COLLEGE OF THEOOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT AND

CHURCH TRAINING CENTRE

Introduction to Guidance and Counselling

ASSIGNMENT

NAME: HUMPHREY EMMANUEL WILLIAMS

MATRICULATION NUMBER:2125

COURSE: POST GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN EDUCATION 2021/2022

LECTURER: Canon R Spaine-Pratt

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 1. History of counselling in western countries

Counselling is the 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.

According to Arthur J. Jones (1970), the purpose of guidance has been “to assist the
individual through counsel to make wide choices, adjustments and interpretations in
connection with critical situation in his life in such a way as to insure continual growth in
ability for self-direction.” Guidance is also described as counselling service to assist the
individual in achieving self-direction and educational vocational and personal adjustment and
to take positive steps in the light of new orientations(Rogers)

To understand the history of counselling, we begin with the realisation that throughout the
years, human beings have found comfort in sharing their problems or telling their story to
others. The old saying ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’ tells us one universal human
truth: that when things get difficult or we have to make decisions in our life, sometimes we
need someone to listen and ‘hear our story’ so we can get a better idea of our options.

Counselling history can be traced back to tribal times where people would come together in a
group and share their experiences and sometimes their dreams. As civilisation developed,
religion offered a type of counselling, usually by priests who would listen and advise
parishioners on their problems (they still do).

In the 1890’s, German neurologist Sigmund Freud developed a theory later to be called
psychoanalysis, which allowed individuals to tell their problems to a ‘psychoanalyst,’ an
individual trained in interpreting the ‘subconscious’ , that part of our psyche that we are not
aware of but influences what we do. Freud played an important part in the history of
counselling, but the actual word “counselling” did not come into everyday language until the
1960’s.

Counselling really took off after the Second World War, in 1950’s America. Most of the
therapies we hear about today can trace their origins back to a handful of psychologists and
psychiatrists (some of whom we will look at in this guide) who developed techniques and
theories, sometimes referred to as ‘schools’ of therapy.

The word ‘school’ in counselling does not mean a building or campus. Rather it refers to how
psychologists believe human beings develop their view of the world they live in and how
they cope with it. The three schools are Psychoanalytical, Behaviourist, and Humanistic,
which we will look at later in this guide.

There have been many developments in counselling since the 1950’s. A lot of research has
taken place and this has given us a better understanding of what makes human beings think
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and act in certain ways. However, most psychologists and counsellors would agree that we
are a long way from fully understanding what makes each human being unique.

It is worth considering that counselling has rapidly developed since Freud's time with new
ideas an approaches emerging from the late 1800s to the present day.

2.Differences between advice-giving and counselling

Advice giving counselling technique in which the therapist advises the client on alternatives
or options for consideration. Advising and counselling are two very different things. Giving
advice is letting people know what you think is best for them, while counselling is allowing
people to explore and decide what is best for them. Advice is judgmental; it assumes that you
need to be told what's right for you

One of the main reasons for us to ask others for advice is because as human beings we rely heavily
on other people’s opinions and we trust ourselves very little. People get caught in the cycle of asking
for advice and depending on others, and when things fail, escaping the responsibility. Counselling is
an opportunity for you to re-establish that trust in yourself and follow your own path forward.

Advice: refers to a relevant piece of information provided by a superior, to resolve a problem or

overcome from difficulty. Counselling refers to a professional advice given by a counsellor to an
individual to help him in overcoming from personal or psychological problems.

While in guidance the focus is made on listening to the problem, on which ready-made
solution is given by the expert. Counselling aims at discussing and understanding the
problem, advising and empowering him to take a decision concerning his/her career or life
goals in one-to-one sessions.

Counseling is a collaborative effort between the counselor and client. Professional counselors
help clients identify goals and potential solutions to problems which cause emotional turmoil;
seek to improve communication and coping skills; strengthen self-esteem; and promote
behavior change and optimal mental health. Counsellors monitor students' development and
according to their needs they give students necessary support such as helping them to
understand themselves and their needs, to solve their problems, to make realistic decisions, to
improve their abilities and skills. The 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. Counselling aims to relieve psychological addiction by exploring the root cause
while helping to develop new ways of thinking.

