Beginning Practicum: It Only Hurt Until 1 Laughed!

Is it possible for a beginning counselor to avoid discomfort during counseling sessions? Two primary sources of beginning counselor worries are identified in this article: (a) concern for one's competence as a counselor and a person and (b) worry about the increasing intimacy involved in discussing the emotional life of a client. The effects of trainee discomfort are numerous and often humorous. A catalog of possible humorous responses of beginning counselors is provided, and each response is illustrated with an example. Brief comments on possible ways to deal with counselor discomfort conclude the article.