Report: Personal and Professional Development in Counselling

This report provides a comprehensive overview of personal and professional development from the perspective of a trainee counsellor. It begins with an introduction emphasizing the importance of growth and learning, particularly in a diverse work environment. The report delves into a process report, critically reflecting on the trainee's experiences with actual clients, highlighting the significance of skills like communication and time management. The Gibbs reflective cycle is used to analyze the trainee's learning journey, covering descriptions, feelings, evaluations, conclusions, and action plans. The report emphasizes the importance of understanding diversity, empathy, and continuous learning in the field of counselling. It examines how the trainee applies theoretical knowledge to practical scenarios and addresses challenges related to client interactions. The document also references the BACP Ethical Framework and concludes with a focus on applying learned skills in daily practice to improve client satisfaction.

Personal and Professional
Development

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
PROCESS REPORT........................................................................................................................1
Critically reflection of personal development as trainee counsellor in placement with actual
client............................................................................................................................................1
LEARNING JOURNAL..................................................................................................................5
Examining personal and professional development experience and couselling practice............5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFRENCES...................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Personal and professional development would be very much important which enable
personal in every field to grow giving them chance to include their learning and skills. All the
individuals who are working are coming from various background and having different skills and
qualifications (Reflections on Diversity, 2018). This is said to having diversity within workplace
which would be considered too as both hindrance and beneficial for personal and professional
development of those individuals. In this current practitioner pathway which is divided into two
parts namely process report and learning journals. In first part focus will be on reflection as
trainee counsellor on personal and professional development of individual. Then in second part
which is covering reflective dialogue and academic knowledge with experience and that related
to counselling practice. For the reflective writing purpose Gibbs model of reflection would be
used which is helping in simplifying writing.
PROCESS REPORT
Critically reflection of personal development as trainee counsellor in placement with actual
client.
Personal and professional development is the process of growth and learning on
individual and professional or working level. Through this way out organisation and employee
would be engaging in process of learning so that they are able to meet challenges and desire goal.
This process is clearly based on need and want of individual and also of company especially that
related to achieving goals (Knight, Sperlinger and Maltby, 2010). There are many skills related
to leadership and management like that of managing of time and working, conducting meetings
with clients and presentations. Other than these there are also many factors which are impacting
personal development of person and leading to their growth.
As the trainee counsellor it is important for me to get complete training on personal and
psychological problems which others are facing on daily bases. It becomes vital and essential for
me that I’m getting complete training within this field so that I could be able to give good and
correct advice to people having personal issues (Kumari 2011). This is the profession which is
preferred by me which help me to understand what are problem faced by people or my clients
and how could I solve it. There are many diversity within this industry which helps in
identification and then reflection on this diversity. There must be link and connection between
personal and professional goals which individual and company or organisation is formulating.
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This topic as per my perception is more difficult and complex to learn and study on as my
thoughts and ideas should be going beyond the basic and major challenges of diversity. The basic
challenge would be including like that of gender, race, religion and disability. But other than
these all stated which covering into deeper context of diversity like those is related to
personalities, belief, experience and reactions to certain situations or conditions.
If I need to provide complete and empathically treatment of their issues and
understanding them so that correct form of service would be provided to client (McLeod and
John, 2014). So if I’m not been able to identify this diversity I could be able to give them proper
service to them. In this way I could be able to give my opinion and thoughts without being bias
with any one client if they are related to my background only. It will also become easy for me to
impose my feeling and thoughts particularly on that time when I and the client have experienced
the same situation.
This is very much normal and common on part of humans that we are intended to look
for similarities and difference between our and other life. This thing includes as basis for
socialisation or homophily which is summarised as tendency or nature of human beings to link
and make relationship with people who are of similar nature or background. It could also be
included that counsellors it is my duty and responsibility to identify whether been in this
diversity is different of it is normal. I have analysed that it becomes important for me to work on
with specified and diversities and not taking it in wrong sense or being threatened or nerves with
it.
If I’m not been able to identify the cause and problems of working with diversity of
people coming from various background then this means that I’m laying down condition on
myself or limiting my personal and professional development (Sanfelippo and Sinanis, 2015). So
the counsellor should not be placing their any kind of condition on their client that they must
including all types of clients regarding just their problems. As in profession where I’m working
or getting training is person centred sector having its major operation and focus on client and
their issues. It would be good for me to understand how the members of group of my profession
are been interpreting the concept of diversity.
