The Egan Model

1. The Egan Model The three stages of the model

2. Overview Gerard Egan proposed a 3 stage model or framework known as “Egan’s skilled helper model” as a useful tool in helping people to solve their own problems through empowerment and help them develop future opportunities. Gerard Egan was professor of Organisational Development and Psychology at Loyola University in Chicago, and he considered his methods to be more about “prevention” than “cure”. CHCCSL501A Work within a structured counselling framework

3. His goals…. to help… people 'to manage their problems in living more effectively and develop unused opportunities more fully’ 'help people become better at helping themselves in their everyday lives.' With an emphasis on empowerment (Egan G., 'The Skilled Helper', 1998, p7-8) CHCCSL501A Work within a structured counselling framework

4. Egan considered… This to be a framework conceptualising the helping process, and is best used in working on issues in the recent past and the present It is to be used flexibly based on genuineness, respect, and empathy, and if principles of good active listening are remembered throughout CHCCSL501A Work within a structured counselling framework

5. Addresses 3 main questions 'What is going on?' 'What do I want instead?' 'How might I get to what I want?’ CHCCSL501A Work within a structured counselling framework

6. The Egan Model In brief… CHCCSL501A Work within a structured counselling framework

7. Stage 1: The Present – where you are at now Help the client to tell their story - use prompts, active listening, open questions, S.O.L.E.R) Help the client to break through any blind spots - use reflection 3. Help the client to find the right problem/opportunity to work on - prioritising CHCCSL501A Work within a structured counselling framework

8. Stage 2: Preferred – where you want to be Help the client to use their imagination to find possibilities Help the client choose realistic and challenging goals - think of an action plan 3. Help the client to find incentives that will enable and assist them with commitment CHCCSL501A Work within a structured counselling framework

9. Stage 3: Strategies – How are you going to get where you want to be? Help the client find possible actions Help the client to find the best fit strategies - what will work for the client 3. Help the client to draft an action plan CHCCSL501A Work within a structured counselling framework

10. The Egan Skilled Helper Model In detail.. CHCCSL501A Work within a structured counselling framework

11. Stage 1 – what’s going on? Primary concern to provide a safe place for the “speaker” (Egan refers to the client as the “speaker”) to tell their story in their own way To be fully heard and acknowledged Gently assisting them to see the bigger picture Guiding and supporting them Helping them to find a point to move forward from CHCCSL501A Work within a structured counselling framework

12. Stage 1 … cont’d Contains three (3) part an expansive part a challenging part Focusing and moving forward CHCCSL501A Work within a structured counselling framework

13. 1a: an expansive part The helper encourages the speaker to tell their story, and by using good active listening skills and demonstrating the core conditions, helps them to explore and unfold the tale, and to reflect. For some, this is enough, for others it is just the beginning. "....as you summarised what I said, all the jumble began to make sense." CHCCSL501A Work within a structured counselling framework

14. The role of the helper Encouragers the speaker to… tell their story Time to reflect Uses… good active listening skills Reflecting Paraphrasing Checking in Open questions summarising CHCCSL501A Work within a structured counselling framework

15. 1b: a challenging part As the speaker is “in” the situation, they may find it difficult to see clearly, or from different angles. The helper listens and reflects to the speaker what is being said with the intent of uncovering blind spots or gaps in their perceptions and assessment of the situation. Allows the speaker to see the situation from another's perspective or view point CHCCSL501A Work within a structured counselling framework

16. Useful questions… • How do others see it/you?  • Is there anything you've overlooked?  • What does he/she think/feel?  • What would s/he say about all this?  • What about all of this is a problem for you?  • Any other way of looking at it? The role of the helper Challenging negative self talk Providing a different perspective Identifying strengths and coping skills Connecting all the pieces CHCCSL501A Work within a structured counselling framework

17. 1c -Focusing and moving forward In this stage, the helper seeks to move the speaker from a feeling of being ‘stuck’ or trapped with no way out Helps the speaker to identify an area they feel motivated to change CHCCSL501A Work within a structured counselling framework

