Greetings, question asker. My name is Jiang 61.
Firstly, we would like to express our gratitude for your willingness to share your confusion with us in order to obtain clarification. The source of your confusion pertains to the manner in which the counselor's expressions and behaviors evoke a perception of hypocrisy.
"After reading your introduction, I have a clear understanding of the nature of your confusion. Let us proceed to discuss it together.
1. Introduction
You stated that during the video consultation, you noticed that whenever the counselor frowned or frowned tightly, you felt a slight sense of unease (after our conversation).
The counseling session is conducted via video, and the counselor's frowning and furrowed brow expression evokes a sense of discomfort.
2. Thoughts
You stated, "I do not believe that she is empathizing with me initially, but rather, I perceive her to be hypocritical, as though she does not truly understand me, yet feigns comprehension. Nevertheless, I do trust the other individual, and I feel safe with them. However, I find her demeanor disagreeable. When we communicate normally, even in a jovial manner, I experience a sense of contentment and ease."
Thoughts
The counselor's expression indicates a lack of empathic understanding and emotional responsiveness. Instead of empathizing with the client's feelings, the counselor appears to be hypocritical and inauthentic, which creates a sense of discomfort.
It is my hope that
The questioner desires the counselor to be amiable, humorous, and capable of communicating normally, so that the counseling session is not perceived as contrived and the questioner feels comfortable and happy.
2. The rationale behind the discomfort
1. Psychological projection
The phenomenon of psychological projection is defined as the unconscious attribution of one's own thoughts, attitudes, desires, emotions, character traits, or moral judgments to external individuals or objects.
The term "projection," as used in psychology, refers to the phenomenon of an individual unconsciously reflecting their own thoughts, attitudes, desires, emotions, character traits, and other personality characteristics onto external entities or individuals. In other words, the individual perceives the thoughts, attitudes, desires, emotions, and character traits that are present within themselves as being present in others, and uses their own superego, or moral judgment, to evaluate the other person.
The subject reported feelings of discomfort.
The questioner indicated that upon observing the counselor's frown, it appeared as though he was empathizing with you, which caused her to experience a slight degree of discomfort and led her to perceive him as hypocritical. This is, in fact, what she was thinking in her mind, projecting it onto the counselor and judging him with her own moral standards of the superego, which ultimately resulted in her feeling uncomfortable psychologically.
As the questioner describes, the counselor is still the same counselor. The questioner trusts him and feels safe consulting with him. However, at this time, the questioner has a negative projection of the counselor, which makes him seem hypocritical and causes the questioner to feel uncomfortable.
2. Expectations
The term "expectation" is defined as a vision or longing for an unknown moment or thing in the future. Expectations encompass individuals' hopes, desires, and positive expectations.
Expectations can be defined as a vision or longing for an unknown moment or thing in the future. They encompass individuals' hopes, desires, and positive aspirations.
Expectations are frequently associated with individuals' optimistic visions of life and their aspirations. In the context of interpersonal relationships, expectations serve as a source of hope and confidence.
It is hoped that the following points will be considered.
It is evident that the questioner desires a relaxed and happy communication environment; thus, they anticipate that the counselor will communicate with them in a less serious manner. However, the counselor's consulting style does not align with this expectation, which may cause the questioner to experience discomfort.
3. Fixed Thinking
Fixed thinking is the conviction that an individual's abilities and traits are fixed and innate. It is a black-and-white, binary mindset that assumes there are only two possibilities for any given situation: "either this or that; a third situation is impossible."
A fixed mindset is a cognitive style in which individuals hold rigid, unchanging beliefs about their abilities and traits, leading to a perception of the world in black-and-white terms.
Fixed thinking is characterized by the conviction that an individual's abilities and traits are fixed and innate, with no room for ambiguity or variation. This perspective tends to perceive situations in starkly dichotomous terms, whereby the only viable options are either/or, and the presence of a third alternative is deemed implausible. The underlying assumption is that a situation must adhere to one of the two predetermined categories, and that the third option is inherently excluded.
It would be advisable for the counselor to consider the following.
From the questioner's introduction, it can be inferred that the questioner expects the counselor to be comfortable in the counseling situation, communicate normally, and even engage in some degree of joking. Otherwise, it may negatively impact the counseling process.
This is the impact of fixed thinking on our emotional states.
3. What is the appropriate course of action?
1. Consistency in Communication
The term "consistent communication" is defined as the act of communicating in a manner that is in alignment with one's inner feelings, thoughts, and emotions. This form of communication is characterized by a high level of coherence and consistency between one's verbal and non-verbal expressions.
Consistent communication entails that verbal and non-verbal information conveyed to another individual is aligned with one's internal emotional state. In such communication, the self, the other person, and the situation are all accorded due attention and respect.
The speech of this type of person demonstrates an inner awareness, with expressions aligning with their words. Their minds are in a harmonious balance, and they possess a relatively high sense of self-worth.
