CORE PRINCIPLES OF THERAPEUTIC PROCESS
A. Client engages counseling services with desire to effect change.
B. The effectiveness of therapeutic process is significantly defined by the relationship between the client and the therapist:
1) Therapist is intentional in creating a safe space
2) Client develops trust in self within the process
C. Approximately 50% of the process for effecting change is developing insight or consciousness about what is happening in client experience by means of:
1) Self-assessment – gaining clarity and taking ownership of self
2) Recognizing and claiming patterns of thoughts or core beliefs and behaviors of choice
3) Understanding history of relationship to systems:
a. Family of origin and choice
b. School, work
c. Social, spiritual, community
d. Individual/self – Parent/Adult/Child
D. The remaining approximately 50% of the process involves establishing intentions for effecting change by means of identifying paradigm shifts in:
1) Unconscious Reaction Conscious Response
2) “What I don’t want…” “What I do want…”
3) Defining choices of:
a. Language – “I choose to…,” or “My experience is…,” or “My intention is…”
b. Mindfulness of/in thoughts and behaviors
E. Homework – practicing with intention of integration of tools for skill development