my personal narrative, I am left with an acute awareness of the challenges in maintaining and developing a deeper awareness of my White racial identity. That is to say, I am conscientious of the tension and feelings of discomfort that continue to arise when I grapple with the extraordinary power that the White racial group has claimed and the affect this has had and continues to have on society. I am aware that as I explore my own perceptions and attitudes concerning my racial group and the Black racial group I discover ugly truths and continue to feel a pull to return to the comfortable confines of oblivion. I am left with the realization of how easy it would be, and in accord with societal urgings, to recede to a frame of mind where external standards once again dictate my understanding of race. I am left with an awareness of how my journey involves remaining actively vigilant so as to allow my personal definition of race to be guided by reflection and introspection.
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