What is Counselling

Many people will, at some point in their lives, find themselves in

the role of a counsellor without having a true understanding of the

concept of counselling or what the role of the professional

counsellor entails. 

There is a big difference between a professional counsellor and a

person who uses some counselling skills as part of their role, for

example their role as a friend or colleague.  A professional

counsellor is a highly trained individual who is able to use a

different range of counselling approaches with their clients. 

This page defines and introduces the concept of counselling and

the role of a counsellor.

'Counselling' can be a confusing term - it often has different meanings for different people.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary (9th Edition) gives at least two definitions of counselling, which appear to be conflicting, adding to potential confusion:

“give advice to (a person) on social or personal problems, especially professionally.”

and

“the process of assisting and guiding clients, especially by a trained person on a

professional basis, to resolve especially personal, social, or psychological problems and

difficulties.”

Counselling is:

The process that occurs when a client and counsellor set aside time in order to explore difficulties

which may include the stressful or emotional feelings of the client. 

The act of helping the client to see things more clearly, possibly from a different view-point. This can

enable the client to focus on feelings, experiences or behaviour, with a goal to facilitating positive

change.

A relationship of trust.  Confidentiality is paramount to successful counselling.  Professional

counsellors will usually explain their policy on confidentiality, they may, however, be required by law

to disclose information if they believe that there is a risk to life.

Counselling is Not:

Giving advice.

Judgemental.

Attempting to sort out the problems of the client.

Expecting or encouraging a client to behave in a way in which the counsellor may have behaved

when confronted with a similar problem in their own life.

Getting emotionally involved with the client.

Looking at a client's problems from your own perspective, based on your own value system.

Counselling and PsychotherapyBoth ‘psychotherapy’ and ‘counselling’ are terms that used for the same process. Both terms relate to overcoming personal difficulties and working towards positive change. 

Counselling is a helping approach that highlights the emotional and intellectual experience of a client, how a client is feeling and what they think about the problem they have sought help for. Psychotherapy, however, is based in the psychodynamic approach to counselling - it encourages the client to go back to their earlier experiences and explore how these experiences effect their current ‘problem’.

A psychotherapist, therefore, helps the client to become conscious of experiences which they were previously unaware of.  Counsellors, however, are less likely to be concerned with the past experiences of the client and are generally trained in a humanistic approach, using techniques from client-centred therapy.

See our page: Counselling Approaches for more information about psychodynamic, humanistic and behavioural approaches to counselling.

The Role of the CounsellorFirst and foremost the counsellor is aware that no two people are alike.  No two people understand the same language in the same way; their understanding will always be linked to their personal experience of the world.  Therefore, during the counselling process, it is important that the counsellor does not try to fit clients into his/her idea of what they should be and how they should act.

The role of the counsellor is to enable the client to explore many aspects of their life and feelings, by talking openly and freely.  Talking in such a way it is rarely possible with family or friends, who are likely to be emotionally involved and have opinions and biases that may be detrimental to the success of the counselling.  It is important that the counsellor is not emotionally involved with the client and does not become so during counselling sessions.  The counsellor neither judges, nor offers advice.  The counsellor gives the client an opportunity to express difficult feelings such as anger, resentment, guilt and fear in a confidential environment.

The counsellor may encourage the client to examine parts of their lives that they may have found difficult or impossible to face before.  There may be some exploration of early childhood experiences in order to throw some light on why an individual reacts or responds in certain ways in given situations.  This is often followed by considering ways in which the client may change such behaviours.

Effective counselling reduces confusion, allowing the client to make effective decisions leading to positive changes in their attitude and/or behaviour.  Effective counselling is not advice-giving and is not acting on someone else's behalf (these are more the roles of a life coach).  The ultimate aim of counselling is to enable the client to make their own choices, reach their own decisions and to act upon them accordingly.

Counselling SkillsCommunication skills are obviously of utmost importance to counsellors, we have lots of further pages covering these skills including: active listening, clarification, reflection and effective questioning skills.

The counsellor will attempt to build a certain amount of rapport with their client, but not to an extent that would allow them to become emotionally involved. 

Counsellors need to be empathetic, seeing things from the client’s point of view, rather than sympathetic (feeling sorry for their clients).  Empathy can help the counsellor to ask appropriate questions and lead the client to positive conclusions. See our page: What is Empathy for more. 

