Momentum - Business to Business Online Magazine MOMENTUM January 2020 | Page 32
SELF HELP
OLAN J. LATIN. MA, LPC
Insight Life Counseling
17625 El Camino Real, Suite 220
Webster, Texas 77058
832-846-6206 | [email protected]
Good Therapists and
Good Leaders Share
Similar Qualities
I
t may seem overly simplistic, but what constitutes
a leader is the ability to lead. This means that the
individual is a leader, not a follower. Leaders are
able to make decisions that may be unpopular for
the greater good of a group or the individual, and
will stick with that decision if it is for the best. A leader
is not easily influenced by others, rather they have
the influence. Leaders have power, but should not be
abusive of that power.
I believe that some of the same attributes that make
a good therapist or
counselor, make a
good leader. Having
honesty and great
communication
skills are paramount
for any successful
leader or therapist.
A positive attitude,
a committed
attitude, and the
ability to inspire are
tantamount to any
great leader. Much
like a leader, an
effective therapist
must have values that
he or she are clear
about, while at the
same time remaining
objective when working with values that are different
from their own.
In therapy, a leadership style that always places the
client first will increase the effectiveness and quality of
the sessions, and will ultimately create positive change
in the life of the client. Leaders and therapists have the
ability to alter the behaviors and attitudes of individuals
by giving them the insight to make real change and take
ownership of the decisions they make.
Therapists must lead in a way that is based on ethical
principles. Such principles are based on promoting the
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welfare and protecting the rights of others, doing no
harm, and acting faithfully and responsibly with integrity
and fairness. In addition, clients must be empowered to
feel like a partner in the therapeutic process as opposed
to feeling like the therapist is supposed to dictate
everything to them. Forming a partnership with clients
can make them feel more personal responsibility and
accountability to their lives. Clients will feel that they
are having a say in the therapeutic process as it goes at
a pace that is comfortable for them. These actions will
lead to better results
as clients will not
feel as everything is
imposed on them by
the therapist.
Good therapists
and good leaders
should live their
lives by being good
examples for the
individuals they
lead. A therapist
can be a positive
influence on clients
by displaying
behaviors they
can model and by
living what can be
deemed a drama
free lifestyle.
A good therapist and a good leader will always
strive to do the right thing for the people they lead. A
common fear that some therapists have is the worry
that they will possess too much control over the way a
client thinks. Such potential pitfalls can be avoided by
informing clients that the client will be responsible for
all of their decision making in therapy because it will
be a collaborative effort. As a result, the effective leader
or therapist will instill the confidence and abilities into
those they are duty-bound to protect so that they can
eventually lead themselves.