General Counselling

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General 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 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.

Advantages

In the counselling relationship you can expect:

 

  • A process that occurs when a client and counsellor set aside time 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 of 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.
  • There are a number of skills that are required by counsellors. Perhaps the most important are good communication skills. Counsellors need to be particularly able to listen effectively, giving their full attention to the client. They need to be aware of body language and other non verbal communication. Clients will often communicate far more non-verbally than verbally, so this is an important area of skill.
  • Questioning is an important skill for counsellors, just as it is in coaching. Counsellors use questioning both to improve their understanding (as a form of clarification), and also as an active way to help expose the client’s feelings and emotions. They will also use reflection to show that they have heard the client, and to validate the client’s feelings and words.
  • They also need to be empathetic. This means that they are aware of their client’s feelings and emotions. Empathy goes beyond being sympathetic (which is basically feeling sorry for someone), because the root of the word means to ‘feel with’. Empathy therefore means that the counsellor understands how the clients feels and can therefore ask appropriate questions and lead the client to positive conclusions. The nature of empathy is rooted in helping others, and particularly in empowering them to help themselves, so this is an essential skill area for counsellors.

General

Counselling and Psychotherapy

very similar, but not exactly the same.

 

Both describe a process of helping someone to come to terms with and work out solutions to their problems. However, they vary in the approach used, and underpinning model and thinking.

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 on the psychodynamic approach—it encourages the client to go back to their earlier experiences and explore how these experiences affect their current ‘problem’.

Like coaching, counselling is rooted in the principle that individuals can help themselves, provided that they receive the right kind of support.

A counsellor is not there to tell their clients what to do, or how to do it, but to help them work out for themselves what they are going do, and the best approach to take. It is, therefore, very individual and person-centred, and those who provide counselling need to remember that above all.

Benefits

Like coaching, counselling is rooted in the principle that individuals can help themselves, provided that they receive the right kind of support. A counsellor is not there to tell their clients what to do, or how to do it, but to help them work out for themselves what they are going do, and the best approach to take. It is, therefore, very individual and person-centred, and those who provide counselling need to remember that above all.

Benefits:

Counselling and Psychotherapy can be of great support in times of crisis or change. It involves the provision of professional assistance to people who are experiencing personal issues, in order to help alleviate those difficulties.

Everyone faces challenges and difficulties in their life at some time or another, its part of our shared human experience. But sometimes they can be overwhelming and we feel like we are helpless.  Stress over a job, anxiety caused by uncertainty over the future, loss because of bereavement or marriage break-up, problems over addiction or difficulties in a relationship are just some of the reasons why people feel they can benefit by talking to a professional Counsellor or Psychotherapist.

 IACP about the advantages of therapy

Success

Like coaching, counselling is rooted in the principle that individuals can help themselves, provided that they receive the right kind of support. A counsellor is not there to tell their clients what to do, or how to do it, but to help them work out for themselves what they are going do, and the best approach to take. It is, therefore, very individual and person-centred, and those who provide counselling need to remember that above all.

 

Success:

Counselling can be a difficult process and there many factors that can contribute towards the success of the engagement or otherwise lead to zero or negative gains.

  • Client Factors
    The client is not a passive object who sits there and is treated in the manner of a traditional doctor-patient situation. A critical question is about what is going on in their heads and they hence need to be an active part of the process. If they have positive expectation and faith in the counselling process and counsellor, then their chances of success will increase. Likewise, if they have willingly sought out the counsellor and are truly seeking resolution then this will help too. On the other hand, being depressed or otherwise negative may act to hinder the treatment, for example where they do not engage well or work to change their thoughts and actions. In such cases, the skill of the counsellor becomes more critical.
  • Counsellor Factors
    The counsellor has a significant effect on the outcomes of the sessions. They first should encourage and support the client in taking a positive viewpoint about the treatment and the outcomes. A counsellor who is warm and has empathetic and positive regard for their clients, with a non-judgemental and accepting approach will be more likely to create the right conditions for success. And of course, the counsellor should be expert in the methods that they practice, with a continuing concern for improving their ability in a discipline that is both science and art.
  • Contextual Factors
    The environment in which the counselling takes place can have a significant effect. If it takes place where the client feels uncomfortable (for example where a school counsellor speaks with a child in a feared classroom) then this may negatively affect the session. Ideally, the counselling takes place in a quiet, warm and comfortable place away from any distraction (including distant sounds) where the counsellor and client can talk in comfort and safety.
  • Process Factors
    There are many factors within the counselling process that may contribute towards success including:
  1. Understanding of client and counsellor roles
  2. Bonding between client and counsellor
  3. Open listening
  4. Unconditional acceptance
  5. Exploration of problems
  6. Insights and awareness of issues
  7. Periods of reflection and inner thought
  8. Opportunity for catharsis and emotional release
  9. Learning new models and ways of thinking
  10. Desensitization of sensitive issues
  11. Trial and adoption of new ways of thinking and acting
  12. Feedback on the success of trials
  13. Ongoing practice and improvement

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