Continue to: Approaches to Counselling

Other Relevant Pages include:Emotional Intelligence | Note-Taking | Relaxation Techniques

Avoiding Stress | Laughter Therapy | Anger ManagementLife Skills | What is Communication? | What is Life Coaching?

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Guidance & Counselling

Defining Guidance and Counseling and the Difference between them.

Guidance and Counseling is defined as a planned and organized work aimed at assisting the trainee to understand himself and his abilities and develop his potentialities in order to solve his problems and achieve psychological, social, educational and professional compatibility, and also to achieve his objectives within the framework of Islamic teachings. Guidance and Counseling complement each other though there are some differences.

Guidance is a group of planned services that include counseling, it provides the trainee with miscellaneous information to upgrade his feeling of responsibility, understand himself and know his abilities and provide guidance services to trainees.

Counseling on the other hand is the procedural aspect of guidance; it is therefore the interaction that comes as a result of the vocational relationship between a specialized counselor and his student where the counselor assists the student to understand himself and his abilities and talents to achieve self and environmental compatibility in order to attain the appropriate degree of mental health in light of the techniques and specialized skills of the guidance process.

The Difference Between Guidance and Counseling:

The concept of guidance and counseling reflect a common meaning that includes awareness, assistance and change of behavior to the better, but still there is a difference between the two concepts:-

1-   Guidance is more general and comprehensive than counseling, it therefore includes counseling.

2-    Guidance usually precedes counseling and paves the way for it. Counseling follows guidance.

3-   Guidance stresses the theoretical aspect while counseling takes care of the practical

aspect.

4-   Counseling is usually the relationship between the teacher and the student who comes for assistance; therefore it is an individualistic relationship.

Misconceptions about guidance and Counseling:

1.   Some people believe that counseling is a mere service provided by the training institution.

2.   Others believe that guidance and counseling are services provided to psychiatric persons only, though it is provided to normal persons.

3.   Some also believe that counseling provides ready made plans and solutions to anyone who seeks counseling, but the truth is that counseling assists individuals to understand themselves and achieve self-realization.

Guidance and Counseling Services:

1. Religious Counseling:

The counselor cooperates with the Institute in urging the trainee to attend congregational prayer and implant Islamic values and Islamic doctrine into them through religious contests, lectures and connect activities and curricular with these Islamic values.

2.  Preventive Counseling:

The preventive counseling tries to prevent the occurrence of problems regarding study and training and it also tries to prevent social, psychological and health problems through inculcating awareness programs.

3.  Educational Counseling:

The educational counseling aims at assisting the trainee to proceed with his studies smoothly by receiving new trainees and selection of gifted trainees and trainees who stagger in their studies and set special programs that help develop their talents and capabilities.

4. Vocational and Educational Counseling:

The Educational and Vocational Counseling aims at educating the trainees about the various types of vocational and university education and the types of jobs and conditions of admission and employment at  institutes, centers, military vocational institutes and colleges in order to assist in connecting education with development plans.

5. Social and Ethical Counseling:

Social and Ethical Counseling aims at finding the suitable environment which enables the trainee to acquire skills and expertise in order to interact with others in accordance with the Islamic teachings.

Q: Types of Counseling?

A: Counseling is available for people that believe that they would like to work on problems. Addiction counseling, individual counseling, marriage counseling, and ... Read More »

Source: answers.ask.com

Q: Which is the best type of counseling?

A: Be_able_to_help_someone_someone_needs_your_help_so_i_am_telling_you_is_to_help_to_make_that_person_what_feel_doing_good_been_helped!Read More »

Source: wiki.answers.com

Q: Types of counselling?

A: *Abortion counseling * Brief therapy * CareerCounseling * Christian counseling * Co-counselling * Counseling psychology * Counselor (disambiguation) * Consulta...Read More »

Source: uk.answers.yahoo.com

Q: What Types of Counseling Are Available?

A: A diagnosis of Parkinson's disease can affect the entire family. If you are the primary provider in the home, there can be financial strain. If you are the home... Read More »

Source: www.webmd.com

Q: What Types of Counseling Are Available?

A: The following list briefly describes commontypes of counseling. These can be used together or alone, depending on your treatment plan. Crisis intervention coun... Read More »

Source: www.webmd.com