Method of consistent communication
The following sentence patterns are commonly employed in congruent communication exercises and expressions. With sufficient time, individuals can effectively communicate in a congruent manner. The specific sentence patterns are as follows:
In the event that...
Describe the objective situation in a manner that is devoid of any accusatory or emotional content.
The following feelings are expressed:
It is imperative to explicitly articulate one's sentiments and emotional state in the immediate context.
It is my hope that...
It is essential to explicitly convey the desired action from the other person and to delineate the underlying requirements. These needs should be quantifiable, enforceable, and evident.
It is my conviction that...
Outline your expectations regarding the positive outcome.
Should the questioner experience discomfort, they are encouraged to communicate with the counselor in a consistent manner, aligning their feelings, actions, and verbal expressions, and particularly emphasizing their desire for the counselor to facilitate a pleasant communication environment. It is recommended that the counselor be informed of these expectations.
The counselor will consider the feelings of the questioner and modify their posture if the counselor receives the same message as the questioner feels, thereby facilitating optimal comfort for all parties involved.
Secondly, acceptance is a key factor.
The second step is to accept the situation.
It is important to note that acceptance does not entail acquiescence to every occurrence or outcome; rather, it entails an acknowledgment of the emotional underpinnings of an event. In essence, acceptance necessitates a recognition of not just the behavior itself, but also the rationale and emotional state that inform it.
Furthermore, it is essential to cultivate the ability to accept.
Counselors possess distinct personalities, speaking habits, and counseling styles, as do individuals in general. It is possible to learn to accept other people's counseling styles. Rather than focusing on expressions, it is more productive to focus on the messages conveyed to us by their words. This can result in a change in mood.
3. Emotion Management
Emotion management is the ability to regulate one's emotions in a constructive manner. It involves recognizing emotions, understanding their underlying causes, and responding to them in a manner that is both effective and appropriate.
Emotion management is a crucial skill in various contexts, including family relationships, parent-child relationships, intimate relationships, and counseling relationships. It enables individuals to navigate their emotions in a healthy and productive manner, leading to more positive and fulfilling interactions with others.
The ABC of Emotions
The ABC theory of emotions was developed by American psychologist Albert Ellis. Ellis posits that event A is merely an indirect cause that precipitates emotions and actions C. The direct cause of C is the individual's belief B in event A. In other words, it is not the event itself that causes our emotions, but our perception of the event.
The process of emotion management
The ability to manage emotions is a crucial skill for navigating various relationships, including those within the family, between parents and children, and in intimate partnerships. Emotion management can be defined as:
The initial step in emotion management is to recognize emotions.
This constitutes the initial phase of emotional management. Upon experiencing an emotion, it is essential to discern its nature, such as anxiety, anger, or sadness, and to identify its underlying cause.
It is important to accept one's emotions.
Healthy emotions are those that align with the circumstances at hand. When one's emotional state is in accordance with objective reality, the initial step is to acknowledge that these feelings are normal. This process is known as emotional acceptance.
This approach to emotional regulation has the potential to reduce emotional distress and facilitate the restoration of emotional equilibrium.
The act of expressing emotions
Emotional expression is the act of articulating one's own emotions. The subject is "I," and the speaker often employs the pronouns "I," "my feelings," and so forth.
It is also necessary to cultivate emotions.
Furthermore, the cultivation and practice of emotion management are essential. The following methods may be employed to cultivate and practice emotion management:
1) A regular lifestyle has also been shown to have a stabilising effect on emotional states.
2) Cultivate a hobby that allows positive emotions to motivate you, foster self-love, appreciation for life, and an appreciation for its beauty.
3) It is important to care for and look after others, to allow love to dwell in your heart. There is great joy to be found in helping others, and in enabling them to help themselves.
4) Contact with the natural environment and immersion in the qualities of heaven and earth facilitate cognitive expansion and emotional equilibrium.
5) Forming connections with individuals who possess executive functions and spending time with emotionally stable individuals can help to mitigate the impact of emotional interference and fluctuations.
It is acceptable for counselors to experience a range of emotions during the counseling process. This is a normal phenomenon. By learning to recognize emotions, accept emotions, express emotions, cultivate emotions, and manage emotional states, counselors can gain a deeper understanding of themselves and their clients, leading to the development of healthier emotions and a happier life.
Ultimately, it is my hope that the questioner will experience a positive emotional state.
Comments
I can see why that would bother you; facial expressions can really influence how we feel about a conversation. It's important to feel understood and not just heard. It sounds like the connection was there, but her reactions threw you off.
It must have been unsettling to interpret her frowns as insincerity. Sometimes body language doesn't tell the whole story, yet it can really affect our perception of a dialogue. I'm glad you felt safe with her despite this.
Feeling comfortable during a consultation is key, and it seems like her demeanor detracted from what could have otherwise been a positive interaction for you. It's interesting how much impact nonverbal cues can have on us.