Personal Reflection Notes Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of “Intentional Interviewing and Counseling” emphasized the importance of empathy, as well as nonverbal communication with regard to counseling. The most prominent notion to me was the integral of genuine empathy in construction of therapeutic alliances.When I learnt that empathy is not only about getting the emotions of the client but also using an appropriate validating manner pre-shaped my view on communication. Moreover, the chapter underscored the importance of nonverbal communication demonstrating its powerful impact on counseling interaction. This realization made me more conscious of my own as well as clients’ nonverbal behavior and facilitated creation of such an environment filled with confidence. Basically, developing empathy and focusing on nonverbal cues became essential qualities of counseling.