CPE 5200 INDIVIDUAL COUNSELLING

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR DR. NOOR SYAMILAH ZAKARIA, K.B., P.A.

STRUCTURING SKILL
PRESENTERS :
NUR KHAIRINA BINTI AHMAD ZAIADI GS59390
MEENACHI THESNAMOORTHY GS59143
 CONTENTS

What is
Structuring?

Beginning
Summary of a
Session

Elements of
Termination
Structuring
 COUNSELLING SKILLS
It is refer to skills that counsellor
What is used in the session to
help creates warm and genuine relationship. Counselling
Structuring
skills are use to support an? individual’s decision making
process in a proper way. Examples of skills are attending
skill, listening skill, structuring skill, questioning skill,
clarifying skills, reflecting skill, interpreting skill,
paraphrasing skill, confronting skill, and summarizing skill.
The application of skills pertains to area of skills, as an
example attending skills and listening skills. Other than
that, skills also refer to the knowledge and sequences of
choice in implementing a given skill.
Elements of
Terminati
Structuring
on
 What is Structuring?
o An interactional process where counsellor and client together define the guidelines that govern
the counselling process, possibly involving such activities as informing, proposing, suggesting,
recommending, negotiating, stipulating, contracting and compromising (Day & Sparacio, 1980).
o Structuring has been defined as the way the clinical defines the nature, limits, roles, and goals
within the helping relationship (Brammer, Abrego, & Shostroms, 1993).

Formal or informal?

o Formal – i) the first session ii) a reference client

o Informal – i) subsequent session ii) client wants to start talking

Importance of Structuring

o Help the client to understand the flow of the counselling session.

o Help in building a balanced relationship between the counsellor and the client.
 STRUCTURING SKILL

When a client enters the counselling room, the counselor

should start with welcoming the client warmly and
discuss the planning for the counselling sessions process
and the tasks they will go through. This includes every
elements of structuring (which will be discussed later)
and also written structuring skill which is an Informed
Consent. Practically, is a joint establishment of agreement
between the counsellor and the client. As the client come
for the session, understand the steps and become
comfortable, the client’s trust will grow towards the
counsellor thus a balanced and healthy relationship will
be achieved.
 BEGINNING
an opportunity to gather background information, and to gather information relating to the issues that you will attend to.

Counsellor set the Welcome the client Use simple words

tone between being warmly for client to
professional yet “Please make understand thus it
informal and yourself like at helps in building
therefore relaxing home” rapport

Effective structuring in initial

session
Assessing Helps client
Provide a Describe the
client’s to feel
general counsellor’s Obtain
expectation comfortable
overview of expectation client’s
and promote and gains
the helping and initial commitment
a positive trust in
process plan
ones counselling
 ELEMENTS OF STRUCTURING
o To give client a better understanding of counselling
concept.
Definition of o
o
Use simpler words where clients can understand.
“Counselling is a relationship between you and me,
Counselling where will be discussing your issue and together think
of ways on how you can resolve it.”

o Solely based on the theory that counsellor

used and client’s goal.
Counselling o Psychoanalysis 1)Help client bring into the
conscious the unconscious.
goals o Adlerian 1)Increase client’s awareness of
their faulty thoughts. 2)Help clients
overcome feelings of inferiority.
o Person-centered 1) Enhance the client's
understanding of themselves. 2)Facilitate
client ability to self-actualise.
o Gestalt 1)Assist client in developing their
own self-awareness.
o Existential 1)Bring a better understanding
of themselves and their values. 2)Find
purpose and life meaning.
 Counsellor o Explain roles of counsellor and client.
o Help client to get a better grasp on their roles.

and Client o “My role as a counsellor is to listen,

understand and assist you in solving your

Role problem, while your role is to tell me your

problem and what you feel.”

o Maintain private information about a client, and

ensuring that no unauthorised person has access to
it (Martin, 2017).

Confidentiality o Explain issues related to client’s confidentiality,

agrees not to share information given by the client
with others.
o “This session will be confidential unless the issue
discussed will bring harms to you or others.”

o Mostly taken up 45 minutes to an hour minutes per

Limitation of o
session.
It also depends on setting or venue. Young clients will
a session took shorter time, while elder clients will talk more and
take more time.
o ”Our session today will take approximately an hour.”
 Informed
Consent

o Elements of structuring skill in

written form.
o Intended to share relevant
information with clients so that
they can make decisions about
participation in the treatment
offered (Barnett, 2015).
o Enables them to make informed
decisions about participation and
helps to prepare them for what
are to comes, participate more
fully in the counselling process.
 DEMONSTRATION OF
VERBAL INFORMED
CONSENT (STRUCTURING)

▶
 EXAMPLES

“In this session, I am a counsellor and you are a client.

