What is Counselling
It is often unclear what Counselling actually entails. Many people associate Counselling with 'patients' sitting on uncomfortable couches in sterile consulting rooms with their therapists. Or, they may think of highly qualified experts giving advice about how to live their lives. Counselling is a topic that many people are skeptical of, especially men. Counsellors are feared by many people because they may show weakness or admit to having failed. Counselling can cause people to lose control over their emotions, and make them feel embarrassed.
Others view going to see a counselor as a sign they are mentally ill or going insane. Some people worry that counselling is not for those who are unable to solve their problems on their own. Some worry that counsellors will see or know things about people they don't want others to know. This list could go on. Professional counselling isn't like that. Family Therapy
Counselling is a helping professional relationship between two people (sometimes more than one, like in couple counselling or family counselling). The counsellor and the client are called a counsellor. Counselling is a relationship that helps to address, resolve, or explore a life problem, concern, or difficulty. This can be achieved by working together with the counsellor to achieve a clearly defined goal.
Counselling is a great way to help people who are struggling with a problem.
People can engage in unhelpful, repetitive behaviours in relation to an issue. They have the chance to explore and implement new, more helpful solutions to the problem or to begin to learn new skills and behaviors that will help them better cope in the future. Sometimes, people cannot see the problem from all angles. It is possible to gain a different perspective. Sometimes, counselling can be about more than one aspect.
Counselling is not a form of advice. While the counsellor may offer suggestions or observations to help the client, this happens within the context of a supportive working relationship. The client decides what is most effective. The client is the one with the greatest expertise in their lives. Counselling should be a way to help the client understand their own needs and not rely on the counsellor. Counselling is not always gentle or touchy-feely. It is not meant to make you feel happy. Counselling can be compelling, challenging, confronting, and sometimes even fascinating at times. Sometimes it is even funny and fun.
Counsellors are facilitators who help clients understand their emotions, behaviours and relationships. Counsellors can help clients gain new skills to better manage their problems.
Although most counselling takes place in a confidential room like a counseling room, there are increasing numbers of counselling happening in other environments, such as at home and in workplaces, in public places with privacy, over the phone, and now via email.
Counselling can be done in many ways. It is a good idea that you search for a counselling modality that best suits your needs and understanding of the world. For example, strategies such as 'cognitive behaviour' and rational emotive behavior' place more emphasis on clients' thoughts and beliefs. 'Humanistic' approaches emphasize the client-counsellor relationship and other approaches focus on emotional experience. Solutions-focused approaches tend to be less concerned about the past and more focused on what will happen in the future. Some modalities may require more commitments than others. Some are action-oriented, while others are talk-based. Research shows that most counsellors draw on a range of perspectives. However, they may prefer certain styles to others. It's important to inquire about these preferences when you choose a counsellor so you can find the right approach for you.