NCJ Number
57231
Journal
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 22 Issue: 3 Dated: (1978) Pages: 231-237
Date Published
1978
Length
7 pages
Annotation
THE NEED FOR CORRECTIONAL COUNSELORS TO SHARE ASPECTS OF THEIR OWN FEELINGS AND EXPERIENCES WITH CLIENTS IS DISCUSSED.
Abstract
OFFENDERS WHO PARTICIPATE IN COUNSELING AS A CONDITION OF PROBATION OR PAROLE ARE LIKELY TO ATTACH TO THERAPISTS THE SAME STEREOTYPE ACCORDED ALL AUTHORITY FIGURES. SUCH STEREOTYPING--THE CLIENT AS THE MISUNDERSTOOD VICTIM AND THE THERAPIST AS THE UNFEELING OR AUTHORITARIAN OPPRESSOR--CREATES A DEGREE OF CERTAINTY IN THE OFFENDER'S OTHERWISE AMBIGUOUS WORLD. COUNSELORS MAY INDEED DESERVE THE STEREOTYPE, OR MAY UNCONSCIOUSLY LIVE OUT THE PREJUDICES PROJECTED ON THEM BY CLIENTS. TO OVERCOME THIS OBSTACLE TO EFFECTIVE THERAPY, COUNSELORS MUST ENGAGE IN A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF SELF-DISCLOSURE. THEY MUST BE WILLING TO REVEAL THEMSELVES TO THEIR CLIENTS AS HUMAN BEINGS RATHER THAN SOCIAL FUNCTIONARIES. THIS MEANS SHARING WITH CLIENTS, IN A CAREFULLY TIMED AND REASONED MANNER, ASPECTS OF THE COUNSELOR'S LIFE, FUTURE DIRECTIONS, PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY, AND IDEALS. IT ALSO MEANS RESPONDING HONESTLY TO THE CLIENT'S BEHAVIOR. THE MORE COUNSELORS MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THEIR CONCERNS GO BEYOND THEIR JOB DESCRIPTIONS, THE MORE LIKELY CLIENTS' STEREOTYPES ARE TO DISSOLVE. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO REMAIN EMOTIONALLY NEUTRAL WITH CLIENTS WHO ARE DESPARATELY IN NEED OF HONEST COMMUNICATION. ALL CLIENTS NEED THERAPISTS WHO ARE COMPETENT--PROFESSIONAL, OBJECTIVE, SENSITIVE. CRIMINAL JUSTICE CLIENTS ALSO NEED THERAPISTS WHO POSSESS AND DEMONSTRATE EMOTIONAL INTEGRITY. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (LKM)