There are many diversity which people are facing in their day to day life from the effect
of which they would be feeling left out or discriminated. This could be causing my clients with
having issues and difficulties so I should be properly trained in order to handle their problems
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and issues. I could be using my own experience in order to establish proper relationship with my
clients and resolving their problems or difference. During this time when I was getting training
on how to greet, handle, resolve or give suggestion to clients who are coming to me (Throop and
Castellucci, 2010). Firstly I have learnt that being in this profession of counselling it becomes
important for me to learn how to empathically deal with people and clients. It should be taken as
per me sense that I’m learning and then implementing all skills and knowledge which I have
gained. All knowledge and learning then needs to be applied in my daily dealing with clients
need to be shared to me by supervisors who are teaching me.
All things, skills and knowledge which I have learned as trainee in counselling field
would be like that of:
Communication skills- this is the most important ability which is used by any counsellor on daily
or regular bases as they need to link or communicate with clients. It is required that I should be
having very good communication skills which would be helping me to know what problem my
client is having and how I could resolve it (Jones and Hood, 2010). This particular ability which
is regarded to as most important one is required in almost every profession but in counselling this
is most vital.
Learning skills- this should also be growing into myself as I would be learning or gaining
knowledge regarding all clients who are coming to me. It is essential that I’m able to learn from
their experience and gaining correct lesson from their problems.
Knowledge- this is also part of my profession which is including increasing the base of
knowledge or skill which I’m having so that I could be able to grow in my profession. It is
important that in my profession as counsellor should be grown and developed and this would be
possible that I’ able to take knowledge (Palloff and Pratt, 2011). I also came to know about
diversity and how much it is necessary in my profession or as trainee counsellor.
Time management- on daily bases it is necessary that I’m able to manage my work on timely
bases so that I could be completing all work. In future when I would be professionally working
as counsellor I need to examine many and different type of clients on daily bases. So it is
important that I’m knowing how I could manage my time by examining all of them quickly but
by providing them best form of service.
Personal growth- through this training it become easy for me to grow not only based on
profession but it is important that there is also my personal growth. As trainee counsellor I have
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learnt that personal growth is also equally essential like that of professional one. I could be
gaining immense knowledge on how to handle people who are coming to me in regard to
resolving their issues. I would be knowing that how diversity is effecting people and why they
are in need for counselling (Shagrir, 2010). As there are increasing results of people coming or
taking counselling due to their issues and problems which they are facing in day to day life. In
today’s world there is very much increasing cases of depression and suicide within people who
are fighting with their personal or professional issues and not been able to cope up with them. So
they then feel the need and importance of a professional counsellor who they think must be
helping them.
This process report will be focusing on written meta- account of the communication and
techniques that are normally used by therapist within the therapeutic encounter. Thus it will be
focusing on reflecting on the transcript of segment of record sessions. In the BACP Ethical
Framework all the members will be committing to comply with this framework as part of their
team and conditions of membership. Thus the clients will be able to freely participate freely as
they work with practitioners of counselling professions towards their desired goals.
In this way I could be able to apply Gibbs model which is telling me what I have learnt
and what is that area which need growth within me.
Figure 1: Gibbs reflective cycle
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[Source: Reflective writing: About Gibbs reflective cycle, 2018 ]
Description- it was during my practice sessions or while I was under training with some
professional counsellor in field I gained knowledge in regard to my profession. It was important
for me that I could be having basic understanding of emotions and reactions of people so that I’m
gaining knowledge. During my training I have learnt so many things like that of emotions and
sensitive feelings of human why they are behaving in particular way. What are the need and want
of human at time when they are mentally or emotionally disturbed how could counselling help
them.
Feelings- I felt that there are so many things which I need to learn in many different, innovative
and simple ways. Into my profession as counsellor it becomes quite important that whatever I
have learnt is been applied in good and proper manner.
