What is confrontation in counseling?

Answer 1

C

onfrontation is when the counsellor raises the awareness of the client to include information that the client is overlooking, or failing to identify. This technique must be used carefully, as it can lead to a complete disintegration of the client-counsellor relationship. On the other hand, good confrontation can be seen as respectful to the client, as it shows that the counsellor is sincerely listening, and cares for the client. There are a number of situations where confrontation is appropriate. These include: * The client is avoiding a basic issue that appears to be troubling them

* The client is failing to recognise their own self-destructive or self-defeating behaviour

* The client is failing to recognise possible serious consequences of their behaviour

* The client is making self-contradictory statements

* The client is excessively and inappropriately locked into talking about the past or the future and is unable to focus on the present

* The client is going around in circles by repeating the same story over and over

* The client's non-verbal behaviour does not match their verbal behaviour

* Attention needs to be given to what is going on in the relationship between the client and counsellor; for example, where dependency is occurring, or where a client withdraws or shows anger or some other emotion towards the counsellor.

As shown above, it is obvious that there are a range of situations that confrontation can be used effectively. However, it should be noted that if other non-confrontational skills and techniques are properly used, it is said that the counsellor will generally not have to use confrontation as a method of gaining information from the client (Geldard & Geldard, 2009). Good confrontation often includes a summary, followed by a statement of the counsellor's feelings and a concrete statement given without interpretation. Good confrontation leaves the client feeling OK and not attacked.