Role Play A Possible Crisis in Life Events

Counseling: Role Play- A Possible Crisis in Life Events

Counselor: Hello. My name is Liz, and I will conduct a counseling session with you today. What is your name?

Client: Hi. My name is Hattie. I am 40 years old, and you can see I am officially blind.

Counselor: Yes, I can see and understand how hard life would be with this condition.

Client: Yes, of course! That is why I am here. I have been facing serious life issues, which I feel are due to my blindness, such as separation and divorce.

Counselor: Oh! This is devastating. Do you have children?

Client: I have no children.

Counselor: Anyone else lives with you? Any support at home?

Client: I live away from my family; thus, no major support system.

Counselor: I see. Do you have friends or colleagues at work?

Client: Not really. Everyone stays away from me. Just casual ‘hello, hi’ and normal acquaintances. I usually cry at work too.

Counselor: Okay, what makes you sadder? Being blind? Or that no one is close to you due to this issue?

Client: I can’t make up my mind since I stay confused, feel clueless at times about how to interact with people, and even find it better to stay from them myself.

Counselor: Why do you think staying away from everyone would make you feel better or solve your problem? Is it helping in any way?

Client: Actually, not. I feel that people stay away from me since my blindness could cause problems for them. They might want to socialize with ‘normal’ people and not someone like me who keeps asking,’ where is the chair in the restaurant so that I can sit and enjoy a burger’? No one would like that company with them while eating out, yes?

Counselor: Possibly, yes. But there are compassionate people in this world who do like helping people. I am sure you would be able to find one too.

Client: I am not sure how I will be able to do that since I have not been a shy person since childhood. I had one best friend in school, and she left after getting married. Here, I am alone, especially with this blindness now.

Counselor: It must be quite sad losing your only friend. But you know what, you can consider me your friend, from now onwards? I hope you liked talking to me about your concerns. Saying everything troubling you inside to someone there to listen to you…who do you feel has helped? If it has, by any chance?

Client: Yes, I am much relieved. And I plan to come to visit you in future too.

Counselor: Yes, sure! Any time. Just give me a call or even a message. I would be happy to arrange a meeting for us personally.

Client: Thank you! It is such a relief to know that I am welcomed somewhere. It was nice talking to you.

The above counseling session script teaches a technique called ‘non-directive’ counseling. It includes helping the client while letting the counselee play an active role (Cuijpers et al., 2012). The counselee comes to the counselor with his problems and explains them in detail. The typical counseling therapy here does not include providing a solution but only support. The counselor treating Hattie showed support by only actively listening to her issues and assuring her that he was there to be friends with her. Communication, building rapport, and trust are the primary features of this technique, which are evident in the above script.

The crisis intervention tactics that helped in dealing with the client were not being judgmental, not giving own opinions to the client, active listening, showing congruence, unconditional positive regard, and showing respect and empathy to the client (Ackerman, 2017). Responding to the client again includes respect, truthfulness, and transparency, showing support, trust building, and rapport building with Hattie.

One helpful crisis intervention methodology for the client is the single-session therapy model, in which specialized counselors intervene to address the life stressor with the tactics mentioned previously, such as active listening, not being judgmental, and not giving opinions (Simpson, 2019). However, before actually applying this in clinical practice, consulting my seniors. Even if a Chinese or Puerto Rico client were present in this case, I would incorporate the same techniques and tactics. It is expected that minimum risks are involved in non-directive counseling techniques while dealing with such clients. Listening to their concerns and conducting sessions with open communication would solve half of their problems.