Beginnings

People often struggle with the in-class practise sessions when it comes to beginning the session with the client. Here's a blog post which discusses some of the things which are often included in a first counselling session. The article also deals with how clients might feel when faced with their first counselling session.

This video demonstrates how one counselling service approach defining boundaries and guiding client's expectations at a first counselling session.

Self-awareness

A simple definition for self awareness: conscious knowledge of one's own character, feelings, motives, and desires.
(Oxford Dictionary).

There are various internet resources which you can use to help you develop increased self-awareness. Here are a few which you might like:

(don't be put of by Rory's facial expression, maybe he's not very self-aware!)

Here's the diagram we used in class to explain how Johari Window works

  

A workbook for you to read more about Johari Window.

Test how self-aware you are with this resource.

A similar off-line version is available here.

Web resources about how to get started in writing a journal.