18. Useful questions… • What in all of this is the most important?  • What would be best to work on now?  • What would make the most difference?  • What is manageable? The role of the helper To assist the speaker in identifying and prioritising an area or issue they would like to work on CHCCSL501A Work within a structured counselling framework

19. Stage 1 This Stage can be 5 minutes or 5 years; it may be all someone needs. CHCCSL501A Work within a structured counselling framework

20. Stage 2: What do I want instead? In this stage the helper assists the speaker in identifying what they want to do. Enabling and allowing the speaker to see how things can be different, better. People often move from problem to action, or problem to solution, and therefore loose the ability to see the situation can be anything but the way it has been for so long. CHCCSL501A Work within a structured counselling framework

21. 2a - a creative part The helper helps the speaker to brainstorm their ideal scenario; 'if you could wake up tomorrow with everything just how you want it, like your ideal world, what would it be like?' The speaker is encouraged to think ‘outside the square’ Any idea is acceptable at this stage, the ideas are not limited to the practical only This can be a scary situation and/or concept for the speaker initially, but then hopefully liberating. CHCCSL501A Work within a structured counselling framework

22. Useful questions… • What do you ideally want instead?  • What would be happening?  • What would you be doing/thinking/feeling?  • What would you have that you don't have now?  • What would it be like if it were better / a bit better? The role of the helper To encourage, facilitate conversation and imagination Not to judge or analyse To be accepting To allow time To record the ideas, all of them. CHCCSL501A Work within a structured counselling framework

23. 2b - a reality testing part • The role of the helper is to assist the speaker to formulate SMART Goals form all that has been identified and said by the speaker. • The goals may be challenging but also the speaker will need to show motivation to achieve them CHCCSL501A Work within a structured counselling framework

24. Useful questions… • What exactly is your goal?  • How would you know when you've got there?  • What could you manage/are you likely to achieve?  • Which feels best for you?  • Out of all that, what would be realistic?  • When do you want to achieve it by? The role of the helper Keeping things on track Actively facilitating all dimensions of the relationship Keeping things ‘real’ Checking in CHCCSL501A Work within a structured counselling framework

25. 2c - moving forward In this stage the helper’s aim is to test the realism of the goal before the speaker moves into the action phase. To help the speaker check their commitment to the goal To assist the speaker to see and identify that there may be challenges to achieving the goal but also rewards. CHCCSL501A Work within a structured counselling framework

26. Useful questions… • What will be the benefits when you achieve this?  • How will it be different for you when you've done this?  • What will be the costs of doing this? Any disadvantages/downsides to doing this? The role of the helper To decipher challenges and rewards clearly Explore commitment and motivation CHCCSL501A Work within a structured counselling framework

27. Stage 2 The hard work has really been done in this stage, it is about encouraging the speaker and checking in that he/she is ready. CHCCSL501A Work within a structured counselling framework

28. Stage 3- How will I get there? This is the 'how' stage... how will the person move towards the goals they have identified in Stage 2? It is about possible strategies and specific actions about doing something to get started considering what/who might help and support the speaker And who/what may hinder the speaker making the change. CHCCSL501A Work within a structured counselling framework

29. 3a - another creative part! The speaker is helped to brainstorm strategies, as many as the speaker is able to think of. Identifying what people, places, ideas, organisations could help? The aim is to allow the speaker the freedom generate new and different ideas for action, breaking out of old mind-sets and habits. CHCCSL501A Work within a structured counselling framework

30. Useful questions… • How many different ways are there for you to do this?  • Who/what might help?  • What has worked before/for others?  • What about some wild ideas? The role of the helper To prompt and encourage thinking Brainstorming Eliciting new and innovative ideas CHCCSL501A Work within a structured counselling framework

