The Counseling Relationship

Counselors believing any of the myths discussed might negatively affect the counseling relationship, but discussing them may be helpful for parents, teachers, and administrators. Awe might actually alter the usual power differential in the counseling relationship, and it may also perpetuate a gifted child's need to impress others. The school counselor's ability to collaborate is also crucial to developing a counseling relationship, including being open to establishing a more egalitarian relationship than usual. School counselors need to pay attention to differing developmental levels, even within one gifted student, when building a counseling relationship. With all age levels, when nurturing the counseling relationship, counselors can keep a number of developmental concerns in mind that may not be presented directly Gifted youth who are accustomed to using cognitive strengths to control many aspects of their lives may be anxious when anticipating developmental transitions. Using "stuckness" language with stressed students might help a school or other counselor develop a collaborative counseling relationship.