Modern therapy largely embraces
the practice of unconditional positive regard, meaning that the therapist is expected to accept the client as he or she is and show them respect and understanding at all times, no matter what they have done.
Karleen went into some depth, including case studies and a role play, to illustrate what breastfeeding counselling is and is not, covering: the theoretical foundations
of counselling
practice (
unconditional positive regard, congruence, creating emotional safety), the theoretical foundations
of counselling process (empathetic understanding, understanding the mother's experience and validating, accepting and valuing that experience), key counselling skills, exploratory questions, clarifying questions, offering information not instruction, offering appropriate reassurance and then offering suggestions and helping to make a plan.