Matthew comes to counselling with depression. He comes from a country town two hours away, but he is living in shared housing on the outskirts of the city while he attends university. His girlfriend of five years broke up with him three months ago which spiralled him into depression and that in turn has had a bad effect on his university results. He now feels that he is unable to concentrate on study. His goal is to recover from depression, and regain his good study habits so he can pass his course. His understanding is that his girlfriend left him because he was too far away to make it worth her while being with him.

If you were his counsellor how would you:

• enable Matthew to identify and acknowledge what is and is not changing in the counselling process?
• enable Matthew to evaluate what is and is not changing in the counselling process and in their situation and understanding?