IndexBecoming a ConsultantPersonality Traits of ConsultantsApproaches to ConsultingTransferable Skills in ConsultingConsulting: A Dream Career?According to the Dictionary of Professional Titles, the definition of a consultant is someone who "provides consulting services individual, marital and family for adults and children, to assist clients to identify personal and interactive problems and to achieve effective personal, marital and family development and adjustment” (Counsellor, Marriage and Family, par. 1) A counselor, therefore, is one who seeks reward by truly helping people enrich their lives To gain more insight into the reasons that drove me to become a counselor, I will compare and contrast my personality traits, determine my approach to counseling, identify the. my transferable skills and describe my future in consultancy. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayBecoming a ConsultantWhat drives a person to be interested in the dark side of the human psyche? What makes some people choose to help those who are suffering, hurt, or impaired? They are certainly a "special type" because the average person prefers to minimize the psychological suffering of their peers and avoid extensive contact with problematic individuals (Norcross & Farber., 2005, 939). Many researchers argue that counselors experience more emotional distress in childhood than most people. This increases their awareness of psychological pain in themselves and others and influences their career choice. Other researchers suggest that counseling is attractive to those who believe they are incompetent and ineffective in their lives. This feeling of powerlessness provides the opportunity to exert control and influence over your clients' lives. Finally, researchers believe that many counselors fill their psychological void by choosing the counseling profession (Farber, Manevich, Metzger & Saypol, 2005). My reasons for becoming a counselor are very personal and stem from my caring and compassionate nature that wanted to "pay it forward." Diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 1997 after suffering in silence for 15 years, I regained my sanity and place in society through effective treatment with medications and the assistance of my therapist. Recognizing that many people with mental illness were not as fortunate, I wanted to serve those less fortunate by supporting and empowering people to reach their full potential. Very curious and fascinated by people, I wanted to understand how people think and behave. I also wanted to help them face life's challenges and motivate them to make changes in their lives. Furthermore, I wanted a fulfilling and rewarding career that would enhance my personal development and have a positive impact on society. Personality Traits of Counselors The eight most important qualities in an effective counselor are “psychological health, genuine concern for others, empathic ability, personal warmth, personal power, self-awareness, tolerance of ambiguity, and awareness of values” (Parrott, 2003, p. 25). Other important qualities are a sense of humor, a high level of energy, self-confidence, neutrality, flexibility, analytical thinking, creativity, enthusiasm, compassion and honesty. In addition to these qualities, I believe I have the following personality traits that would make me an effective counselor: I am caring and compassionate, I am patient and understanding, I have strong communication and interpersonal skills,I am culturally aware, tolerant and open-minded, I am ethical, moral and discreet Approaches to Counseling Based on what a client needs, counseling approaches are numerous, ranging from basic active listening to solution-based. Some of these approaches include cognitive, behavioral, psychoanalytic/psychodynamic, Adlerian, person-centered, gestalt, humanistic-existential, and integrative/eclectic (All About Counseling, n.d.). CognitiveThis approach seeks to help the client resolve problems by identifying and modifying dysfunctional thinking, behavior, and emotional responses. This theory focuses on changing subjective perceptions and distorted thoughts by eliminating negative thoughts and distortions. Behavioral This approach emphasizes the idea that behaviors become ingrained through conditioning. Acquired through interaction with the environment, conditioning is associated with learning that occurs through rewards and punishments or stimuli and responses for behaviors. Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic This approach focuses on the belief that human behavior is the result of interactions of unconscious drives and forces on a person. To change problematic behaviors, feelings and thoughts, you need to discover the true meanings and motivations and resolve them. Adlerian This approach focuses on altering impractical and insurmountable perceptions that can lead to self-destructive behavior, disappointment, discouragement, and failure. The goal of this theory is to increase social interest, change self-destructive behavior, and effectively solve problems. Person-Centered This approach focuses on the premise that people are moving towards self-actualization and disconnection from their potential leads to emotional turmoil. Emphasizes and places trust in the client's ability to control their own positive direction. Gestalt This approach emphasizes the present moment, i.e. the “here and now,” and encourages the client to become aware of their feelings and behaviors to take personal responsibility. for feelings. The goal of the theory is to help clients become aware of what is being experienced accurately versus a mere interpretation of events, and to enable them to identify and change thoughts and behaviors. Humanistic/Existential This approach focuses on the idea that everyone is intrinsically good and has the potential to make a contribution to society. This theory emphasizes rational choices, individual free will, personal growth, and the concept of self-actualization. Integrative/Eclectic This approach believes that no theory or counseling approach can incorporate each person's personality. Therefore, it combines elements of different approaches and adapts them to each client's treatment needs. While I appreciate different counseling approaches, I find myself drawn more to the cognitive approach from personal experience with the theory and its application. Transferable Skills in Counseling Transferable skills are the skills and abilities acquired during any activity in a person's life - work, classes, projects, parenting, hobbies, sports, etc. – that carry over and apply to what a person wants to do in a future job. Transferable skills are essential for success in today's competitive marketplace. These are skills that are applicable from job to job and to a variety of work contexts. According to Bolles (2011), these are the skills most used by consultants in his Inventory of Transferable Skills: Writing or communicating Speaking or speaking Teaching or training Observing or investigating Discerning Acting on reactions,.