UNIT I

Counselling
An overview
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DEFINITION OF COUNSELING
Counseling is an interactive process characterized by a unique
relationship between counselor and client that leads to change in the
client in one or more of the following areas:

Behavior – Changes in actions, coping, decision-making, or

relationships
Beliefs & Values – Shifts in how clients view themselves, others, and
the world
Emotional Distress – Reduction in uncomfortable feelings or
reactions to stress
Goals of counselling
Focus on two aspects
1.Rapport building
2.Process – aims at building
therapeutic climate - genuineness,
unconditional positive regard and an
inherent trust.

Types of goals
1. Immediate goals

2. Long term goals – fully functioning person

3. Process goals – conducive therapeutic

climate for change

Depression
Goals of counselling
1. Facilitate behavior change
2.Resolution of problems
3.Enhancing coping skills
4.Promoting decision making
5.Improving relationships
6.Facilitating client’s potential
7.Achievement of positive mental health

Types of goals
1. Immediate goals

2. Long term goals – fully functioning person

3. Process goals – conducive therapeutic

climate for change

Depression
 The Case of Thad
Thad, a 22-year-old university student, sought counseling because he was
struggling to concentrate on his studies and felt constant tension. Two months
earlier, he had moved out of his parents' home for the first time and into his own
apartment.
He was overwhelmed with guilt, feeling that he had "deserted" his parents
when they needed him—especially since his father had a serious degenerative
health condition that required some special care, although he was not completely
dependent. His mother, however, was healthy, energetic, and fully capable of
supporting her husband.
Through counseling, Thad gradually came to understand that while his
parents valued his love and involvement, they did not need his daily physical
presence.
In fact, his routine visits were sometimes interfering with their own
activities. He realized that being a good son did not mean being physically present
every day, and that his parents' perception of him was not tied to how often he
came home.
This shift in his beliefs helped Thad let go of the guilt, and he was able to live
independently with a healthier mindset. He started turning his visits into special
occasions, which improved the quality of time spent with his family.
As a result, his anxiety decreased, and he was once again able to focus on
his academics and personal life.
 The Case of Thad
Questions for Further Thought

1. What other irrational thoughts may have led to Thad’s

feelings of guilt about his treatment of his parents?
2. What rational thoughts do you believe replaced them as
counseling proceeded?
3. How did Thad's changed thinking affect his behavior?
4. How do you think this new perception of self and family
might affect his other relationships?
 UNIT I

Characteristics of a counselor
Person-to-person – client experiences growth

Research – therapist is important

Wampold (2001) – meta analysis

personal and interpersonal components are essential
for effective therapy

therapy relationship > therapy methods

 Personal Characteristics
❑ Have an identity – self awareness, capabilities, wants etc
❑ Respect and appreciate themselves – give & receive love, self worth
& strength
❑ Open to change – willingness to change, leave security, work
towards who they want to become
❑ Make choices that are life oriented – aware of early life decisions,
not victims, revise decisions, live fully and not settle for mere
existence
❑ Authentic, sincere and honest – congruence between personal and
professional life
 Personal Characteristics
❖ Have a sense of humor – laugh at the world and even at self
❖ Make mistakes and willing to admit them – do not dismiss and
also do not dwell
❖ Live in the present – do not get fixated with past not future, live
“now”
❖ Appreciate the influence of culture – aware of cultural influences,
respect diversity of values, sensitives to differences in race,
ethnicity, social class, gender, sexual orientation
❖ Sincere interest in the welfare of others – respect, care, trust and
value of others
❖ Effective interpersonal skills – enter another world, form
collaborative relationships, another person’s perspective, work
towards consensual goals
 Personal Characteristics
❖ Deeply involved in their work and derive meaning from it – accept
rewards but are not slaves to it
❖ Passionate – pursue dreams and passion, energy
❖ Maintain healthy boundaries – don’t carry the problems of their
clients around, can say NO
 Other Characteristics
❖ Education and Training Licensure
❖ Other Qualifications
❖ Certification and Advancement
❖ Counselor and Values
 Concepts of Advice, Guidance and Psychotherapy in relation to counselling,
Origin:
Counseling as a profession began in the early 1900s with the
progressive guidance movement
Emphasis on prevention and purposefulness
Aim: Help individuals avoid poor life choices and find meaning,
direction, and fulfillment
Today:
Focus has expanded to include:
• Wellness
• Development
• Mindfulness
• Mattering
• Meaningfulness
• Growth
• Remediation of mental disorders
Counseling serves:
• Individuals, couples, groups, families
• Across the life span
 Concepts of Advice, Guidance and Psychotherapy in relation to counselling,
What is Guidance?
• Helps people make important life decisions (e.g., career,
education)
• Focuses on decision-making, not deep emotional issues
• Historically used in schools, career centers, families, religious
settings
• Common in schools, families, and religious settings

Characteristics of Guidance:
• Based on a relationship between unequals (e.g., adult guides
child/student)
• More directive, less collaborative
• Helps individuals choose what they value
Present Status:
• The term is now more historical
• Still relevant in daily life but not central in professional
counseling
 Concepts of Advice, Guidance and Psychotherapy in relation to counselling,
Understanding Psychotherapy

Traditional Psychotherapy Focus:

Deals with serious intrapsychic disorders (e.g., delusions, deep
personality issues)

Focus on:
The past more than the present
Insight more than immediate change
Therapist as expert
Detachment in therapist’s style

Time Frame & Setting:

Long-term: 20–40 sessions over 6 months to 2 years
Traditionally in inpatient/residential settings (e.g., mental hospitals)
Concepts of Advice, Guidance and Psychotherapy in relation to counselling,

➢ Today, the line between counseling and psychotherapy is less

distinct
➢ Both use similar theories (e.g., CBT, psychoanalysis)
➢ Both can occur in multiple settings
➢ Clinicians often decide the label based on:
▪ Client's needs
▪ Context
▪ Type of issues
 06

Individual
Definition:
Individual counseling, also known as one-on-one therapy or
individual psychotherapy, involves a personal, confidential

Counselling
relationship between a client and a trained therapist.

• allows clients to explore their thoughts, feelings, and

behaviors in depth.

Focus:
• tailored to the individual’s unique needs, addressing specific
emotional, psychological, or behavioral issues.
• Common concerns include anxiety, depression, relationship
problems, trauma, and personal growth.

Structure:
• Sessions typically last 45 minutes to an hour
• conducted in a private setting.
• focused attention- safe environment
Individual
06

Benefits:

Counselling
Confidentiality: Information shared
remains private, fostering trust and
openness.
Personalized Attention: Therapists can
tailor interventions specifically to the
individual's needs.
Comfort: Clients may feel more at ease
discussing sensitive issues in a one-on-
one setting.
Goal-Oriented: The therapy is often
structured around the client’s specific
goals and progress is regularly assessed.
put for one slide
 Definition:

Group
A therapist works with multiple clients 06
who share and support each other in a

Counselling
group setting.
Focus:
Addresses shared concerns like
addiction, grief, or social skills, building
a sense of community.
Structure:
Includes discussions and activities;
usually 5–15 participants.
Benefits:
Support Network: Learn from others’
experiences
Diverse Views: Hear different coping
strategies
Cost-Effective: More affordable than
one-on-one therapy