How to Coach Yourself and Others Empowering Coaching And Crisis Interventions | Page 99

This book is in B&W, not color - Print page in Grayscale for Correct view! Making behavioural changes Goal Setting Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goals. (Anonymous) Goal setting is a counselling process that helps clients define in precise, measurable terms what they hope to achieve from the work of counselling. Two types of goals are outcome goals and process or task goals (Shebib, 1997; Jacobs, Masson & Harvill, 1998). Outcome goals relate to what the client hopes to achieve from counselling. These goals have to do with changes in the client’s life, such as getting a job, improving communication with a spouse, dealing with painful feelings, or managing self-defeating thoughts. Process goals concern the procedures of counselling, including such variables as the frequency of meetings and the nature of the counselling relationship. Process goals are strategies for reaching outcome goals. In practice there may be some overlap between process and outcome goals. For example, a process goal might be to develop trust in the counselling relationship. Success in achieving this process goal might assist the client in achieving an outcome goal targeted at improving communication with family and friends. There is wide support in the counselling literature for the importance of setting goals (Egan, 1998; Young, 1998). Goal setting serves many important purposes, including giving direction, defining roles, motivating, and measuring progress. Giving Direction Goals help to give direction, purpose, and structure to the work of counselling. Moreover, goals help counsellors and clients decide which topics and activities are relevant. In addition, when clients are clear about their goals, they can begin to structure their thinking and action toward their attainment. Finally, setting goals helps clients make reasoned choices about what they want to do with their lives. Goal setting helps clients prioritize these choices. Defining Roles Goals provide a basis for defining roles. When goals are clear, counsellors know which skills and techniques are appropriate, and clients know what is expected of them. Moreover, when counsellors know the goal of the work they can make intelligent decisions regarding whether they have the skills, capacity, and time to work with the client. If not, they may make a referral. Motivating Goals motivate clients. Setting and reaching goals is also therapeutic. It energizes clients and helps them develop optimism and self-confidence about change. Goal achievement confirms personal capacity and further promotes action. Writing down goals may add an extra measure of motivation. Measuring Progress Goals help provide benchmarks of progress, including defining when the counselling relationship should end— that is, when the goals have been reached or their pursuit is no longer viable. Developing Effective Goal Statements Sometimes clients are able to clearly articulate what they hope to achieve as a result of counselling. At other times they have difficulty identifying their goals; however, through systematic interviewing counsellors can help these clients define and target their goals. In addition, counsellors can use their knowledge base to develop For [email protected] Property of Bookemon, do NOT distribute 99