Fortunately, almost all of the many individual theoretical models of counselling fall into one
or more of six major theoretical categories: humanistic, cognitive, behavioural,
psychoanalytic, constructionist and systemic

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Counselling is the service offered to the individual who is undergoing a problem and needs
professional help to overcome it. The problem keeps him disturbed high strung and under
tension and unless solved his development is hampered or stunted. Counselling therefore is a
more specialized service requiring training in personality development and handling
exceptional groups of individuals.
According to Willey and Andrew Counselling involves two individuals one seeking help and
other a professionally trained person helped solved problems to orient and direct him to
words a goals. Which needs to his maximum development and growth?
Counselling services are therefore required for individuals having developmental problems
because of the handicap they suffer in any area of emotional either because of hereditary
factors or environment conditions.
Generally such cases are only about five to seven percent in a population and therefore
counselling is required only for such a small number. As compared to guidance which is for
percent of individuals. Counselling involves a lot of time for the client to unfold the problem,
gain an insight in to the complex situation.
Counselling techniques involve active listening, emphatic understanding releasing the pent up
feelings confronting the client and so on counselling therefore is offered to only those
individuals who are under serious problem and need professional help to overcome it.

2. Guidance and counselling enhances quality education. Discuss

Before going to discuss it, it is needed to know what education is. What are the objectives of
education? Education is a vast term. It is a common assumption that education is a panacea
which can provide knowledge, truth, beauty, power, wealth, peace, security, love and ecstasy.
A good teacher is a priest, a counsellor who can help the learners by his conscious power to
unite with the real Source.

Guidance and counselling is the process which helps the students to know their skills,
interests, personality that will help students in further career selection. Guidance is the
process in which person able to know their ability, interest, a capacity that will help in the
encounter of problems faced by them. Guidance is the process of a dynamic interpersonal
relationship that is prepared to influence the person’s attitude and follow-up behaviour.

The term guidance is used in so many different ways. The true significance of the work of
guidance in the school is often overlooked. The chief aim and purpose of guidance is to help
the child, youth or adult, to understand himself, his needs and his environments. “Guidance is
helping the pupil to become adjusted to his present situation and to plan his future in line with
his interests, abilities and social needs.” (Hamin and Erickson) Respect for the individual
should be the basis of all guidance work. Guidance services are meant for all pupils at all
stages. This work should be done prior to a child ‘s entrance in to school and should
continue throughout his school life. In some cases, guidance services continue even after
graduation.

According to McDonald, the objective of Guidance is to assist students and teachers in

making available desirable qualifications and skills rather than achieving the goals of
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educational programs. Counselling is the sharing of thoughts, reciprocal logic and guidance
between groups or two. According to J. E. Smith, Counselling is the process in counsellor has
a broad discussion related to counselee’s interest, planning, and adjustment.

So now the question is how guidance and counselling are related to education. Students are
very much focused on academic performances but they never assess themselves because they
haven’t explored in Schools/colleges. They choose/plan their career not assessing self but
with the influence of others expertise.

It is quite obvious that if I am an Engineer, definitely I will suggest for engineering because I
have expertise in this field only. Same is applicable for Doctor, Lawyer, designer etc. Here,
students made mistakes during the selection of streams and career. Due to this reason, self-
assessment is very important.

The earlier trend was not quite often because there were the limited scope and limited options
but in recent days, scope and career options are quite broad that cannot be explored easily,
then the trend of self-assessment came into existence and treated as very important. By self-
assessment, students can be able to know about their Interest area, abilities, personalities,
analytical level, and suited work styles. These factors play a significant role in stream and
career selection.

Modern time, most of the students are depressed related to a career decision. The simple and
straight reason is lack of knowledge of current trends and developments, available streams,
unable to know themselves. I have observed personally, students good in academics may be a
topper in his/her respective classes but when the matter comes to a career decision, they are
often failed to take the right decision.