Evaluation- I found out that knowledge and skills which I was having before I joined my career
was very much limited (Arnold, Friedrichsen and Nishiyama, 2013). So for my profession it is
required that I’m having more in depth knowledge and understanding of behaviour of human
way they are behaving in specified manner. I would be learning about does diversity help in
emotions and feeling or activities of humans. As per my evaluation it is important to note what
profession the client is having and how this could is affecting them.
Conclusion- then in overall sense it need to be concluded that I should be including all what I
have learnt or what I would be learning in coming few years in my daily practice. So with the
help of this whole learning and understanding it becomes clear that I’m applying in my daily
working and managing people.
Action- now at the time when I have completely done my learning and understanding of how
counselling is helping people or clients to deal with their daily problems. It is required that I’m
applying all my learning and skills increasing into daily and regular practise as trainee counsellor
or as professional (Leong, Phillips and Dickson, 2014). There are many things which I could be
including or applying on regular bases so that clients whom treatment is going on are satisfied
with me and my working.
LEARNING JOURNAL
Examining personal and professional development experience and couselling practice.
During the time when I was gaining professional and personal development with the help
of various counselling practice laid down on regular bases it was clear that I have chosen the
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correct career. This profession would be helping me and giving very good knowledge of how
people are facing many issues and problems in their everyday life and how I’m capable of
resolving them all. Counselling is defined to as that profession which is focusing on relieving
burden and stress of people who are suffering from pressure of work or not able to create healthy
environment (Murphy and et.al., 2015). Thus counsellors should be having proper skills and
knowledge of creating proper and accurate skills so that they would be handling people and
resolving issues that are there.
If I’m able to give counselling within organisation so this would be helping both
management and employees so that they are tackling their daily issues and stress as well. In
order to get proper personal and professional development I should be having experience of my
counselling practice. Experience is the vital and important part of counselling profession which
must be helping all counsellors in dealing with issues and problems of people. Counselling
practice would be meaning that I’m putting my work on regular way checking my appointments
and meetings with my clients. Managing and operating my work them so that no client is getting
delayed in service (Ruddy Thomas-Hemak and Meade, 2015). The quality of service which I
should be providing must be very good and correct as per my client’s need and their problem so
that I’m getting positive feedback from them.
Clients who are regular one must be given better service so that they are satisfied with my
guidance and advice. Quality of service is the most important element in all professions or for
those who are giving products with the help of which their customer base is strong. With the help
of my good counselling skills I could be able to do my work and even multitasking could be
included. This is that skill which is enabling professional to do more than one work at particular
time period it is seen in recent study that there are many interruptions on regular bases. These
interruptions would be including like that of phone calls or other any event which is not allowing
them to do their work on timely bases.
It was seen that I could also be increasing my leadership skills as well that would be
helping me to grow on bases of quality and ability. This is then enabling me to guide and
regulate others who in future would be coming under me to learn from. In this way I could be
teaching people who are new to this profession they would be able to learn from me so that they
are gaining knowledge (Tingle, Hazlett and Flint, 2016). In this way I could be able to gain
overall development in form of professional and personal sense so that my skills in relation to
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my workplace are improved. There are many things which I should focus on while learning and
understanding my profession and what is the area that is required to have my development. In
this context it is required that I’m preparing my Professional Development Plan (PDP) which is
helping me in identifying the area where development is needed and what I’m having good.
Like in this above table which is telling my Professional Development Plan (PDP) tells
that my information technology skills are very good while in communication skills training are
required (Zakarevičius and Župerkienė, 2015). As it was included that communication is the
most important part of counselling profession without which I could not be able to understand
and resolve the issues of clients. In way of including to enter data related to my clients which
would be requiring Microsoft office it could be important. I’m having required knowledge of this
MS Office so it becomes easy for me to include data of clients and their problems as well.
Other than this internet is most important thing which is required in today’s world of
which I’m having required or efficient knowledge. It is helping me in way that while attending
any client if I’m facing any issue then internet could guide me. At the time of use of manager
software I’m not having preferred skills and knowledge so this is the area which requires training
by my side. I could easily handle my clients and employees if they are working under me then
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I’m capable of handling them. But then also this area would be requiring more training and skills
development so that in future I’m not facing any problems while doing this work.
Strengths
 Always judge people with their practical merits.
 Good technique of allocation of work or delegation of duties to others.
 Excellent listener and solve problem with logical reasoning.
