Counselling Process:
counselling process is a planned, structured dialogue between a counsellor and a client.
It is a cooperative process in which a trained professional helps a person called the client
to identify sources of difficulties or concerns that he or she is experiencing.
It is a cooperative process in which a trained professional helps a person called the client
to identify sources of difficulties or concerns that he or she is experiencing. Together
they develop ways to deal and to overcome those problems, so that the person has new
skills and increased understanding of themselves and others.
For example, students in a college or university, lack clarity on educational or career
directions, they might have difficulty in sharing rooms with the students from different
race, religion. Now the counsellor tries to help the student to adjust with the college and
other problems by giving guidance and counselling.
The steps in Counselling Process are:
1. Identification of the need for counselling:
The most important step in counselling is to identify the need for counselling, whether
the person concerned requires counselling at all and if so what is the reason for that.
2. Preparation for Counselling:
Successful counselling requires preparation. To prepare for counselling the following
needs to be done
Selecting a suitable place: As for selecting a suitable place, counselling should be carried
out in an environment that minimizes interruptions and is free from distracting sights
and sounds.
Scheduling time: Regarding the scheduling the time, when possible, the client should be
counseled after deciding upon a mutually convenient time. The length of time required
for counselling depends on the complexity of the issues. Generally a counseling session
should last less than an hour. If the client needs more time, a second session may be
scheduled. Also the counsellor should select a time free from competition with other
activities and consider what has to been planned after the counselling session. Important
events can distract a client from concentrating on counselling.
Notify the person or the client in well advance: For a counselling session to be client
centered, the client must have time to prepare for it. The client should know why, where
and when the counselling sessions will take place. Counselling following a specific event
should happen as close to the event as possible. However for performance or
professional development counselling, clients may need a week or more to prepare or
review specific products, such as support forms or counselling records.
Organize Information: The counsellor should review all pertinent information. This
includes the purpose of the counselling, facts and observations about the client,
identification of possible problems, main points of discussion and development of a plan
of action. Focus on specific and objective behaviors that the client must maintain or
improve as well as a plan of action with clear, obtainable goals.
Outline the Counselling session components: It is important to outline the components
of the counselling session. For this, using the information obtained, the counsellor
should determine what to discus during the counselling sessions. He must note what
prompted the counselling, what the counsellor aims to achieve and what the role of the
counsellor is. It is important to identify possible comments or questions to help the
counsellor to keep the counselling sessions client centered and help the client progress
through its stages. Although the counsellor never knows what a client will say or do
during counselling, a written outline helps to organize the sessions and enhance the
chances of positive results.
Plan the Counselling Strategy: Many approaches to counselling can be done, such as
directive, non-directive and combined approaches to counselling. The counsellor should
use a strategy that suits the clients and the situations.
Establish the Right Atmosphere: The counsellor must establish the right atmosphere
which promotes two way communication between a counsellor and a client. Some
situations make an informal atmosphere inappropriate. The counsellor should sit in a
such a manner that he is able to observe every emotion of the client and note every
gesture verbal and non-verbal that the client makes so that the same could be used in
counselling and problem solving sessions.
Conduction of the Counselling sessions:
The very next step would be to conduct the counselling session with the client. While
conducting the counselling sessions the counsellor should be flexible. Often counselling
for a specific incident occurs spontaneously as counsellor encounter clients in their daily
activities. Even when the counsellor has not been prepared for the formal counselling,
the counsellor should always address the four basic components of counselling session.
Their purpose is to guide effective counselling rather than mandate a series of rigid
steps.
4. Opening the Sessions:
In the session opening, the counsellor should state the purpose of the session and
establish a client centered setting. The best way to open a counselling session is to
clearly state its purpose. For example “the purpose of this counselling session is to
discuss your personal relationship problem with your spouse and then create a plan to
enhance the relationship so that you can manage your problems without difficulty”. If
needed the counsellor can always start the counselling sessions by reviewing the status
of the previous plan of action.
5. Discussing the Issues:
The counsellor and the client should attempt to develop a mutual understanding of the
issues. The counsellor can develop this by letting the client do most of the talking. He
can use active listening, respond and question without dominating the conversation. The
aim of the counsellor is to help the client better understand the subject of counselling,
for example, the interpersonal relationship, a problem situation and its impact on the
clients daily routine. It is important that the counsellor define the issues as poor
interpersonal relationship and does not allow the client to define the issues as one which
cannot be set right. The counsellor should help the client consider altering the
conditions under which the client may be able to improve the interpersonal relationship.
Developing a plan of Action:
A plan of action identifies a method of achieving a desired result. It specifies what the
subordinate must do to reach the goals set during the counselling session. The plan of
action must be specific. It should show the client as to how to modify or maintain his
behavior. The plan must use concrete and direct terms.
7. Recording and closing the Session:
Although requirements to record counselling sessions vary, a counsellor always benefits
by documenting the main points of a counselling session. Documentation serves as a
reference to the agreed upon plan of actions and the client’s accomplishments,
improvements, personal preference or problems. A complete record is made is to aid in
making recommendations for professional development, schools, promotions and
evaluation reports.
To close the session, the counsellor should summaries its key points and ask if the client
understands the plan of action. Invite the client to review the plan of action and what is
expected of the counsellor. With the client, the counsellor should establish follow up
measures necessary to support the successful implementation of the plan of action.
These may include providing the client with resources and time, periodically assessing
the plan and following through on referrals. The counsellor must schedule any needed
future meetings, even if only tentatively, before terminating the counselling sessions.
8. Follow Up:
The counselling process does not end with the counselling session. It continues through
implementation of the plan of action and evaluation of results. After counselling, the
counsellor must support the clients as they implement their plans of action. Support may
include teaching, coaching, providing time and resources. The counsellor must observe
and assess this process and possibly modify the plan to meet its goals. Appropriate
measures after counselling include follow up counselling, making referrals and taking
corrective measures.
