TOPIC 1 : HPDG 2103

INTRODUCTION TO COUNSELLING

Tutorial 1:
DR HJH MERIAM BINTI ISMAIL
E-TUTOR OUM
 INTRODUCTION
Counselling services have reached an encouraging
level especially in schools and institutions of higher
learning, in line with economic, social, cultural,
educational, science and technological developments.
 COUNSELLING
Various social problems
exist directly or indirectly as
a result of rapid changes in
society. These changes are:
(c) The existence of big
organisations in private and
corporate fields that drive
people to be alienated
when they pay less attention
to these individuals
(a) A big migration of
young people searching
for jobs in towns;
(d) The influence of print and
electronic media on the thoughts
and attitudes of humans
especially among children and
adolescents that go against
traditional society values;
(b) A big family system
breaks into smaller
families and smaller
families, become the
norm;
(e) A better way of life
that destroys good
values in individuals
and society
 Aims at helping a person learn to make a
decision and carrying out that decision

DEFINITION OF
COUNSELLING Counselling as learning.

Counselling is any ethical activity performed

by a counsellor in assisting a client
demonstrates a behaviour that motivates
towards problem solving (Krumboltz , 1965)
 DEFINITION OF COUNSELLING
The American Guidance and Personnel Society (1980)
defines counselling as using counselling procedures and other fields
related to behavioural science to help learn how to solve certain
problem, making decisions regarding career choices, personal growth,
marriage, family or other interpersonal matters.

Zainal Abidin (2002),

Counselling is a discussion between a trained counsellor and an
individual or a small group that experiences confusion and needs help,
and together they think and analyse a few alternatives to overcome
the chaotic situation and implement the chosen alternative.
 THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
COUNSELLING AND
PSYCHOTHERAPY

The difference between the two is in the objective:

The counselling objective is to help an individual
overcome his or her personal growth problem at any time
towards achieving the optimum strength development that
is in him or her.
- Psychotherapy also solves reconstructive change.
- Psychotherapy is carried out for a long period (one
month to two years) as an outpatient or inpatient
COUNSELLING AIMS
 ROLES OF A A counsellors role depends on the place and
COUNSELLOR setting in which he contributes his service
Aspects that make up a whole individual
 BELIEFS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF A
COUNSELLOR
Counsellor’s client must be able you as a counsellor need
a) A Client is a
to feel that the counsellor is a Unique Individual to have the following
helper with certain beliefs and characteristics
characteristics.
(b) A Client can
Change (a) Be Knowledgeable and Skilful
You as a counsellor should in Helping Individuals
have the following beliefs
regarding your clients (c) A Client can
Function Effectively (b) Be Willing (c) Be Able to
as an Individual to be Involved Know Yourself
 Counsellors
should have
the following
characteristics:
 COUNSELLING
AND GUIDANCE
SERVICES
 GROUP COUNSELLING
➢Group counselling is implemented to develop
self-awareness and to improve interpersonal skills.

➢A group contains three or more individuals

(normally not more than ten members) who mutually
influence each other.
 TYPES OF GROUPS:

Guidance Groups

Counselling Groups
 The guidance groups are used to spread
information, particularly for the students at
schools or higher educational institutions.

The topic delivered is the topic chosen by the counsellor.

Guidance (i) Time management;

Groups (ii) Attending interviews;

(iii) Study skills;

(iv) Career selection; and

(v) Exam preparation.
 Counselling groups consist of five to 10 members
with no specific structure.
The counsellor serves to create a conducive
condition for the members to discuss their
Counselling problems without them feeling depressed or
Groups threatened.
Things to be shared with the other members are
things that they feel comfortable to talk about in
public such as family problems, interpersonal
relationships, problems regarding self-concept
and personal problems faced.
 The more the trust of the client toward the counsellor is, the
easier it would be for the client to discuss his or her problems
with the counsellor.

Here are some principles of confidentiality that may help the

counsellor:

CONFIDENTIALITY (a) The burden of maintaining the confidentiality is not definitive

IN COUNSELLING as there are some situations that allow the counsellor to reveal
the secrets;

(b) Confidentiality is maintained if it does not threaten other

individual’s rights or the public; and

(c) Confidentiality depends on the matters being kept confidential. If

the issue which is said to be confidential has been made public, the
counsellor is no longer attached to the question of confidentiality.
 CONFIDENTIALITY IN COUNSELLING
The situations in which confidentiality may be violated are as follows:
(i) The client is harming himself, herself or others;
(ii)The client demands that his or her particulars be revealed;
(iii) The court demands that the clients’ particulars be repeated; and
(iv) The counsellor suspects that there has been a child abuse case
involved.
 SUMMARY
In this topic you have been exposed to several fundamental principles and philosophy
of counselling as a basis to prepare you for your counselling sessions.

• By understanding of the objectives of counselling, you are able to know the

direction and approach of the client-counsellor discussion.
• There are five counselling goals: facilitating the client’s behavioural change;
enhancing the client’s ability to start and continue a relationship; helping the client
to manage his problems and issues; encouraging the client in the decision-making
process; and helping the client develop potential achievements
• The counsellor plays a very important role in today’s society. To be an effective
counsellor, the professional counsellor needs to have several characteristics.
 SUMMARY
• The components of guidance and counselling services are: teaching and training;
counselling; and examination services.
• There are many advantages in group counselling. Among others include practicality-
clients are given the chance to explore their interpersonal problems and feelings
within a social context with members in the group and clients stand a chance to
experiment with new behaviours with the support from other team members via their
given feedback.
• The importance of rationale confidentiality in counselling cannot be understated.
From the aspect of professional ethics, it is the counsellor’s responsibility to preserve
the confidentiality so that the good rapport built with his client is not wasted.
Confidentiality must be maintained but there are circumstances in which the
confidentiality may be violated.
 Q&A

Any Questions?