COUN 8533- Professional and Ethical Issues in Counseling Summer 2013

Professional Counseling Disclosure Statement Template

Abiola Stella Oloyede, M.Ed, LPC Office: 678-525-0286 Fax: 912-478-5480 E-mail: abiola-oloyede@georgiasouthern.edu

Qualifications I currently hold a Master of Education in Counseling Education, with a concentration in Clinical/Mental Health Counseling. I received my degree in 2014 from Georgia Southern University. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor. If you would like to know more about me from a professional lens, please feel free to contact Marion C. Pugh, Georgia Southern University, mpugh@georgiasouthern.edu, 404-421-8471 and Dr. Arline Edwards-Joseph, Georgia Southern University, aej@georgiasouthern.edu, 912-478-0502. Theoretical Orientation I ascribe to an eclectic counseling theoretical orientation that is primarily focused on Person-Centered and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy approaches. I believe that human nature is composed of two simple concepts: People want to love and be loved, and people are not dumb; they are just lost. Since I take an eclectic approach to my counseling, I integrate many counseling techniques from other theoretical orientations into my sessions. I have also developed a counseling framework called The Ever Effect. My counseling focuses on ensuring that the therapeutic relationship is ever-learning, ever-encouraging, ever-supportive, and ever-examining for the client. Therefore, there are two main techniques (Empty-Chair and Behavioral Experiments) that are used with clients to help them advance in their pursuit of change. Counseling Philosophy As a counselor, I strive to understand my client (you) as much as possible; every aspect of your personality and life matters to me and the holistic perception of who you really are. I must understand you as a person, exploring what he or she is thinking, and how she is feeling. It is not enough to just hear a vague narrative of the life you have lived. I must be willing to ask questions and pick up on certain tidbits of your stories that delve into who you really are, and I am. Most importantly, I must be willing and exceptional at listening to you, and I will. I believe that the client must feel empowered both in and outside of counseling. The only way the client can feel empowered outside counseling is if the counselor remains congruent, respectful, loving, and willing to help with their growth while in counseling. Thus, my counseling process is not about just the client or just the counselor; it is about us, the counseling unit that is bonding to encourage congruence and stability within the clients psyche. It is important to emphasize that the clients success in the counseling process lies within his or her willingness to be open and communicate with me. The client must be willing to be vulnerable, transparent, and cooperative with the counselor. It is also vital that the client learns how to take charge of the counseling session. By doing so, the client further be able to apply the

COUN 8533- Professional and Ethical Issues in Counseling Summer 2013 same initiative into his or her self-healing and learning in their personal life. As the counselor, I am simply a mirror to reflect the issues, insecurities, and statements that the counselor projects. The counseling environment is present to help facilitate a certain growth and empowerment that is missing in the clients current life. Consequently, the client must clearly define what she wants out of the counseling process. This definition of goals can be at the beginning or at different stages of the counseling process. The outlining of goals is done with multiple reflections about clients progression while in therapy, and is defined collaboratively by the client and counselor. Counseling Background I do not discriminate against any gender, creed, race, etc. However, the predominant population of my clientele is the Young Woman client. I personally pay even closer attention to Young Women of Color, their ages ranging from 18-35 years old. As I stated earlier, I ascribe to an eclectic theoretical framework, but my natural style of counseling is rooted in Person-Centered and CBT therapies. Person-Centered Therapy (PC/PCT) is a psychotherapeutic orientation that was developed to provide clients with an opportunity to develop a positive sense of self so that they can realize how their attitudes, feelings and behavior are being negatively affected by their situation. Also, PCT helps clients make an effort to find their true positive potential with unconditional positive regard coming from the counselor. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy is a psychotherapeutic approach that addresses maladaptive behaviors and cognitive processes, and dysfunctional emotions through goal-oriented cognitive and behavioral techniques. Services that I offer are mainly grounded in techniques: Empty-Chair technique allows the client to have a conversation with someone that they are having conflict with that they may never have the chance to do so in real life. By using two chairs, the therapist asks the client to sit in one chair and be fully the top dog (the aggressor) and then shift to the other chair and become the underdog (passive). I have developed my own two techniques that I use which are rooted in CBT. Parables are short stories that teach a valuable lesson, moral, and/or guiding principle. Parables are used in my counseling to allow the client to see her situation from a different perspective. The counselor changes the names of all the characters involved, alters the problem, and poses a what/how question about the parable to the client. My second technique is Hypotheticals. Hypotheticals are detailed scenario walk-throughs with the client that focus on the what ifs of the clients situation. Usually used for major life decisions, Hypotheticals are intended to allow the client the opportunity to see how the different choices made concerning her situation, life, etc. plays out. This enables the client to better weigh her options about her decision before making one in real life. The goal of Hypotheticals is to grant the client a thorough process of how one decision can alter her life in many ways. I am aware that I am not multi-culturally competent about everything that every client has possibly experienced. My disclaimer is that while it is not guaranteed that I will fully know about a clients culture or background, I will try my best to do my research. I am willing to learn about whatever will help me better understand my client from the client.

COUN 8533- Professional and Ethical Issues in Counseling Summer 2013 Ethical Statement & Values Disclosure Above all, I value the full trust of my clients and my holistic integrity. My personal values align directly with the American Counseling Associations Code of Ethics. Therefore, my paramount personal charge is to do no harm to my clients. It is my promise that I am constantly undergoing personal and professional training to better myself to remain congruent with my clients. I want to my clients to feel assured that they are free to be open and vulnerable within the counseling process. I aim to treat my clients with the utmost dignity and respect that is required of all human beings. I will not belittle or demean any clients situation, choices, etc. I am in the business of empowering and uplifting all who walk into my office seeking counseling. Confidentiality To ensure clients that they are in a safe and therapeutic environment, all of our communication becomes part of my (agencys) clinical records, which is accessible to you upon request. As my client, you are my main concern, and my charge to do no harm is in particular to protecting you and our counseling relationship. I will keep confidential anything you say as part of our counseling relationship, with the following exceptions: (a) you direct me in writing to disclose information to someone else, (b) it is determined you are a danger to yourself or others (including child or elder abuse), or (c) I am ordered by a court to disclose information. I will not hesitate to protect you in the court of law if the situation sees fit, but I will not doing anything that is detrimental to your livelihood or jeopardizes my state licensure. Complaints Although clients are encouraged to discuss any of their concerns with me, I understand that is not always comfortable. So, you may file a complaint against me with the organization below should you feel I am in violation of any of these codes of ethics. Like I stated earlier, I abide by the ACA Code of Ethics and you can further research it at the following website (http://www.counseling.org/Resources/CodeOfEthics/TP/Home/CT2.aspx).