Weaknesses
 Do not take general principle into count which restricts my learning.
 Need to manage my whole schedule and time.
 Often gets irritated.
 Generally observe negative point of argument.
Opportunities
 Can learn many things from boss.
 Career opportunity in future as healthcare practitioner.
Threads
 Poor time management can lead to disorganisation.
All these strength and weakness which is been stated within this above table is according
to me. It is easy for me to identify people with their issue and problems which they are facing
and in my profession there require very active listening skills. Other than these strength there is
also some weakness which would be regarded to as hindrance and not allowing me to do my
work with full efficient and proper manner. Often getting irritated would be creating problems in
my daily working so this should be controlled which is not required into my profession.
CONCLUSION
Towards the end it is concluded that personal and professional development is very much
important so that it is creating growth and development of my career. There are many factors
which are considered during the time of personal and professional development that are
important as well like that of increasing communication skills and learning as well. Counsellor
training is very much vital as they could be able to teach who to tackle clients and their issues or
problems.
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REFRENCES
Books and Journals:
Arnold, B. N., Friedrichsen, L. and Nishiyama, M., 2013, November. Creating your MasterMind:
personal and professional development through mastermind groups. Proceedings of the 41st
annual ACM SIGUCCS conference on User services. pp. 123-126.
Bryce, N., Wilmes, S. E. and Bellino, M., 2016. Inquiry identity and science teacher professional
development. Cultural Studies of Science Education. pp.1-17.
Jones, L. and Hood, P., 2010. Effective time management for improved performance. Industrial
and Commercial Training. 42(7). pp.386 – 388.
Knight, K., Sperlinger, D. and Maltby, M., 2010. Exploring the personal and professional impact
of reflective practice groups: A survey of 18 cohorts from a UK clinical psychology training
course. Clinical psychology & psychotherapy. 17(5). pp. 427-437.
Kumari, N., 2011. Personal therapy as a mandatory requirement for counselling psychologists in
training: A qualitative study of the impact of therapy on trainees’ personal and professional
development. Counselling Psychology Quarterly. 24(3). pp. 211-232.
Leong, J., Phillips, R. and Dickson, T., 2014. Continuing professional development for LIS
professionals: Maximizing potential in an organizational context. KIIT Journal of Library
and Information Management. 1(1). pp.5-14.
McLeod, J. and John, M., 2014. Personal and Professional Development for Counsellors,
Psychotherapists and Mental Health Practitioners. McGraw-Hill Education (UK).
Murphy, C and et.al., 2015. Changing practice: An evaluation of the impact of a nature of
science inquiry-based professional development programme on primary teachers. Cogent
Education. 2(1). pp.1077692.
Palloff, R. M. and Pratt, K., 2011. The excellent online instructor: Strategies for professional
development. John Wiley & Sons.
Ruddy, M. P., Thomas-Hemak, L. and Meade, L., 2015. Practice Transformation: Professional
Development Is Personal. Academic medicine: journal of the Association of American
Medical Colleges.
Sanfelippo, J. and Sinanis, T., 2015. Principal Professional Development: Leading Learning in
the Digital Age. Corwin Press.
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Shagrir, L., 2010. Professional development of novice teacher educators: professional self,
interpersonal relations and teaching skills. Professional development in education. 36(1-2).
pp. 45-60.
Throop, R. K. and Castellucci, M., 2010. Reaching Your Potential: Personal and Professional
Development. Cengage Learning.
Tingle, J. K., Hazlett, D. and Flint, A., 2016. Exploring NIRSA Championship Series
Professional Development Opportunities: Understanding Their Perceived Value to the
Association. Recreational Sports Journal. 40(1). pp.2-20.
Zakarevičius, P. and Župerkienė, E., 2015. Improving the Development of Managers’ Personal
and Professional Skills. Engineering Economics. 60(5).
Online:
Reflections on Diversity. 2018. [Online]. Accessed through:
<https://healthpsychologyconsultancy.wordpress.com/2013/07/12/reflections-on-diversity-of-
a-trainee-counsellor/>.
Reflective writing: About Gibbs reflective cycle. 2018. [Online]. Accessed through:
<https://www.brookes.ac.uk/students/upgrade/study-skills/reflective-writing-gibbs/>.
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