Counseling Study Guide
Counseling Army Board Study Guide

Posted Thursday, December 14, 2006

What Field Manual covers counseling?
FM 6-22 Appendix B

What are the characteristics of effective counseling?

1. Purpose: Clearly define the purpose of the counseling.
2. Flexibility: Fit the counseling style to the character of each subordinate and to the relationship desired.
3. Respect: View subordinates as unique, complex individuals, each with a distinct set of values, beliefs, and attitudes.
4. Communication: Establish open, two-way communication with subordinates using spoken language, nonverbal actions, gestures, and body language. Effective counselors listen more than they speak.
5. Support: Encourage subordinates through actions while guiding them through their problems.

What are the three approaches to counseling?

1. Directive
2. Non-directive
3. Combined

Explain the advantages and disadvantages of Directive counseling.

Advantages:

• Quickest method.
• Good for people who need clear, concise direction.
• Allows counselors to actively use their experience.

• Doesn't encourage subordinates to be part of the solution.
• Tends to treat symptoms, not problems.
• Tends to discourage subordinates from talking freely.
• Solution is the counselor's, not the subordinate's.

Explain the advantages and disadvantages of Non-Directive counseling.

Advantages:

• Encourages maturity.
• Encourages open communication.
• Develops personal responsibility.

• More time-consuming
• Requires greatest counselor skill.

Explain the advantages and disadvantages of Combined counseling.

Advantages:

• Moderately quick.
• Encourages maturity.
• Encourages open communication.
• Allows counselors to actively use their experience.

• May take too much time for some situations.

What are the three major categories of developmental counseling?

1. Event counseling
2. Performance counseling
3. Professional growth counseling

What are some examples of Event counseling?

• Instances of superior or substandard performance.
• Reception and Integration Counseling.
• Crisis Counseling
• Referral Counseling
• Promotion Counseling
• Separation Counseling

What areas would you cover in a reception and integration counseling?

• Chain of command familiarization..
• Organizational standards.
• Security and safety issues.
• Noncommissioned officer (NCO) support channel (who is in it and how it is used).
• On- and off-duty conduct.
• Personnel/personal affairs/initial and special clothing issue.
• Organizational history, structure, and mission.
• Soldier programs within the organization, such as Soldier of the Month/Quarter/Year, and educational and training opportunities.
• Off limits and danger areas.
• Functions and locations of support activities.
• On- and off-post recreational, educational, cultural, and historical opportunities.
• Foreign nation or host nation orientation.
• Other areas the individual should be aware of as determined by the leader.

What are the 4 stages of the Counseling Process?

1. Identify the need for counseling.
2. Prepare for counseling.
3. Conduct counseling.
4. Follow up.

What are the steps required to prepare for counseling?

1. Select a suitable place.
2. Schedule the time.
3. Notify the subordinate well in advance.
4. Organize information.
5. Outline the counseling session components.
6. Plan the counseling strategy.
7. Establish the right atmosphere.

A counseling session consists of what 4 basic components?

1. Opening the session.
2. Discussing the issues.
3. Developing the plan of action.
4. Recording and closing the session.

What is counseling?
Counseling is the process used by leaders to review with a subordinate the subordinate’s demonstrated performance and potential.

How many human needs are there?
4 (Physical, Social, Security and Higher (Religious))

What is tact?
A keen sense of what to do or say in order to maintain good relations with others and to avoid offense

What is the objective of counseling?
For one person to help another

What are the 7 steps to problem solving?

1. ID the problem
2. Gather information
3. Develop criteria
4. Generate possible solutions
5. Analyze possible solutions
6. Compare posible solutions
7. Make and implement the decision

What is communications?
Communications is the flow or exchange of information and ideas from one person to another.

Faulty communications causes most problems. True or false?
True

Leaders should seek to develop and improve what three leader counseling skills?

1. Active Listening
2. Responding
3. Questioning

To insure that they understand the message sent to them, the receiver should send what back to the transmitter?
Feedback

What are the qualities of an effective counselor?

• Respect for subordinates
• Self-awareness
• Cultural awareness
• Empathy
• Credibility

In communications, your exchange of information has three important parts. What are they?

1. Message
2. Content
3. Context

Name some good conditions that make for good discipline

• High performance standards
• Loyalty to superiors and subordinates
• Competitive activities
• Tough training
• Open channel of communications

What course of action should a supervisor take when a subordinate has been performing below his/her usual standards?

• Counsel about substandard performance.
• Attempt to define the problem with the soldier.
• Afford opportunity and time to solve the problem.
• Make a written statement of counseling

What are the stresses that influence behavior?

• Fear
• Hunger
• Illness
• Anxiety
• Fatigue

By neglecting the welfare of your soldiers, you will probably do what?
Lose their respect and loyal cooperation

What form is used for counseling?
DA Form 4856

When is the directive approach in counseling most likely to be used?
When time is short, when the LEADER knows what to do, when the counseled soldier has limited problem-solving abilities.

Is it a requirement that a leader counsel his/her subordinates?
Yes. A leader who neglects to counsel his subordinates is negligent in his performance of duty

Is performance counseling limited to bad performance?
No. Counseling may also be for good performance

What are some counseling techniques leaders may explore during the nondirective or combined counseling approaches?

• Suggesting Alternatives
• Recommending
• Persuading
• Advising

What are some techniques leaders may use during the directive approach to counseling?

• Corrective Training
• Commanding