31. 3b - focusing in on appropriate strategies Now is the time for the helper to assist the speaker to choose the “realistic” strategies form all the brainstorming ideas. Remembering realistic for the speaker, in their circumstances, consistent with their values? A useful tool to assist here is a Forcefield Analysis it helps to look at what internal and external factors (individuals and organisations) are there that could possibly help and/or hinder the desired or chosen action and how these can be strengthened or weakened respectively. (see next slide for Forcefield Analysis) CHCCSL501A Work within a structured counselling framework

32. Forcefield Analysis A Forcefield Analysis helps to identify the pressures for and against change Force Field Analysis is a useful technique for looking at all the forces for and against a decision. In effect, it is a specialized method of weighing pros and cons. By carrying out the analysis you can plan to strengthen the forces supporting a decision, and reduce the impact of opposition to it. CHCCSL501A Work within a structured counselling framework

33. Work Sheet How to use the work sheet • Describe your plan or proposal for change in the middle. • List all forces for change in one column, and all forces against change in another column. • Assign a score to each force, from 1 (weak) to 5 (strong). CHCCSL501A Work within a structured counselling framework http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTED_06.htm

34. Forcefield Analysis Negative Positive Appraisal skills Desire for change Desire for quality service External goals Control of own destiny Control of change that is already happening Improved job satisfaction Money Uncharted territory Strong leadership • Lack of appraisal skills • Resistance to change • Skills in influencing • External goals • Fear and anxiety • Personal agenda • Losses • Defence • Instability • Sabotage • Work to start • Learning new skills • Complexity • Multiple change • Uncharted territory • Poor leadership CHCCSL501A Work within a structured counselling framework Group Work; Peter Havelock 1997.

35. Useful questions… • Which of these ideas appeals most?  • Which is most likely to work for you?  • Which are within your resources/control? The role of the helper Facilitating discussions and thinking Keeping things real CHCCSL501A Work within a structured counselling framework

36. 3c - moving to action Planning for change The strategy/s are is broken into small achievable steps The helper works with them to turn good intention into specific plans with time scales. Ensuring the speaker is keen to pursue the decided upon strategies him or herself CHCCSL501A Work within a structured counselling framework

37. Useful questions… • What will you do first? When?  • What will you do next? When? The role of the helper Being encouraging, supporting and ‘real’ Being mindful not to be ‘pushy’ To make time/s to check in and meet with the speaker To be supportive To offer assistance when and if necessary CHCCSL501A Work within a structured counselling framework

38. Stage 3 During this stage the speaker is doing almost all the work, producing their action plan. This is extremely important as the speaker needs to feel a sense of ownership towards the plan otherwise he/she may feel resentful and may choose to not follow the plan. CHCCSL501A Work within a structured counselling framework

39. After Stage 3 If the speaker has passed through all three stages and produced an action plan, the experience of trying it out could be the starting point for a follow-up mentoring/co-mentoring session. The work could start again in stage 1, with the speaker choosing to tell a new story. If an action plan has not been reached, that is also okay. The model can still be used over a series of sessions, effectively. CHCCSL501A Work within a structured counselling framework

40. The key in using this model, as should be the case with any theory or model, is to keep the speakers agenda central the individual should always be the focus, in the foreground and the theory remaining in the background, the model should always be used for the person, rather than vice versa. CHCCSL501A Work within a structured counselling framework

41. Reference 'The Skilled Helper - a problem management approach to helping' by Gerard Egan. Brooks Cole, 6"' edition 1998 http://www.gp-training.net/training/communication_skills/mentoring/egan.htm accessed on 13/08/10 Gerard Egan’s Self Titled Egan Model/Counselling Central by Carl Rogers’ Client Centred Therapy and the Core Conditions http://counsellingcentral.com/gerard-egans-self-titled-egan-model/ accessed on 13/08/10 Forcefield Analysis – Understanding the Pressures For and Against Change; Mind Tools Essential skills for an excellent career. http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTED_06.htm accessed on 13/08/10 CHCCSL501A Work within a structured counselling framework