Note Taking - Transactional Analysis - 7 Stages of Process in Practice and Supervision

In this weeks episode of the Counselling Tutor Podcast Rory and Ken look at note taking for counsellors. Rory explores the ego states of Transactional Analysis. In Skills with Ken the seven stages of process are related to practice. Ken and Rory end the podcast speaking about how to best use supervision.

Counsellor Note Taking

Rory and Ken discuss note taking for counsellors and look at some interesting ways of keeping notes.

Record are kept for 6 years then destroyed. They and act as a memory jog allowing counsellors to organise thoughts and feelings enabling reflection and planning.

Counsellor Notes reflect only fact; not professional opinions. Keeping notes non specific helps if they are obtained via a court order and used against the client.The counsellor may keep a process diary to reflect personal observations. Records are also important for use if a complaint is raised against the counsellor to a professional body or legal action.

A lockable, fire proof secure filing system with strict restriction on access should be considered. Files may be kept anonymous by split filing where identifying information is stored in the organisation locked cabinet and given a number.

The counsellor keeps notes with a number and no distinguishing detail. If lost or stolen the information is non identifiable. The split note system is less effective in a multi disciplinary organisation or where correspondence and reports are regularly produced. With computer storage of records password protection is necessary particularly when mailing client files. The data protection Act 1998 entitles individuals to be informed of any records of them kept on computer and allows them access to those records about themselves.

Clients may request their written reports, counsellors working in social services are required by the Access to personal Files Act 1987 to allow clients access.

Transactional Analysis

Rory explains the PAC Ego State model of Eric Bernes' TA. This theory packed episode gives you some real life examples of how the Adaptive Child, Critical Parent and Adult ego states present in our day to day lives.

7 Stages of Process

Rogers thought there were seven stages that he could observe, and they enabled him to see whether his clients were making progress in therapy, or whether they seemed to be stuck, for a time unable to move on. Although the process can be erratic, clients do, in general progress step by step, building on their experiences at one stage before moving on to the next. Only when people feel accepted and understood at one stage, do they feel able to take the next step.

This process scale is quite complex, but here we give a simplified version to show the basic characteristics of each of the seven stages.

Very few people enter therapy at a particular stage and go on through to stage seven. Many leave therapy at an earlier point, and if therapy has been successful for them, content that real and meaningful change has happened.

Remember that this Process Scale represents an idealised view of the therapeutic process, it indicates the flow of events in a very general way. Each person will experience therapy differently, will have different concerns, and will be content to leave therapy at different points. It is useful as a way of thinking about the process that we go through on the journey towards becoming fully functioning, it isn't a prescription of what we must do in order to get there.

How to Use Your Counselling Supervision

In Ask Rory and Ken the topic turns to how we can get the most out of our relationship with our supervisor.