MODULE TWO: COUNSELLING - FHI 360 Center for Global Health ...

SESSION 2
Self-Awareness
CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVES
This session makes participants more aware of their own values and prejudices
and how others view them. This self-awareness will help open them up to the
counselling skills that they will learn in the rest of the module.
OBJECTIVES:
By the end of this session participants will have…
1. Defined the concept of “self-awareness” and discussed its importance for
counsellors
2. Reflected on how their own family values might affect their work as AIDS
Hotline counsellors
3. Examined their own attitudes relating to HIV/AIDS
4. Defined “prejudice” and explored how it might impact their relationship with
callers
SESSION NOTES
CONCEPT OF SELF-AWARENESS
The concept « self-awareness » means more than simply being aware of oneself.
It has three components:
• Being aware of one’s own feelings, thoughts, attitudes, beliefs, values
and reactions and how these can help or hinder counselling ;
• Acknowledging and appreciating the client’s feelings, thoughts,
attitudes, beliefs, values and reactions and how these help or hinder
their ability to address their current concerns ;
• Monitoring and enhancing one’s own development as a counsellor and
addressing issues related to counselling performance.
Counsellors who are self-aware are in a better position to focus on clients and
respond to their needs than those who are not self-aware.
Session 2 – Pg.1