Counseling
Core counseling skills
The alliance predicts outcome. Motivational interviewing uses OARS (open questions, affirmations, reflections, summaries), elicits change talk, and rolls with sustain talk rather than arguing. Stage of change guides strategy: precontemplation (raise awareness), contemplation (explore ambivalence), preparation (plan), action (skills), maintenance (relapse prevention). CBT addresses triggers, cravings, and thinking errors; relapse-prevention work identifies high-risk situations and coping plans. Group and family work add accountability and system change.
Traps
Questions reward advice-giving, confrontation, and “tough love” as if they were evidence-based. Arguing with a client about whether they have a problem typically strengthens resistance. Watch for imposing values, over-self-disclosure, dual relationships, and ignoring co-occurring disorders or medication-assisted treatment.
Worked example
Client: “I only drink on weekends; my wife is overreacting.” A weak response is “You need to admit you're an alcoholic.” A stronger response reflects and evokes: “Your wife sees it differently, and that's frustrating. What would need to happen for you to consider that your drinking might be causing problems?”
Rule of thumb
Reflect more than you question, and let the client argue for change, not against it.