INTRODUCTION TO COUNSELLING

Dr Sonia Khodabakhsh

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What is counselling?
uRelationship between counselling & psychotherapy
uCounselling & other helping professions
uThe diversity of theory & practice in counselling
uThe aims of counselling

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Counselling - Definitions
•Counseling

•“Counseling can be defined as a short term, interpersonal, theory based

process of helping persons who are psychologically healthy to resolve
developmental and situational problems.”
§Samuel Gladding, 2000

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What is Counselling?
In essence, counselling is
uA dynamic process
uInvolve trained counsellor
uAssist client(s) with concern(s)
uThe use of counselling strategies (one-to-one, group or
family counselling)
uPromote beneficial changes in client(s).
(Corey, 2009)

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What is Counselling?

•Counseling will become successful for a client who comes

voluntarily.

•For a referred client, a counsellor has to or can give advice by

using counseling techniques.

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The Aims of Counselling

Insight Relating with others Self-awareness

Self-acceptance Self-actualization Problem-solving

Decision-making Acquisition of social Cognitive,
skills behavioral change
Removal/reduction Personal Positive mental
of symptoms effectiveness health

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Counselling Process (6 stages)

Termination and
Start a session End of session
follow-up

Intervention and
Research and
Rapport building problem solving
evaluation
(Working)

Assessment and
Formulation of
Diagnosis (Problem
counseling goals
Identification)

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Relationship between Counseling & Psychotherapy

Similarities (McLeod, 2009)

Both psychotherapy and counseling provide individuals
with a confidential space in which to explore personal
difficulties.
Effective practice depends on the quality of client-
psychotherapist or client-counselor relationship.

Self-awareness and personal psychotherapy

/counselling are valued elements of training and
ongoing development.
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The Differences between Psychotherapy & Counselling
Psychotherapy
A wholly professionalized
occupation
E.g. psychologists /
psychiatrists – require in-
depth expertise in specific
areas
Remediative* – existing
problems
Predominant focus on the
pathology**
Counselling
Professions An activity that includes
specialist professional
workers, but also
encompasses
paraprofessionals,
volunteers, and those
whose practice is
embedded within other
occupational roles.
E.g. Career counselors
Focus Developmental – fosters
coping skills
Predominant focus on
personal strengths and
resources

* Provide treatment or solution to a problem or disease

** the science of the causes and effects of diseases
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The Differences between Psychotherapy & Counselling

Psychotherapy Counselling
Many psychotherapists Backgrounds and Counsellors are likely to be
have a psychology degree, Entrance drawn from a wide variety
which functions as a key Qualification of backgrounds; entrance
entrance qualification. qualification is life
experience and maturity
rather than any particular
academic specialism.
More complex problems – Clients’ Problem “Problems of living” – need
may require formal assistance with specific
diagnostic procedures problems
Short- and long-term goals Goals Short-term goals
(resolution of immediate
concerns)

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The Differences between Psychotherapy & Counselling
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapeutic
approaches – complex
Treatment may involve the
application of interventions
defined by a protocol,
manual or specific therapy
model.
Counselling
Treatment Short-term – can include
Approaches preventative approaches
and counseling strategies
The helping process
involves counsellors and
client working
collaboratively, using
methods that may stretch
beyond single protocol or
manual.
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Differentiate Formal helping from Informal helping

•E.g. counsellors vs. friends/relatives

•Maintain a degree of objectivity- rule out personal bias
•Guided by Code of Ethics- to protect clients from
malpractice
•Challenge client with painful issue- Intense, emotionally
exhausting experience
•Application of counseling strategies and techniques-
promote systematic growth

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Types of Professional Helpers
Marriage, child
Mental health School
& family
counselor counselor
counselors

