Counselor (C): Good morning, Zhang Ming, thank you for joining us today. I'm C, and we can work together on some of the troubles you've been facing lately.
Zhang Ming (Z): Good morning, I'm a little nervous and don't know how to start.
C: That's normal, let's start with what concerns you most. Can you tell me a little bit about why you feel nervous or worried?
Z: Well, I'm actually very anxious about the upcoming university life, and I'm worried that I won't be able to adapt. Moreover, I haven't chosen a major yet, and I'm still very confused when I see that others are very sure.
C: You mentioned "can't adapt", can you tell us more about what you mean by "can't adapt"?For example, what are the specific concerns?
Z: I'm worried that I won't be able to keep up with the course and get along with ......my classmatesI had good grades in high school, but college was a fresh start, and I was afraid that I wouldn't do well.
C: You mentioned "I'm afraid I won't be able to do it well", which sounds like you have some kind of preconceived expectation of yourself. In your mind, what does it look like to do well?And what makes you feel like you might not be up to that standard?
Z: To do well is probably to get high scores, at least not lagging behind. The reason why I don't think I can do it is because I know too little about the university and feel like I'm not good at anything.
C: You now have a feeling that it is based on a prediction of the unknown. We can check the veracity of these predictions step by step in the subsequent talks. Now, about the choice of major, can you share your consideration process?
Z: Actually, I'm interested in a lot of things, but I just can't choose. I'm afraid I'll regret choosing the wrong one in the future.
C: Choosing is an important decision, but thoughts like "choosing the wrong one" and "regretting" can add to your stress. Let's try to think about it in another way, if there is no right or wrong, which area are you most interested in?
Z: Probably computer science, I used to like to fiddle with computers.
C: So, you used to like to fiddle with computers before, and we can use it as a starting point to explore. As for possible regrets in the future, we can learn together how Xi manage that feeling instead of letting it stand in the way of your decision. Now, do you think it would be helpful for you to do this?
Z: I feel a little more comfortable, at least I know that I can have a starting point.
C: Good. Before we wrap up today's session, I want to give you some homework. Hopefully, you will write down the specific situation in which you feel anxious, your thoughts, feelings, and your reactions. So we can talk about it in detail next time. How?
Z: Well, I can try.
C: Great. The next time we visit, we'll take a look at the records together to learn more about your thinking patterns and learn how to make effective adjustments Xi.
This conversation shows how a counsellor can initially assess a student's state of mind and prepare for the next phase of the session by asking, listening, and facilitating. In the following consultation, Zhang Ming and the consultant will further deepen and deal with Zhang Ming's troubles.