Important Qualities to Look for in a Counsellor

What are the most important qualities to look for in a counsellor? There are a number of qualities that are ideal for counsellors to possess. Let's take a look at the list below...

Here are the essential qualities that counsellors should possess for working in the fields of clinical or counselling psychology, psychotherapy, and vocational rehabilitation:

• Compassion and empathy to understand and identify with another person's experiences, and to help them feel heard and understood.

• Self-awareness and insight to look within and identify one's own psychological issues and unmet needs; to distinguish and separate one's own issues and needs from another’s; and on-going healing and self-work to manage triggers, transference, and projection that may arise during counselling.

• Sensitivity to multiculturalism and diversity in identities, backgrounds, worldviews, and values that span across the spectrum of gender, ethnicity, sexuality, religious and spiritual beliefs, cultures, ancestry, politics, socioeconomic status, and other areas that are determinants of health and health equity.

• The ability to practice actively listening with people to reflect their thoughts back to them and be able to remember important experiences and feelings they share.

• Interpersonal, social, and communication skills to express one’s self, relate to others, help a person feel more comfortable, encourage the therapeutic relationship, and perceive what people are thinking and feeling.

• Trust and rapport building skills to engage people in the process of feeling safe and supported so they are willing to be vulnerable, open, and honest with sharing about their inner world of thoughts, feelings, and beliefs. This helps build a stronger bond and relationship.

• An interest and willingness to establish an alliance and partnership with clients, so they can trust that you are working together in support of their needs and goals.

• The ability to practice and express non-judgment and acceptance of others and where they are at in their life. This means conveying an understanding and belief that people are doing their best given their circumstances in life. It is a recognition that everyone is deserving of love. If given the choice, most people want to be happy, experience pleasure, and be free from pain and suffering.

• An ability to establish and maintain healthy boundaries; to help people understand the nature and limits of a therapeutic relationship; and to prevent dual relationships and conflicts of interest, including those of a romantic or sexual nature.

• Flexibility to adapt and change in response to a person's unique characteristics and to meet them where they are at based on changes in their thoughts, perceptions, feelings, and behavior.

• Critical thinking and problem solving skills to be able to understand what a person is needing or wanting in counselling; to provide an assessment or evaluation of a person's issues or concerns; an explanation for a person's symptoms or experience; and to develop a plan with measures for checking in on progress toward goals.

• An ability to inspire hope, optimism, motivation, and a belief in a person's ability to change, transform, and improve their circumstances in life.

• Commitment to being consistent, providing stability, and following through with what one says they will do (along with expectations and accountability), as part of a plan to support a person.

• An ability to express confidence in one's sense of self and the counselling approach used with people, so they can be assured they are in competent and capable hands.

• An ability to give attention to and express a genuine interest in how people are doing, and in how they are progressing with their circumstances or conditions in life.

• An interest in clinical counselling or psychological research and evidence based/informed counselling therapy practices, along with a willingness to participate in continuing education, training, and learning for ongoing professional growth and development.

• Business aptitude and entrepreneurial skills for managing finances, client records, taxes, marketing, and advertising to generate enough clients and income to build a private practice.

What important qualities do you value most in a counsellor?