EAST AFRICA INSTITUTE OF COUNSELING

PSYCHOLOGY

LEVEL: DIPLOMA

NAME: PAUL GITHAIGA MUGO

REGISTRATION NO.: 1008/24

UNIT: INTRODUCTION TO COUNSELING I & II

UNIT CODE: 012-1

FACILITATOR: ANNE WANDATI

QUESTION: AWARENESS TO COUNSELING

DATE: 2ND MARCH 2024

Contents
Introduction............................................................................................................................3
Justification............................................................................................................................3
What is Counseling?..............................................................................................................3
How counseling works...........................................................................................................4
Benefits of Counseling...........................................................................................................4
Differences between Counseling and Other Professions that Offer Mental Health........5
Situations Requiring Counseling..........................................................................................6
Conclusion..............................................................................................................................7
References...............................................................................................................................7
Introduction
This paper is written with the goal of defining the term counseling, by using terminology and
example. It also delves deep into its mechanism, benefits and in addition, its definite contrast to
other professions within this field. The target individual in this instance, is a young college
dropout who previously studied at Nyeri National Polytechnic. Many groups and individuals in
tertiary institutions shoulder so much mental baggage, under the belief and fear of being
ridiculed and/or marginalized, despite their social status. This, unfortunately, is prevalent among
the majority of the student population. By highlighting some of the issues that affect them, it may
place heavy emphasis on the positive role of counseling.

Justification
The young man sought out assistance from the Peer Educators’ Club, where the writer was
working at that time. He chose him for counseling, believing that by showing him the true intent
of counseling, he would understand and appreciate its value, not just for himself, but also for his
friends and family. Therefore, they agreed on a date, time and private venue that they would
meet, for numerous sessions. In the first session, the young man introduced himself and gave his
thoughts about the entire process of counseling. The writer then discussed with him about the
definition of counseling, expanding on the term, by describing how counseling works as well as
its benefits. There was also a necessity to differentiate counseling, as a profession, from others
within the same field that offer mental health.

What is Counseling?
In the duration of the first session, the writer invited the young student to say what they
acknowledge/believe about the term counseling. In response, he said, “I believe that counseling
is means to help others deal with life issues by guiding them towards the right direction.” To an
extent, this description is rather broad, but factual.

Many other definitions mention the specifics about counseling, specifically from online sources.
For instance;

Counselling is a form of ‘talk therapy’, a process where an individual, couple or family meet
with a trained professional counsellor to talk about issues and problems that they are facing in
their lives. (Vision Counseling - https://www.visioncounselling.com.au/what-is-counselling/)

Counseling refers to professional guidance of the individual by utilizing psychological methods

especially in collecting case history data, using various techniques of the personal interview, and
testing interests and aptitudes. (Merriam Webster -
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counseling)

According to Counseling Tutor (https://counsellingtutor.com/counselling-definition/), it is a

contracted meeting between a client and a counsellor. The meeting happens at a set time, in an
agreed place, for the sole benefit of the client.
By the above descriptions, counseling can agreeably be summarized as a therapeutic
acquaintanceship between the counselor and client(s). Traditionally, a face-to-face meeting
between the parties would be necessary, however, with the implementation of technology in the
field, it has quickly, if not instantly, become the new norm. This notion was particularly crucial,
during the COVID pandemic of 2020, when physical contact was highly risky. In addition, it has
become very handy, where long-distance between parties, is an obstacle; by using online
functions such as; video-conferencing technology (Google Meet, Zoom Meeting, Microsoft
Teams, etc…) and online messaging applications (WhatsApp, Gmail, Proton, etc…).

How counseling works

Counseling is effective when based on mutual trust between the counselor and the client(s). This
can be built over a period of time, during the counseling sessions. In addition, a safe meeting
space is required, to allow both parties to work together efficiently. The counselor, on their part,
must be competent, well-trained and discipline to ensure the best outcome possible. This is
because, the client has the solution(s) to their own problems; the counselor’s objective is to
simply guide them towards said solution(s). They also help the client become aware of the issues
that burden them.

Benefits of Counseling
There are numerous advantages to counseling, especially to the client;

Self-exploration, as the client discovers more about themselves, their personality, values and
beliefs. This allows them to increase self-awareness and insight into their role in the problems
they may be facing. In addition, it encourages the client to embark on a personal journey toward
personal growth.

Support, that is based on the safe, non-judgmental, warm and caring environment provided for
the client(s) to feel comfortable with disclosure of personal matter. In addition, the counselor’s
use of techniques, such as; empathetic understanding, unconditional positive regard and
genuineness enhances the validation of the client(s) to disclose themselves without worry of
being judged or ridiculed or put down. In such a space, emotions are validated, situations are
normalized, all with the assurance that they are not alone.

Self-esteem, where focus is shifted to the positive aspects of the client, more specifically, their
mindset. By experiencing some sort of insecurity about themselves (appearance, abilities, skills
or personality traits); this focus on their negative aspects makes them blind to the positives they
have. Through counseling, the client(s) can accept their flaws and imperfections, as part of being
human. With self-acceptance comes self-love, self-compassion and a stronger sense of self-
confidence. They improve on their weaknesses by building upon their strengths.

Finding purpose, which is unique to every individual. For those that are in an existential crisis or
are grieving a loss usually experience a temporary loss of self/identity. Through exploration of
values, beliefs, interests, and memories, counseling may help the client rediscover their purpose,
passion, and meaning in life.

