Victim counseling Useful Techniques

1. Victim counseling Useful Techniques John P. J. Dussich, Ph. D. Tokiwa International Victimology Institute “Victimology & Victim Assistance” LPSK Bogor, Indonesia March 26, 2013

2. General Definitions • Counseling is an activity between a client and a counselor that addresses some agreed upon client issues, facilitated by the counselor , where both notice progress being made toward a goal. • This activity may involve a formal agreement so that specific issues are explored, understood, and plans are made with the intent to take actions to resolve the client’s issues. • This counseling activity is a process whereby the general objective is to enable a client to become more independent, empowered and happier .

3. Victim Conseling • The challenge of victim counseling is to apply the general principles of counseling to the unique and usually intense plight of victims. • Because victims have experienced some form of loss and/or pain, the conditions addressed in victim counseling are serious, urgent and compelling. • Therefore, victim counseling usually involves some tailored technique to help the victim cope with their continuous suffering which the client wants resolved as soon as possible.

4. The Venue and Conditions for Victim Counseling • One important concern with victim counseling is to ensure that the victim is safe. Telephones should be turned off and instructions left with other staff, that the session should be protected from all interruptions. The victim should be made as comfortable as possible: with note pads, tissue paper and water available. The client and the counselor should be facing one another on a even plane and as far apart according to cultural expectations. Lighting should be subdued, indirect and adequate. If the victim is anxious about being alone with the counselor, (for whatever reason), a trusted person may to asked to be present in the outer office . In some cases the counselor may need to be changed.

5. The Heart of Counseling • For all models of counseling the requirements of a good counselor are: empathy, genuineness, and acceptance. • The techniques of counseling are often used to facilitate a client’s comprehension of their own communication problems and explore how to cope with them. • Good counseling is a partnership between a client and a counselor that works toward the exchange of attitudes and feelings to help discover disconnects, misconceptions & possible solutions to problems.

6. The Goals of Counseling • To achieve a better sense of safety. • To develop trust with the client. • To create an open honest communication. • To accomplish joint progress. • To offer psycho-social support. • To help discover useful resources. • To encourage decision making-empowerment. • To promote an enhanced self-esteem. • To help reduce symptoms. • To obtain understanding of their issues.

7. The First Phase • Before all else, the early interaction in a counseling session must always be to establish trust (rapport) between client and counselor. This is accomplished by the counselor to naturally “mirror” the client – that is to “become” that person in body movements, breathing rate, speech style, rhythm, content, and emotion. It also involves being non-judgmental, focusing on expectations of a positive future, and display respect at all times.

8. The Second Phase • Once rapport is established, the counselor must begin to gently inquire about the nature of the problem and begin to collect information so as to arrive at an assessment of the client. • This phase should be entered with great caution as usually entering into discussion of problems will likely be accompanies by negative (and even very painful) emotions especially if talking about a victimization. Thus, these discussions could trigger avoidance responses and thereby hinder the open flow of communication. Ideally, this phase should be done slowly; and, as soon as a painful areas is touched on, ask permission to go further. If the client is in distress, withdraw from this topic for the time being and change the subject to something that is comfortable. At this phase, details are best avoided and instead keep the conversation general so as to obtain a preliminary “photo” of the problem.

9. The Third Phase • As the problem assessment comes to a close, there should be a vague and gentle transition to begin discussing possible coping options to deal with these various problems. Ideally the counselor and client should agree on a prioritization of which problems might be addressed first. When there is general agreement which problem to address first, then suggest a simple 3-step partner method of 1st identifying the missing resources, 2nd proposing strategies to get those resources, and 3rd clarifying how to recognize when the solution is achieved. Then apply this approach to all the problems agreed to for this session.

10. The Final Phase • Complete the counseling session with laudatory comments about how well the client did and how optimistic the outlook is for the resolution of other issues, especially since the method is understood. It is also important to reinforce the idea that the client is stronger and “seems” to have the ability to explore on his/her own. Ask if it okay to do some light “homework” for a possible next session. If the problems appear resolved, then try to arrive at an agreement as to a follow-up phone call or session.

11. Follow-up • After the final session is completed to the satisfaction of both counselor and client, there should be an understanding that if there are relapses (which are not expected) the counselor is always available for a telephone conversation or another support session. If the client does not call or revisit within a week, then a follow-up call should be made “to confirm that all is well.” Another follow-up call should be made after two weeks, after on month and finally after six months. At each follow-up call, use a short check-list to cover the main problems covered in the initial session and make suggestions as appropriate. • Remember, whenever symptoms persist or it is obvious that some issues are beyond the reach of a counselor, a referral to a licensed psychotherapist must be made.

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