Volume_5_Issue_1_Digest

3 TPC Digest Given that much therapeutic work is dedicated to helping clients express their deepest feelings, a goal that is also emphasized in many counseling theories, it is surprising that counselors who have cried in session have received little attention in the counseling literature. The counseling relationship is often a re- creation of the conflict that the client seeks to understand, as the counselor attempts to create a corrective emotional experience for the client. The purpose of this study was to enhance counselors’ self- awareness of the relationship between emotional behavior and perceptions of crying in session, as well as to aid counseling supervisors and educators who train counselors in promoting self-awareness and appropriate self-disclosure. Furthermore, it is hoped that this study will create a much-needed dialogue among counselors and other helping professionals on the impact of tears as an appropriate form of self-disclosure with a client. Miles Matise, NCC, is an Assistant Professor at Troy University. Correspondence can be addressed to Miles Matise, 81 Beal Pkwy SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547, mmatise@troy.edu . Individuals in helping professions, such as counselors, are faced with a variety of emotionally charged situations. These situations might be at times uncomfortable and unpleasant for the counselor and, as a result, influence behavior during a session. When a counselor has an emotionally charged response to the client, feelings can intensify, resulting in a spontaneous reaction, even to the point of crying. A 2003 study by Curtis, Matise, and Glass suggested that crying with clients could be a genuine expression of emotions and could facilitate the therapeutic relationship. Whether or not it is helpful to the client for the counselor to cry with him or her depends on certain factors, such as the intensity and timing of the counselor’s tears. Corey (2001) has suggested that hiding behind technical expertise and excluding one’s genuineness from the relationship may not create the most therapeutic environment. To be authentic in session may be to cry with a client or it may not, even if the emotional expression is intentionally held back. A mindful counselor can be more aware of thought patterns taking place and stop reacting to certain stimuli, such as a client’s emotionally charged reaction. By not reacting, a counselor can make a wise choice as to the most appropriate response for a given situation. In addition, when self-disclosure is appropriate, the counselor may share a segment from his or her own life with the client for the purpose of either reassuring or challenging the client’s experience. Yet the focus in this situation must be on the client and not the counselor. Empathy is the active attention toward the feelings of others, and is considered a significant way to enhance and deepen the therapeutic relationship. Read full article and references: Matise, M. (2015). An exploration of the personal experiences and effects of counselors’ crying in session. The Professional Counselor , 5 , 28–38. doi:10.15241/mm.5.1.28 An Exploration of the Personal Experiences and Effects of Counselors’ Crying in Session Miles Matise