Hence, guidance and counselling come into the existence and trend is increasing day by day.
The counsellors/experts have wide knowledge about current trends and developments,
available streams and factors that have a major influence on career
decision-making/planning.

Counsellors will be able to provide guidance and counselling to the students who encounters
problems related to career and update them on current trends, developments and available
streams. By guidance and counselling, students will be able to know about themselves and
easily encounter the problems that they face in day to day life.

This is most important for their bright and successful career. The identification of Interest,
abilities, personality will help students to recognize their strengths and that is their strong
zone, easier to sharpen. It is psychologically proven, the area, in which individuals are strong,
find interest to explore that area and easy to build their career in the same field.

So, in the current trend, guidance and counselling are very much required for education to
help students to identify their strength, weakness and at the same time work on their strength
and area of interest to do wonders in future.

Aims and Objectives of Guidance and Counselling

Through the guidance program a student must be achieved:

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  To understand himself;
 To make the most of his capacities, interests and other qualities;
 To adjust himself satisfactory to the varied situations within his total environment;
 To develop the ability to make his own unique contribution to society to the fullest
possible extent.

In conclusion he two words guidance and counselling generally take on different meanings.
The former refers to helping students’ whole-person development, while the latter is
frequently targeted at helping students with problems. In other words, guidance work is
preventive and developmental in nature whereas counselling is more of supportive, remedial
work

4 what is vocational guidance

Vocational guidance is a facilitative process, a service rendered to the individual to aid him in
choosing and adjusting to an occupation. Vocational guidance is a process of assisting the
individual to choose an occupation, prepare for it, enter up on and progress on it. Vocational
guidance programme may consist of advising the candidate as to what type of job he should
select. It is of utmost importance that the right man is selected for the right job. A famous
proverb goes like this ‘for round holes there should be round pegs and for square holes there
should be square pegs.

vocational guidance means assistance given to an individual in solving problems related to

occupational choice and progress with due regard for the individual's characteristics and their relation
to occupational opportunity.

The Following Steps are involved in Vocational Guidance Process:

(i) Information is collected from the candidate and his parents regarding his achievements

(ii) More information about the candidate can be known by giving him certain tests such as
interest test, aptitude test, personality tests etc.

(iii) His health, height, weight etc., should also be given due weightage.

On the basis of the information collected, the candidate will be guided as to which job is best
suited to him. In fact, vocational guidance is needed at the school and college level. On the
basis of this guidance, the students may choose science, commerce or arts faculties.

At present this guidance is given by parents and teachers but it is always better if it is given
by some expert who is normally a psychologist. In advanced countries, psychologists are
appointed in educational institutions for providing vocational guidance.

(1) It should be objective and must be based on facts.

(2) The approach should be persuasive and at no point force or coercion should be used.

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(3) The candidate should be informed about the alternative jobs and the final selection of the
job should be left to him.

Advantages of Vocational Guidance:

The following advantages will accrue from scientific vocational selection

(a) The candidate will have job satisfaction after being selected.

(b) It should create better industrial relations.

(c) The labour turnover would be reduced to minimum.

(d) It leads to overall efficiency and increased productivity.

In conclusion it is the assistance given to an individual to choose a vocation, prepare for it,
enter upon and progress in it. In other words, it helps a person to have a satisfactory
vocational adjustment. There are so many vocations as there are so many individuals; and
certainly all individuals are not suitable for all the vocations. Every vocation needs certain
background, preparation and aptitude and only those having them can succeed. The business
of the vocational guidance worker is to find out what positions and jobs are available and
what their requirements are and to find out whether the person under observation fulfils those
conditions.

