Topic 1

Introduction to counselling
 What is counselling
• Counselling can be understood as a relationship and
conversational space that enables problems in living to be
explored and resolved. Counselling is a flexible form of
helping that respects diversity and strives to understand
problems from the point of view of the client, rather than
trying to fit the client to a pre-existing diagnostic system.
• Counselling is a relationship of trust where confidentiality is
paramount for successful counselling.
 Definition of counselling
There are many definitions of counselling formulated by professional
bodies and leading figure on the field:
• Krumboltz (1965): counselling is any ethical activity performed by a
counsellor in assisting a client demonstrates a behaviour that motivates
towards problem solving.
• Burks and Stefflre (1979:14): counselling refers to a professional
relationship between a trained counsellor and a client ……………. designed
to help clients to understand and clarify their views of the lifespace and to
learn to reach their self-determined goals through meaningful , well
informed choices and through resolution of problems of emotional or
interpersonal nature
 Definition of counselling
• American Counselling Association website 2013: counselling is a
professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals , families
and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education and
career goals.
• 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 situationand implement the
chosen alternative.
 Definition of counselling
• John Mc Leod 2013:7 (An introduction to counselling 5th ed): counselling
is a purposeful, private conversation arising from the intention of one
person (couple or family) to reflect and resolve a problem in living and
the willingness of another person to assist in that endeavour.
• Questions to help you understand counselling
Who is involved in counselling and what are their roles?
What type of relationship between counsellor and client?
Where and when counselling session takes place?
What is the purpose of counselling?
 Similarities between counselling and
psychotherapy
• Both ‘psychotherapy’ and ‘counselling’ are terms used to
describe 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 experiences of a client.
Psychotherapy however is based in the psychodynamic
approach to counselling. It encourages the client to go back
to their experiences and explore how these experiences
effect their current problem
 Similarities between counselling and
psychotherapy
• Counselling helps people to identify crises and problems in
their life and encourages them to take positive steps to
address them.
• Counselling is a short-term process that encourages people
to understand and change their behaviour.
• It is probably the best option for people who understand the
concept of well-being and for someone who is perhaps more
adapt at problem solving.
 Similarities between counselling and
psychotherapy
• Psychotherapy is more likely to help client with psychological
problems that have built up over a long period of time; it helps client
to become conscious of experiences which they were previously
unaware of; helps to understand their thoughts, feelings and actions
more clearly.
• Psychotherapy helps people identify emotional issues and uncover
the reasons for problems and difficulties.
• Counselling agencies are part of their communities. Ex. A student
counselling service in a university. However psychotherapy agencies
are separated from the communities within which they are located.
 Counselling aims
Five counselling aims:
• Positive change of behaviour: make behaviour change easier
• Positive relationship: increase client’s ability to start and continue
relationship
• Cope with problems and issues: help clients cope with problems and
issues effectively
• Effective decision making process: encourage effective decision making
process
• Achievement potential: help clients’ development and achievement
potential
 Skills of a counsellor
• A non-judgemental outlook and a willingness to work with all
kinds of people;
• excellent observation and listening skills;
• patience, tolerance and sensitivity;
• an understanding of your own attitudes and responses;
• a belief that all clients are able to make positive changes;
• an appreciation of confidentiality issues.
 Roles of a counsellor
• Schools: help students make appropriate career choices
• Prisons: help inmates in rehabilitation process and integrating them into
the community
• Hospitals: help families that have lost their family membersto deal with
the loss
• Islamic officers: help spouses who are experiencing marital problems
• Government offices: help stressed employees or people with problem of
being burnt out
• Churches: help those with personal problems such as issues with their
parents
 Roles of a counsellor
Focus of counselling includes:
• Physical health
• Social needs
• Mental health
• Emotional needs
• Spiritual needs
Beliefs and characteristics of a counsellor
Beliefs that:
• A client is a unique individual
• A client can change
• A client can function effectively as an individual
Characteristics of a counsellor:
• Be knowledgeable and skilful in helping individuals
• Be willing to be involved
• Be able to know yourself
 Counselling and guidance services
• Teaching and training: spread information and train skills
• Counselling: help achieve resolution fo the client’s problems
• Examinations:offers exams such as IQ test, EQ test and personality
test
 Group counselling
• A therapy which utilise interpersonal interaction – to interact with
others to identify and understand our maladaptive patterns and how
to change them.
• Group interactions provide an opportunity to build relationships and
receive interpersonal feedback about how we experience one
another.
• Gain specific skills and strategies to meet personal goals, explore
areas that present personal challenges, and gain support and
encouragement from others. Group is one of the most effective ways
to explore and support changes you wish to make in your life.
 Advantages of group counselling
• Cost less. Enable a counsellor to meet more clients in a short time
• Help others and being helped: provides opportunity to help others as
well as being help
• Gives opportunity to explore interpersonal problem. Gain insights
through shared experiences and genuine feedback from peers or
group members
• Group members provide different perspectives which are often
helpful in promoting growth and change. Able to learn new things
from others.
 Advantages of group counselling
• Avoiding isolation and loneliness: feeling that one is not alone in
facing one’s problem. Get support from group members with similar
problems
• Help to build confidence and self esteem so that you may feel more in
control of your life
• Exploring the issues in depth: provide client the chance to explore
their problems and at the same time share the problems with others
There are two major types of groups:
Guidance group and Counselling group
 Confidentiality in counselling
In counselling confidentiality is an important aspect to build good
rapport. A counsellor is the most trusted person to the client. If the client
no longer trusted the counsellor, the good relationship will be at stake
and most likely he/she would refuse to meet the counsellor. Situation in
which confidentiality may be violated are as follows:
• The client is harming himself/herself or others
• The client demands that his/her particulars be revealed
• The court demands that the clients’ particulars be repeated;
• The counsellor suspects that there has been a child abuse case involved
Thanks
Counselling skills: The skilled helper model
Gerard Egan (2004) proposes a three-stage approach to
facilitating change which is similar to the Hill (2004)
framework:
• Stage 1: helping the client to tell their story
• Stage 2: helping the client to determine what they need and
want
• Stage 3: implementing action strategies to help the client to
get what they need and want
 Helping the client to tell their story
1. Tuning in – empathic presence
2. Listening to verbal and non-verbal communication
3. Communicating back to the client what you have understood
4. Highlighting core issues in the client’s story
5. Probing and summarizing
6. Identifying problems and opportunities
7. Identifying contradiction in the story and challenging the client
 Helping the client to determine what they
need and want
1. Goal setting
2. Decision making
3. Identifying possibilities for a better future
4. Moving from possibilities to choices
5. Making a commitment to change
 Implementing action strategies to help the
client get what they need and want
1. Identifying and evaluation strategies
2. Making an action plan
3. Making change happen
 Core counselling skills
1. Attending
- In a counselling relationship the client should be the focus of attention.
- Two sides – internal and external:
Internal- counsellor genuinely focused on the client, rather than
preoccupied with other matters.
External level- the quality of the counsellor’s attention needs to be
conveyed to the client. Ex: a slight forward lean, facial expression and
gestures that are responsive to the client, appropriate eye contact, and
‘minimal encouragers’ eg. ‘hmmm’, ‘yes’.
2. Listening