| |
New
Hope Case Discussion
Dr. Bill Gaultiere
Here is
a New Hope Online transcript in which the counselor, Dr. Ken
France, offers some effective brainstorming with a depressed
chatter. Brainstorming is a very important technique for New
Hope counselors to use in order to help callers/chatters develop
a goal or action plan for dealing with their problem.
This conversation
goes quite well and needs no commentary from me. Let me just
highlight four things about brainstorming for you to notice:
- Reflect
feelings. The counselor begins by drawing out and reflecting
the chatters feelings. This is the most important part of
New Hope counseling! More time couldíve been spent on this
at the outset perhaps before beginning brainstorming, but
he does get back to doing quite a bit more of this as the
conversation goes on.
- Ask
for a specific example of the problem.
He asks for examples of her depression in order to have
something concrete to work on.
- Solicit
possible action steps. During the conversation the counselor
asks open-ended questions that invite exploration of action
steps, like "Is there something else youíd like to
change about yourself?" "How would you like to
be thinking differently?" He is collaborating with
her on her level. Even when she tries to get advice
from him he steers clear of that and instead continues to
solicit input from her.
- Reinforce
positive ideas.
He encourages, and summarizes the chatterís ideas for positive
steps to take. Itís humbling, but the best insights and
ideas for change usually come from the caller/chatter not
us as counselors.
Your question
was: How can I make my self be happy and normal?
Counselor: Hello, welcome to New Hope Online. What can I help
you with today?
Chatter: I need help getting out of this depression
Counselor: Right now you are feeling low?
Chatter: really low
Counselor: And you are ready to stop feeling that way.
Chatter: yes definately
Counselor: What are some things going on that might be contributing
to feeling down?
Chatter: life itself nothing ever goes right
Counselor: It sounds like you have had some disappointments.
Chatter: all the time I feel like God forgot I was here.
Counselor: So you would like to feel closer to God than you
have been feeling recently.
Chatter: yes, I want what everyone else has.
Counselor: Would you like to talk about some example of what
you would like to have happening?
Chatter: I want to be happy and I want people to like me for
being me. I 'm tired of people talking about me when they don't
know me,. I want a friend to do things with
Counselor: You've been troubled by how others have been acting.
Chatter: yes, I've been a loner all my life, not by choice
Counselor: So you would like to interact more with others.
Chatter: yes
Counselor: Some relationships have not worked out for you. Have
there been some that were positive?
Chatter: 1 my husband loves me very much I know there are people
who like me but I never really know for sure if they like there
is a little voice telling i'm not worth it.
Counselor: So your husband is one vital relationship that you
have, With others, though, there sometimes are doubts.
Chatter: yes, I allow my self to get close then some bad happens
Counselor: Is there something bad that has happened recently?
Chatter: some one turned me in to DCFS for neglect of my girls
and anyone who knows me knows that my girls are my life everything
I do is for them
Counselor: So being reported was quite a shock for you.
Chatter: I can't handle stuff like this at all
Counselor: What is happening now with regard to DCFS?
Chatter: hopefully will be unfounded he saw my girls and didn't
see what was reported he will be here tomorrow
Counselor: So things are going well to this point, but the investigation
is continuing.
Chatter: yes
Counselor: Well, being in the midst of that kind of process
certainly can be stressful, even if it is going well.
Chatter: yes that is why I have trouble having friends
Counselor: Tell me a little more about the sort of trouble you
believe you have.
Chatter: I think it is more me then anything I don't know how
to explain it,.
Counselor: OK, In addition to not feeling down, are there other
things about yourself you would like to change?
Chatter: my thought pattern
Counselor: How would you like to be thinking differently?
Chatter: keep from say I can't, I should and not blaming other
people from my problems
Counselor: So you would like to be willing to try things, to
not be too hard on yourself, and to give others the benefit
of the doubt.
Chatter: yes
Counselor: So, would doing those three things be relevant to
working on feeling less depressed?
Chatter: yes, just talking to you I feel better
Counselor: Good. By interacting with me you are doing something
new by talking to me (since we have never talked before).
Chatter: true this is usually not me I had just ran accross
this today we have a new hope meeting evy mon nite
Counselor: Would it also be appropriate to be less hard on yourself
about something?
Chatter: yes what?
Counselor: Since all I know about you is what we have exchanged
today, maybe you could pick something on which you could be
less critical of yourself, Does something come to mind?
Chatter: give me some ides brain dead at the moment, i'm talking
to you and my kids at the same time
Counselor: That's OK. Maybe you could have that as something
to think about -- selecting something on which to lighten up
on with regard to being hard on yourself.
Chatter: I know it sounds kinda of corny but "I"M SPECIAL TOO!!"
Counselor: Sure you are, So you might give yourself some credit.
Chatter: I think I need to pound that in my brain
Counselor: OK. Is there are phrase you might like to remember?
It could me "I'm special too!" or it could be something else.
Chatter: Im special human and i'm worth it.
Counselor: Nice.
Chatter: If I could boast my self confedienc I would feel better,
i know i would
Counselor: OK. You are special. You are worth it.
Chatter: got any ideas
Counselor: What are some things you do well?
Chatter: taking care of my kids and I've been told I pray really
well I really don't know because I really don't know who me
is?, it's like she went on vacation and this mother came out
Counselor:
But you have choices. You can work on being the good mom that
you are. And you can pray.
Chatter: boy you are good. you have definatly made my day brighter
Counselor: I'm glad, Let's review a little (give me a minute).
Chatter: why can't I think of things like that whn I'm in one
of these modes
Counselor: Well it's hard to think straight when you're feeling
down.
Chatter: I will have to remember his site in the future I really
need to go I need to feed my kids I hope to talk to you again
real soon
Counselor: OK. You said you want to do three things: (1) try
new things (like talking to me), (2) give yourself a break ("I'm
special. I'm worth it."), (3) give others the benefit of the
doubt, I wish you the best.
Chatter: thanks and God blees you
Counselor: God loves you and so do we.
Chatter: see ya later
Counselor: bye
|
|