4 The relevance of vocational guidance

Vocational guidance supports students to grow their promising attitude towards healthier
behaviors, abilities in relation to their own liking field of work. It prepares students to take
part in curricular and co-curricular events which are carried on in the school to advance the
pupil’s capabilities and attitudes for successful work in future life

 Vocational guidance formulates students for better passages for a job those who leave
educational precincts after primary education. It helps primary students to know their
own abilities and limitations in regards to their preferable job. This will help them, not
to stuck in the job which is beyond their skills and limits.

 Vocational guidance helps students to assess their own capabilities, interests,

aptitudes, skills and other qualities as a result of which they can be able to know
themselves and choose best so far, their professional choice is concerned.

 Vocational guidance enables students to know professional suggestions of various

subjects and courses by which they can be able to choose suitable subject and courses
for the purpose of study.

 Vocational Guidance is most Needed at the Secondary Stage of Education and at

the Higher Secondary Stage of Education: It is needed when the student is required
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 to choose subjects and decide his future occupation. Besides it is also needed at the
stage of college education and university education. After the completion of college
and university education the student has to join an occupation to earn his livelihood
and to lead a way of life.

 It Develops Insights of the Individuals: An organized programme of vocational

guidance is needed to assist the individual to develop insight into what he wants to be
in life, what he is best capable of doing, his abilities, interests, aptitudes and his
limitations.

 Improper Placement: Many round pegs are placed in square holes and square pegs
in round holes simply because occupational choices are not made in accordance with
what one can do and what one can’t do. For avoiding this and realizing the very
statement that round peg and round hole, square peg and square hole there is the need
of vocational guidance.

5. Differences between education counselling and personal counselling

Guidance is given on the education and career-related issue it is the process of helping
individuals discover and develop their educational, vocational, and psychological
potentialities and thereby to achieve an optimal level of personal happiness and social
usefulness. Educational Counselling mainly refers to providing assistance and guidance to
students in making the right choices in their studies, be it their educational plans, career
aspirations, choice of stream and specialisation as well as the selection of college or
university as per their interests and preferences.

An educational counsellor takes care of a lot of things more than just education. Here are
some of the other concerns that Educational Counsellors need to take care of:

 Family Issues

 Puberty related questions

 Advice on educational and career choices

 Providing familial support

 Transportation problems

 Concerns regarding grades

 Bullying or Fighting

There are three core types of Educational Counselling:

 Educational Guidance and Counselling

 Vocational Counselling

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  Career Counselling

Guidance and Counselling focus on providing the right guidance to students as per their
academic needs, be it selecting the right stream to find the best college and course after
completing high school. Educational counsellors are generally found in schools and colleges
and you can also seek guidance from educational counselling services to get the right
mentorship for your academic journey.

Vocational Counselling is similar to career counselling but focuses more on finding the right
occupation or job opportunity for an individual as per their interests and demands in the
sector or industry they want to work in.

Career Counselling is more of a holistic combination of educational and vocational

counselling as it focuses on both students and working professionals and provides them with
the right mentorship they need at every step of their academic and professional journey.

Benefits of Educational Counselling

Due to the availability of an array of courses and subject combination, we often find
ourselves stuck in a dilemma while choosing a career. Educational counselling at such stage
becomes crucial. So, if you also want to know that why is educational counseling necessary
for students then listed below are some of the reasons to consider educational counselling:

 It helps you in realizing your passion and the things you are good at.

 It develops confidence and assists you in making informed decisions.

 It helps you foresee the challenges that are likely to come in your way and lets you
prepare for that in advance.

 Counselling brings clarity in thought and reduces career-related stress.

 It gives an opportunity to improve behavior by helping you pick out the negative
traits.

 Understanding of your key strengths

 Leveraging your natural talents

 Skills and talent matched to a set of roles that you are suited for

 Comparative analysis of course options based on personal preferences and limitations

 Educational path change

 Professional development to move ahead

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 Personal counselling

What is personal counselling? Personal counselling involves you and a counsellor working
together to achieve your goals for change. The counselling process varies depending on the
personalities of the counsellor and the client, and the particular concerns you bring forward.