Clinical School
Psychiatrist
psychologist psychologist

Pastoral Psychiatric
Social worker
counselor nurse

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Who is the Counsellor?
•Counsellors must adapt elements of:
•Empathy
•Genuineness
•Unconditional
•Non-judgmental
Emotionally
Caring Self-awareness Self-acceptance
stable
Positive self-
Self-realization Self-disclosure
esteem
Tolerance of
Courageous Patient
ambiguity
Encouraging Artistic Spirituality

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Personal Characteristics of Effective Counsellors

•Having an identity – they know they are, what they are

capable of becoming, what they want out of life and what is
essential
•Respect and appreciate themselves – they can give help
and love out of their own sense of self-worth and strength
•Able to recognize and accept their own power – they feel
adequate with others and allow others to feel powerful with
them

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…Personal Characteristics of Effective Counsellors

•Open to change – they exhibit a willingness and

courage to leave the security of known if they are not
satisfied with what they have. They make decisions about
how they would like to change, and they work toward
becoming the person they would like to become.

•Feel alive, and their choices are life-oriented – they

are committed to living fully rather than settling for mere
existence.

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… Personal Characteristics of Effective Counsellors

•They are authentic, sincere and honest.

•Sense of humor – able to put the events of life in perspective. They

have not forgotten how to laugh.

•They make mistakes and are willing to admit them.

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… Personal Characteristics of Effective Counsellors

uGenerally live in the present – they are not riveted to the past nor
fixated on the future.

uAppreciate the influence of culture – they are aware of the ways

in which their own culture affects them, and they respect the diversity
of values espoused by other cultures. They are sensitive to the
unique differences arising out of social class, race and gender.

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… Personal Characteristics of Effective Counsellors

•They become deeply involved in their work and derive meaning

from it.

•Able to maintain healthy boundaries – they struggle to be fully

present for their clients, they don’t carry the problems of their clients
around with them during leisure hours. They know how to say “no”,
which allow them to keep a balance in their lives.

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The Diversity of Theory and Practice in Counselling

•World War 1 and 2 surged up demands for

counselling services - for its diversity due to the
fact that counselling emerged during 20th
century in response to a mix of cultural,
economic and social forces.

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 … The Diversity of Theory and Practice in Counselling

Today,
uDifferent models
uDifferent approaches
uWide diversity on counselling practice
uProvided in various settings
uInvolve with a wide variety of client groups

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… The Diversity of Theory and Practice in Counselling

•Different types of counselling:

•Individual counselling
•Group counselling/ support group
•Family counselling
•Couple/ marital counselling
•Pre-marital counselling
•Divorce counselling
•Career and life style counselling
•Community counselling and consultation
•Grief counselling
•Crisis intervention

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… The Diversity of Theory and Practice in Counselling

uCounsellor in different settings:

uCounsellor working in systems: Family counselling
uConsultation and supervision
uHealth center – e.g., hospitals
uIndustrial and organization – e.g.: career, training, etc.
uReligious units
uHigh school/ university: Student affairs practice
uAgency/ private practice
uCrisis center
uRehabilitation center
uResearch and education center

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… The Diversity of Theory and Practice in Counselling

uVarious theoretical approaches to counselling:

uPsychodynamic (Freudian)
uPerson-Centered (Carl Rogers)
uCognitive Behavior Therapy
uRational Emotive Behavior Therapy (Albert Ellis)
uGestalt Therapy
uReality Therapy
uSolution-Focused Therapy
uTransactional Analysis
uBrief Therapy Approaches
uTranspersonal Counselling

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Summary of Topic
uCounseling is a form of helps that focuses on the needs and goals
of the counselee (client).
uThe demands of counseling reflect the strain and fragmentation
of life in today’s society.
uCounseling is similar to, and also different from, other forms of
help such as psychotherapy and social work.
uThe diversity of counseling theories, models, and settings reflect
different aspects and roles of counseling process.
uThe diversity and heterogeneity of counseling can be seen as a
strength, reflecting the sensitivity of counseling to the vast different
in human experience.

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Reflective Question
A person asks you, “what does a counsellor
do?”. What could be your answer before and
after you attended this lecture?

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Q&A

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