Self-Awareness

The artifact from CNL-515 represents an important part of my growth as a counselor-in-training. Practicing these skills during mock counseling sessions helped me become more aware of how I communicate with clients and how my own thoughts, emotions, and behaviors can influence the counseling relationship. I learned that self-awareness is not simply knowing my strengths and weaknesses; it requires me to consistently reflect on how I show up in the counseling space and how my personal experiences may affect the way I respond to clients.

One area of growth I identified was my ability to actively listen. I became more comfortable using SOLER, maintaining appropriate eye contact, demonstrating an open posture, and using nonverbal behaviors to show that I was engaged. I also learned that empathetic listening requires me to listen beyond the client's words and pay attention to their emotions and underlying concerns. At times, I found myself thinking about what question I should ask next or what I could say to help the client. Becoming aware of this helped me recognize the importance of slowing down, being present, and allowing the client to guide the conversation instead of feeling that I need to immediately provide a solution.

This experience also helped me recognize areas where I need continued growth. I want to become more comfortable with silence, emotional conversations, and situations where I may not immediately know what to say. I have learned that I do not have to have the perfect response to be an effective counselor. Instead, I can demonstrate empathy, remain present, and give clients the space to process their experiences.