Why do counsellors use minimal encouragement as one of their skills during a counselling session?
I’ve been a counsellor in UK for ten years and have not heard this phrase – but I think I know what it might mean, so will try and explain. There are many different modes of counselling, for example, psychodynamic, CBT. humanistic….and within each of these main trainings, there are sub-sections, and each individual counsellor takes from the training what they think works best. Recent scientific studies have shown that he most important factor in counselling is the relationship between the client and the counsellor. It is vital that you trust your counsellor and feel able to question them if they are working in a way that does not feel right to you. “Minimal encouragement” is likely to be the way in which a counsellor does not give advice, or show encouragement or enthusiasm for what the client is saying. There is a carefully thought out reason – that the client might feel better for a while to be with a therapist who gives encouragement, but in the longer term it is important for the