Personal counselling is a process of self-discovery and growth. It can help increase self-
confidence, improve relationships, solve problems, achieve educational goals, and make good
decisions for emotional, intellectual, physical, and spiritual well-being.

Personal counselling means counselling on a small-group or individual basis for students expressing
difficulties dealing with relationships, personal concerns, or normal developmental tasks; this
includes assisting students in identifying problems, causes, alternatives, and possible consequences
to initiate appropriate action.

6. Describe counselling and guidance in atypical traditional setting

Traditional Counselling means any form of Counselling or Marriage and Family Therapy
offered or rendered in person, face to face, with the Counsellor or Marriage and Family
Therapist in the same physical location.

Traditional Guidance and Counselling has been in existence among the indigenous people
and practiced according to their tradition within the various ethnic groups all over the world
before the emergence of modern Guidance and counselling which is now making a good
beginning. We have sought through the ages to understand ourselves, offer counselling and
develop our potential, become aware of opportunities and, in general, help ourselves in ways
associated with formal guidance practice. The history of guidance begun with the ancient
Greece and Rome. According to Buku and Taylor (2006), the philosophical teaching of Plato
and Aristotle sought to train and develop their citizens so that they become useful to
themselves. Parents in ancient Rome served as role models to their children and encouraged
their occupational exploration. This was done to assist the youth to know which occupation to
choose bearing in mind their potentials as individuals with different and special capabilities.

The commonly practised traditional counselling approaches or methods are: marriage

counselling, pastoral counselling, adherence counselling, initiation counselling, family
counselling, community counselling, and bereavement counselling. Traditional counselling
typically takes the form of talk therapy and offers a proven way to treat and provide
support for emotional distress including Trauma, Depression and Anxiety. Traditional
counselling is very effective in the treatment of a variety of conditions including, but not
limited to: Anxiety and Depression.

Traditional counselling is a growing area of interest in African contemporary society,

especially amongst members of the counselling profession. Helping another person
experiencing psychosocial or emotional distress can be one of the most enabling human
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services. During the counselling process, people talk about anything and everything – and yet
it is what is involved in the telling and listening, knowing and being known, reflecting and
acting, and interpreting what is happening, that can be so complex and challenging. This is
true in the practice of both traditional forms of counselling and modern forms of counselling.
Traditional counselling becomes both a process of individual learning and an avenue for
transformation that has social meaning and interpretation, as well as a cultural means of
enabling adaptations to social institutions, services, and systems for personal development.
Traditional counsellors play an instrumental role in facilitating this process of learning,
transformation and adaptation.

Traditional counselling is essentially a community affair and anyone can be in attendance

depending on the scope of problem and nature of its representation. When a particular
problem affects the community, every member is obliged to take responsibility for its
resolution. Some problems are better tackled through collective efforts in their identification,
resolution, and management; and this is core in traditional counselling. Traditional
counselling is collectivist in orientation: every member of the family or community would
wish to know the outcome of a counselling interaction. This is so, because the traditional
counselling process integrates family support and community involvement in its application.
Based on the foregoing, it is manifest that, in individual counselling contacts, confidentiality
is not assured between the person offering counselling help and the one being counselled.

The traditional counsellor and client are both members of the same community, and perhaps
the same extended family circle. Contextually, the problems experienced by the client are not
alien to the traditional counsellor. Yet boundaries exist. Traditional counsellors are
knowledgeable and experienced people whom clients freely contact when in need of
counselling help. Traditional counselling integrates mentorship on sociocultural issues, such
as initiation at puberty and marriage, as well as the promotion of harmonious co-existence, to
foster sound community life. As a social service, many people utilize traditional counselling
when faced with psychosocial concerns and other problems in their daily living.

