Scaling Technique

Scaling is a technique that makes abstract concepts easier to comprehend. This technique is commonly applied by the counselor asking the client to rate how they are feeling on a scale of 1 to 10. It is difficult to know exactly how a client is feeling, but this provides the counselor with a more accurate depiction. This is also helpful for creating goals for the client to accomplish. They may report a low number on the scale, but the counselor can suggest trying to work their way up to a higher number before their next session. For children, pictures could be used in place of numbers.  Scaling can be effective in a variety of situations, including motivating a client, measuring their self-esteem, and determining the seriousness of an issue. I believe this would be an excellent method to use when a client’s description of something isn’t clear or if there is some grey area in a story they’re telling. When using this is terms of motivation, the counselor can designate 10 as the positive status that they will try to achieve.