This session will take approximately 45 minutes. My
role is briefly to listen, understand and try to help you.
Your role is to tell what is bothering your life. This
session will be keep confidential and this
confidentiality will be limited if the issues discussed
involve the safety of your life or others.”
Counsellor: It will be great if I could explain to you the basic of our session.
Client: All right.

Counsellor: The purpose of counselling is to help and guide you in discussing your
concern. My job as a counsellor is to listen and understand what you feel and think
about the problem. Then we will find the ways of action to resolve your concern.
Client: Fine, but what do I need to do, sir?

Counsellor: Your task is to help me understand what you feel. You need to provide
me information about your problem and any necessary points related to it.
Client: I find it is hard to deal with my problem, sir.

Counsellor: That is the main point. We will discuss on ways to tackle your problem
and accomplish your goals together.
Client: Oh I see. So does that means I can tell you one thing at a time?

Counsellor: Yes you can. It depends on you and the limitation of a session which is
45 minutes. Often, it could take several sessions, depending on your needs. The
session will be private and confidential. I won’t tell anyone about your problem. One
more thing, I want you to know that counselling is on your free will. You can end the
session at any time. So, do you have any questions?
Client: Nothing, I am clear with the explanation you have given.
2
 TERMINATION
help solidify counselling gains, empowering clients to integrate their experiences and bravely face their next chapter in life. 

Terminating a Terminating a
session relationship
o May includes possibilities such as
o Let the client know that the time is letting the client determine the
coming to an end. Conclude either timing or having the clinical
before or after the client is ready. establish the date of termination at
“Well, I think it’s time to stop for the outset of the helping process
today.” (Hackney & Cormeir, 2013).
o Ask the client to summarize the o “We’ve been dealing with a lot of
way they understand what has issues, and I believe you’ve made a
been going on. “As we’re ending lot of progress. One of our goals all
the session today. I’m wondering along has been to reach the point
what you’re taking with you; if you where counselling is no longer
could summarize this. I think it needed. I think we’re reaching that
would be helpful to both of us.” point, and probably in about three or
four weeks, we’ll be stopping.”
Pragmatic Considerations in Termination
(Hackney & Cormier, 2013)

When counselling
has been predicated
on the behaviour, When clients
progress towards the feel that their
goals present a clear goal have been
picture of when accomplished.
counselling should
end.

When the When contextual

relationship conditions change.
appears not to Example: client or
be helpful. helper moves to a
new location.
 QUIZ TIME 🤓
1. Initial discussion should take place early on the first day so
that the clients can
a) Consult with other counsellors.
b) Make an informed decision about consenting to the
counselling.
c) Have a tour around the counsellor’s office.

2. Which of the following would be the LEAST helpful in

terminating a session?
a) Asks the client to summarize the session.
b) Asks the client to engage in a mutual feedback on progress
of session.
c) Offers a brief conclusion and let the client knows the time is
up.
 CONCLUSION
Beginning of a session, subsequent session and
termination all present different importance in maintaining a
fulfilled relationship between the counsellor and the client.

One of the most important element needed in structuring a

session is confidentiality since it helps a lot in building the trust
between both sides. Through process of providing informed
consent, counsellor provides information about the process of
helping and secures the client agreement based on it. This is to
ensure a smooth process of helping.

Termination is a natural and appropriate way to end a

relationship. Be aware of your own feelings surrounding the
termination process. It is normal to feel many emotions when
ending a relationship with your clients. It is important for
counsellor to help clients find ways to encourage their growth
and self development after the session has ended.
 REFERENCES
1. Barnett, J. E. (2015, March). Informed consent in clinical practice: The basics and beyond. Retrieved
from
[Link]
nd
2. Barnett, J. E. (2016, October). 6 strategies for ethical termination of psychotherapy: And for avoiding
abandonment. Retrieved from:
[Link]
3. Davis, D. D. (2008). Terminating therapy: A professional guide to ending on a positive note. Hoboken,
NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
4. Day, R.W. & Sparacio, T. R. (1980). Structuring The Counseling Process. The Personnel and Guidance
Journal, Vol. 52, Issue 4. 246-249.
5. Martin, A. (2017, July 6). Maintaining Patient Confidentiality. Retrieved November 10, 2020, from
[Link]
6. Nelson-Jones, R. (2008). Basic counselling skills: A helper's manual. Los Angeles, CA, United States:
Sage Publications.
Terima Kasih |
Thank You