Presented is a transcript demonstrating the techniques of summary and paraphrasing. Counselors can use this two technique to encourage participation and as a foundation of trust. When clients acknowledge the effort the counselor has placed in listening; a trusting relationship can begin. Paraphrasing provides simpler repetition of what the client shares in a way that promotes continuous conversation and openness. Summarizing gives both the counselor and the client the opportunity to make any correction on anything discussed, as well as it provides the counselor with an overall story.
Transcript:
Client (J.S), 88 years of age, is diagnosed with ovarian cancer and is terminally ill. The prognosis is 4-5 months. The client is alert and oriented to self and place. The client is currently living in a nursing facility. The client spouse (R.S) currently resides close by.
An interview is conducted with client J.S in references to her condition.
Interviewer: Hello Mrs. J. S. my name is Mercedes and I want to thank you for coming today. I see that you look a little bit nervous; are you nervous?
J.S: Yes, I am a bit nervous.
Interviewer: Can you tell me why you are nervous?
J.S: I am afraid. I have a terminal illness, and the doctors are saying I only have about 4-5 months to live. I don’t know what to expect.
Interviewer: I see. Are you saying that you are frightened by the news, and you are concerned about how the process would be?
J.S: Yes, I didn’t think this would happen to me at this age, and for them to tell me that I would die. What about my husband? We have been married for 50 years, what he would do without me?
Interviewer: It sounds like you are overwhelmed by the news and you worry about what would your husband feel. Have you told him about your condition?
J.S: I told him, and he is starting to feel depressed. Although we live separately, he is also scared.
Interviewer: I can see this is hard for you Mrs. J.S. It must be scary to be in this situation and wonder about your husband.
J.S: Yes, it’s very hard, and I love my husband.
Interviewer: Mrs. J.S can you tell me how you are managing your feelings?
J.S: I try to meditate often, and talk to the other people in the nursing facility. I try to attend the daily activities when I feel well enough, but sometimes the medication makes me feel sick, so I stay in bed the rest of the time.
Interviewer: Those are some good ways to keep you going. What else can you do to keep your feelings under control?
J.S: Well, meditation helps a lot. While I am in bed I try to focus on the good times I had with my husband and all the great things I got to do in life. I speak to my husband every day, and we talk about how good life has been.
Interviewer: It seem that are trying to center you mind Mrs. J.S, and you have included your husband in the process.
J.S: Yes, I must say it does help, and those are the times my husband smiles and laugh. For a little while, we forget about my illness.
Interviewer: Mrs. J.S. We have talked about how your prognosis has made you feel afraid, and you are concerned about your husband. The news overwhelmed you, and after you told your husband about the news, he is also being affected. You shared some strategies of how to keep your mind positive; you share with others in the nursing facilities, use meditation when you are on best rest, and share with your husband all the fun you’ve had during this life. You seem to have begun working on finding a balance, and your husband appears to be benefiting from these activities. We will continue to meet and explore more ways in which you can continue to withstand that positive attitude.
Conclusion
Clients can enter a counseling session with doubt and fear. Nonverbal communication can send an alert that the client is feeling differently than their verbal communication. Opening a session recognizing and acknowledging an individual’s nonverbal language can set the path for a more open communication as the client’s recognition of the counselor ability to capture feelings she or he was not consciously displaying gives way to trust in the counselor’s profession. Paraphrasing is an opportunity to make a useful attempt to comprehend what the client is sharing. It also provides an opportunity to make any necessary corrections (Counseling Connection, 2016). Clients at times share too much or too little information, however, with paraphrasing the counselor returns what was shared in their words, avoiding repeating word for word. At the end of a session summarizing what was overall discussed, and then tides together certain elements of the stretched communication, repeating them for the client as precisely as possible. As well as, it provides useful information not only for the counselor but also for the client (Connection, 2016). Summaries are comparable to paraphrasing, however, they are used less and involves additional information. A meeting summary proves the client that the counselor was carefully listening and absorbing, as well as it gives the counselor a complete picture of the clients’ story.
References
Counseling Connection (2016). Encouraging Paraphrasing and Summarizing. Retrieved from
http://www.counsellingconnection.com/index.php/2009/07/21/encouragers-paraphrasing-and-summarising/
