Tell me about a time when you witnessed a significant improvement in a clients' situation through counselling.

"In most cases, I see considerable differences in my clients even after the first few sessions. (Situation) Last year I took on a new client who seemed to have all of the answers for herself. She disclosed early on that she simply needed room to vent and process the everyday stresses in her life. (Task) As her counselor, it was my job to respect the fact that she wanted to have a safe place where she could talk through her issues and make good day-to-day decisions after outputting her negative emotions. (Action) I recognized early on that this client did not want to dig deep into her psyche. What this client needed from me was to listen, encourage, and affirm her. She took great satisfaction in simply being heard and supported. She would arrive at my office wound up and would leave looking as though she had a weight lifted off of her shoulders. Most of the time, I just sat and nodded and listened. (Result) This client would end each session with a huge sigh of relief and a smile on her face. I felt that we accomplished a significant improvement each time she completed a session because she felt empowered and free. Although this client did not have a dramatic made-for-tv style reformation, she had a significant shift in her approach to processing stress, which then created a positive ripple in her work life, parenting style, and her marriage."

"(Situation) While completing my internship, I was assisting the lead counselor with a client diagnosed with dysthymic disorder. (Task) As an intern, I primarily observed the client and took notes while helping the counselor to document the session afterward. (Action) When the client first came in for therapy, he demonstrated suicidal ideation. In each session, the counselor gave him room to talk and share the difficulties he had been experiencing. They set attainable short term goals, often targets that were for the following day or just a few days in advance. This approach allowed the client to have moments to look forward to without feeling overwhelmed by looking too far into the future. (Result) Within only four months, he was feeling more in control of his feelings, and his self-esteem improved. He stopped having thoughts of harming himself and instead was much more accepting of the possibilities for his future. It was remarkable to see this turnaround, and this experience further supported my desire to become a Mental Health Counselor."

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