Counseling offers relief from mental health, relational, and situational concerns by providing a
safe environment to vent. Sometimes the client(s) need to let go of things that are on their mind
but are afraid of the consequences or worried about what other people would think of them.
Counseling ensures confidentiality and no judgment. When they keep negative
emotions/thoughts bottled up for so long, it’s only a matter of time until their cap pops off.
Therefore, counseling is a place to unload grievances, express frustrations, let go of resentments,
release pent up emotions, and uncover hidden pains that have been holding them back from
having a peace of mind.

There is an infinite amount of skills that the client can learn through counseling that are useful in
everyday life. These range from problem-solving and conflict resolution skills to communication
and interpersonal skills. Counseling provides a safe environment to learn, practice and
experiment with these skills before applying them to real situations outside of sessions. These
ultimately lead to better overall wellness for the body, mind and spirit.

Differences between Counseling and Other Professions that Offer Mental

Health
Counseling has a relationship with other professions in the same field, despite its principles
being different from them.

Sociology, for example, a social science that studies human societies, their interactions, and the
processes that preserve and change them. It does this by examining
the dynamics of constituent parts of societies such as institutions, communities, populations, and
gender, racial, or age groups. Sociology also studies social status or stratification, social
movements, and social change, as well as societal disorder in the form of crime, deviance,
and revolution. (Britannica 2024 - https://www.britannica.com/topic/sociology)

Psychiatry is the branch of medicine focused on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of
mental, emotional and behavioral disorders. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes
in mental health, including substance use disorders. Psychiatrists are qualified to assess both the
mental and physical aspects of psychological problems. People seek psychiatric help for many
reasons. The problems can be sudden, such as a panic attack, frightening hallucinations, thoughts
of suicide, or hearing "voices." Or they may be more long-term, such as feelings of sadness,
hopelessness, or anxiousness that never seem to lift or problems functioning, causing everyday
life to feel distorted or out of control. (American Psychiatric Association -
https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/what-is-psychiatry)

Teaching, however, is facilitation of a learning process and development of skills in learners

who may be children, adolescents or adults. It involves instilling of knowledge in a learner,
where the teacher is the information source.
Psychology, on the other hand, is a scientific discipline that studies mental states and processes
and behavior in humans and other animals. The discipline of psychology is broadly divisible into
two parts: a large profession of practitioners and a smaller but growing science of mind, brain,
and social behavior. The two have distinctive goals, training, and practices, but some
psychologists integrate the two. (Britannica 2024 -
https://www.britannica.com/science/psychology)

Occupational therapy, is the use of self-care and work and play activities to promote and
maintain health, prevent disability, increase independent function, and enhance development.
Occupation includes all the activities or tasks that a person performs each day. For example,
getting dressed, playing a sport, taking a class, cooking a meal, getting together with friends, and
working at a job are considered occupations. Participation in occupations serves many purposes,
from taking care of oneself and interacting with others to earning a living, developing skills, and
contributing to society. (Britannica 2024 - https://www.britannica.com/science/occupational-
therapy)

Situations Requiring Counseling

During the third session of counseling, the writer asked the young man to offer his opinion about
various situations he believes that would require counseling therapy. Several of them, he and the
writer listed as below;

Depression, a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way
you think and how you act. Fortunately, it is also treatable. Depression causes feelings of sadness
and/or a loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed. It can lead to a variety of emotional and
physical problems and can decrease your ability to function at work and at home. (American
Psychiatric Association - https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-
depression)

Psychological trauma, a person’s experience of emotional distress resulting from an event that
overwhelms the capacity to emotionally digest it. The precipitating event may be a one-time
occurrence or a series of occurrences perceived as seriously harmful or life-threatening to oneself
or loved ones. People process experiences differently, and not everyone has the same reaction to
any event; what one person experiences as trauma may not cause distress for another.
(Psychology Today - https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/trauma)

Addiction, a chronic condition that can affect many aspects of your life, including your physical
and mental health, relationships and career. There are two main forms of addiction: substance
use disorders and behavioral addictions. Addiction is treatable. It’s crucial to seek help as soon
as possible. (Cleveland Clinic - https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/6407-addiction)

Bereavement, the grief and mourning experience following the death of someone important to
you. While it’s an inevitable part of life—something that virtually all of us go through at some
point—losing someone you love can be one of the most painful experiences you’ll ever have to
endure.
Conclusion
Counseling is a necessary requirement in tertiary institutions; its benefits lead to the betterment
of not just the students but the entire faculty as well. No single person can relate or empathize
with another, without speaking about their issues. Within such a prestigious setting, with
different people from all manner of backgrounds, it is much easier to keep a low profile to avoid
attention, but at the expense of one’s social experience and world view.

This is particularly to those who join, whilst suffering any particular form of psychological
disorder, or have experienced something disturbing/traumatizing in the course of their
institutional attendance.

References
 Vision Counseling - https://www.visioncounselling.com.au/what-is-counselling/
 Merriam Webster - https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counseling
 Counseling Tutor - https://counsellingtutor.com/counselling-definition/
 Britannica 2024 - https://www.britannica.com/topic/sociology
 American Psychiatric Association - https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/what-
is-psychiatry
 Britannica 2024 - https://www.britannica.com/science/psychology
 Britannica 2024 - https://www.britannica.com/science/occupational-therapy
 American Psychiatric Association -
https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression
 Psychology Today - https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/trauma
 Cleveland Clinic - https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/6407-addiction
 Total Health Guidance - https://www.totalhealthguidance.com/top-9-benefits-of-
counseling/