Alright, let’s talk about this… uh… “confrontation” thing in that… you know… counseling stuff. Don’t rightly know what them fancy words mean, but I’ll tell ya like it is, the way I see it.
What’s this “Confrontation” Anyways?
Okay, so, this here “confrontation,” from what I gather, it’s like when someone ain’t seein’ their own mess-ups. Like, they say they wanna be all good and healthy, but then they go and do somethin’ that ain’t healthy at all. It’s like that girl, Janelle, in that thing I heard about. She wanted to be sober, clean and all, but she showed up all messed up on somethin’. The counselor person, they had to point it out, right? Had to say, “Hey, you say you want this, but you doin’ that.” That’s what I call a “come to Jesus meeting” kinda thing.
- It’s like holdin’ up a mirror, you see? Showin’ them what they’re really doin’.
- Sometimes, people, they get stuck. Stuck in their ways, stuck in their thinkin’. This “confrontation” thing, it’s like shakin’ ’em loose a bit.
- And it ain’t about bein’ mean, no sir. It’s about carin’, about wantin’ ’em to see the truth, even if it’s a hard truth. It’s kinda like tellin’ your kid they stink and need a bath. You ain’t meanin’ to be cruel, just truthful.
Seein’ the Problem
First thing is, you gotta see the problem. It’s like when the milk goes sour, you can smell it, right? You know somethin’ ain’t right. Same with people. They say one thing, do another. Or maybe they don’t even see how their actions are hurtin’ themselves or others. Like my ol’ man, bless his heart, he couldn’t see how his drinkin’ hurt the family until it was too late. A counselor fella, he woulda called that a “discrepancy” or some such. Fancy word for not walkin’ the walk after talkin’ the talk.
Tellin’ it Like it Is
Now, this is the tricky part. You gotta tell ’em what you see, but you can’t just go blamin’ and yellin’. That ain’t gonna help nobody. It’s like… you gotta be firm but gentle. Like tellin’ a child not to touch a hot stove – you gotta be serious but do it with some care. You gotta show ’em you care, that you’re on their side, even if you’re pointin’ out their mistakes. You gotta say somethin’ like, “Look here, I see you want to stop smoking, but you light up every time things get tough.” It’s about showin’ them the difference between what they say they want and what they’re actually doin. They gotta see that disconnect, you know? It’s like they’re tryin’ to go north and south at the same time.
Helpin’ ’em Change
And that’s the whole point, ain’t it? Helpin’ ’em change. It ain’t enough to just point out the problem. You gotta help ’em figure out how to fix it. It’s like teachin’ a young’un to bake a cake – you don’t just tell ‘em it’s wrong, you show ‘em how to do it right. You gotta help ’em see how their actions affect other folks too. Sometimes, they don’t even realize they’re hurtin’ people. Like when someone’s always late, they don’t see how it disrespects other folks’ time. Or when someone’s always borrowin’ money and never payin’ it back, that there strains relationships. Confrontation ain’t just about callin’ someone out. It’s about givin’ them a chance to see themselves clear and make things better. It’s about helping them grow, like waterin’ a plant so it can reach for the sun.
It Ain’t Easy, But It’s Necessary
Now, I ain’t sayin’ this “confrontation” stuff is easy. It takes guts. It takes care. And it takes patience. But sometimes, it’s the only way to help someone get unstuck. It’s like pullin’ a weed out of the garden. It ain’t pleasant, but it’s gotta be done if you want things to grow healthy and strong. It’s about showin’ ’em a different way of lookin’ at things, a way they might not have seen before. It’s about helpin’ ’em get on the right path, the path they say they wanna be on. And that, well, that’s worth a little bit of discomfort, ain’t it?
In Short…
So, this “confrontation” in counselin’, it’s about pointin’ out the obvious, but doin’ it with some heart. It’s about helpin’ folks see their own blind spots and givin’ ‘em a chance to do better. It ain’t about bein’ mean or judgmental, it’s about caringly tellin’ folks the truth they can’t, or won’t, see themselves. It’s like tough love, I reckon. And sometimes, that’s what a person needs to get back on track.
Example Time, Y’all
Let’s say a fella comes in, sayin’ he wants to save his marriage, right? But then he tells the counselor he’s been stayin’ out late, drinkin’ with his buddies, and not helpin’ around the house. The counselor would say somethin’ like, “Now, hold on a minute. You say you wanna save your marriage, but your actions ain’t showin’ that. Let’s talk about that disconnect.” See? Pointin’ out the problem, but doin’ it in a way that ain’t accusin’, but is tryin’ to help. It’s like sayin’, “You’re walkin’ towards a cliff, friend. Let me help you turn around before you fall.”
That’s what I think this “confrontation” in counselin’ is all about, anyway.
Tags: Counseling Techniques, Confrontation in Therapy, Communication Skills, Behavior Change, Relationship Counseling, Mental Health, Therapy Process, Self-Awareness, Conflict Resolution, Client-Therapist Interaction
