Kim,
Thanks so much for sharing your insight! I learned from your insight into your own helping skills that the accountability piece is important in a helping relationship. I think this is one thing I struggle with when wanting to maintain a positive conversation and hope for my students- I will still deliver these messages but I think sometimes I sugar coat them a bit too much. Something I'm working on is utilizing my intake process to gauge the type of feedback/level of support an individual student needs as I've realized different students need feedback in different ways and I've always delivered my harder messages in a more uplifting way and I think sometimes it just doesn't come across accurately depending on who I'm working with.
In my post I also talked about how its hard to help when the person you're helping is very down on themselves. I think this is where I need to work on practicing my empathy whereas now I default to *inspiring and engaging* but I think for me I need to be more aware of meeting the student where they are and encouraging them in a more tailored and supportive way instead of being the vocal cheerleader.
Thanks so much for sharing, again! Your answers helped me reflect on my own helping style! :)