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 (9
th
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 Psychotherapy
Both 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 Counsellor
First 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 Skills
Communication 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 clients 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 Management
Life 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_t
hat_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