How would you describe your counselling style, and how will it be a fit for our facility/organization?
The interviewer wants to see a complementary match between your counseling style, your experiences, and the therapy methods deployed by their organization and existing team. Be sure to look into the background of the hiring company before your interview. This research will help you to craft a compelling response that will resonate with the hiring authorities.
Perhaps you could discuss your counseling influences, and how they have helped to develop your overall style as a Mental Health Counselor. Maybe you prefer Rational Emotive Therapy over Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Perhaps you integrate alternative forms of therapy in your counseling, like Creative Therapy and Narrative Therapy.
Whatever your approach, talk about how you have developed your style of counseling through your education and experience while highlighting the ways that your counseling methods are unique yet complimentary.
"My history is unique because I have training in trauma counseling and a great deal of experience in frontline work with at-risk populations. Utilizing this training in trauma therapy, I take a client-centered approach. This humanistic approach to counseling means that I focus on helping my client realize their inner potential. I wholeheartedly support my client in self-discovery while guiding them in a non-directive and non-judgemental way. This counseling style is flexible, which will ensure a smooth fit with your agency, considering your clients have a significant range of needs. My experience and training in trauma and emergency response training will be an immediate asset as I can work closely with internal and external SVU teams. I have garnered a strong reputation with victim services staff as well as local social workers in the area. These connections will help me to make headway and help solve the understaffing situations that your agency and staff are currently facing when it comes to Mental Health Counselors with experience in trauma counseling."
"While completing my Bachelor of Counseling, I developed a significant interest in client-centered therapy techniques. During my studies, I dove into a humanistic approach to therapy, which encourages clients to realize their full potential. I appreciate counseling exercises that encourage client discovery. As a Mental Health Counselor, I aim to carve out space for my clients to express themselves in a safe environment, free of judgment. I believe that real change happens through an empathetic approach to therapy, where I can develop a genuine relationship between the client and myself. Just as your organization focuses on the person, I believe in gently guiding the client towards change rather than assigning specific work or expectations to them. This approach is also extremely helpful in leading group therapy, which you mentioned your organization would like to lean into further. I can certainly assist in getting more group therapy options off the ground, and I can lead these groups using self-discovery exercises that would be comfortable in a group setting."
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
I believe that the counseling style of a counselor is very important. I am integrative in my counseling style because I believe that counselors need to be flexible in their approach to accommodate different clients' needs rather than a one size fits all approach to therapy. This form of therapy can promote a holistic approach. I believe that an integrative counseling approach will be beneficial to your organization because your mission statement is all about promoting healing physically, mentally/emotionally, and spiritually, which is holistic in its approach. However, my main therapeutic approaches in counseling are Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Humanistic Therapy, and Schema Therapy.
Stephanie's Feedback
Your eclectic approach to counseling will be beneficial to many clients and will be well-received by many facilities and organizations. Because the term "eclectic" is a bit all-encompassing and can mean a lot of different things within the counseling profession, I suggest providing a few additional details about your style and approach. For example, is your eclectic style rooted in a person-centered approach? Do you lean toward incorporating art or movement? A few additional details will shed light on who you are professionally and how you can contribute to this organization.
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