The Importance of Traditional Counselling

Importance is a broad concept that can be interpreted in many ways, and it integrates parameters, such
as functional roles and contribution to the effectiveness of service delivery to needy people. From a
practical context, is traditional counselling important and useful? The interpretive explanation of the
importance of traditional counselling is twofold: firstly, the factor of whether or not traditional
counselling produces the desired impact or satisfactory results; and secondly, the factor of the role of
traditional counselling approaches. The factor of impact is driven by an understanding of how
effective traditional counselling approaches are, in relation to counselling service provision, and their
degree of utilization at the various levels of contact. Do traditional counselling approaches create a
noticeable effect or demand at community level? This question of influence is cardinal to a
determination of the interrelationships, linkages, and associations, of the various approaches of
traditional counselling, and their effectiveness from a practical view. Effectiveness means doing the
right thing and producing the desired demand and satisfactory results. Are traditional counselling
approaches effective? In the absence of correlational evidence from a quantitative perspective, this

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question could forever remain unanswered. From a qualitative perspective however, it is plausible to
argue that traditional counselling approaches create the desired demand, and produce satisfactory
results, through their functional outcome role, and level of utilization at community level. The factor
of role refers to the function of a subject matter, or its part contribution to the whole phenomena under
consideration.

In the context of this understanding, the broad picture to be drawn about the functional outcome role
of traditional counselling approaches is that, inter alia, they contribute to the acquisition of traditional
systems of knowledge, practical skills, and social competences, related to cultural customs and
practices; they contribute to sustainable interpersonal relationships through recognition of established
family roles, and patterns of interaction and communication; and they enhance socio-behavioural
change, harmonious co-existence, and good neighbourliness amongst members of the community.

Further, they promote traditional values and norms for sustainable social integration and sound
community life; they facilitate educational and informational processes at puberty and premarital
stages, including other aspects of social life; and they enhance learning for transformation whereby
traditional systems of knowledge are passed on from one successive generation to another in
perpetuity. They act as a platform for the identification and resolution of human problems, as well as
guidance on sociocultural issues; and they contribute to improved social welfare and moral
development of young people, including primary health care provision at community level.
Traditional counselling is readily available, easily accessible, practically affordable, and widely
utilised, because it is offered within the local environment by the local people.

The second factor relates to the forum for teaching and information exchange. The practice of
traditional counselling provides a forum for teaching, mentoring and information exchange; and it
promotes sustainable cultural norms that are of great value to clients. For instance, marriage is given
pomp and splendor at the wedding ceremony, premarital counselling precedes the wedding ceremony,
pastoral counselling anoints the wedding, and post-marital counselling sustains the wedding, hence
the marriage.

These various levels of contact are performed by traditional marriage counsellors; and they are
deemed important and useful by individuals, families and communities wherein they are applied,
hence their perpetuation. The third factor relates to the observance of traditional customs and
practices. Rituals, and the observance of traditional taboos, are an integral part of the African cultural
life. Sexually-oriented prohibitions are promoted and perpetuated to enhance cultural identity. From a
contemporary perspective, some traditional practices deemed contradictory to modern practices or
religious doctrine, or that hinder educational prospects and the advancement of young people, are
being shunned.

Traditional counselling is offered within a culturally acceptable environment, using appropriate

interventions that are tailored to meet people’s needs, expectations and aspirations. Many people
utilize traditional counselling services in their social life, not only in Africa, but also in many other
continents worldwide. To a greater extent, traditional counselling is practically affordable, and widely
used by many people, at various levels of contact. Accessibility and quality of service are instrumental
in influencing the behaviour of people, and inducing demand for community-based social services.
People can be more inclined to use a service if they perceive some utility value in it, including
efficacy of the methods used, and the desired process outcomes, in terms of instantaneous problem-
solving, decision making, affirmative social action, and restoration of normal functioning.

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In conclusion Traditional counselling focuses more on helping people with presenting concerns or
sociocultural issues, so that they gain knowledge and practical skills. It is part of the African tradition
and custom, and has been part of human experience since time immemorial. Traditional counselling is
offered within a culturally acceptable environment by the local people, using appropriate strategies
that are tailored to meet the clients’ needs and aspirations. It not only plays a very important and
useful role in enhancing the provision of effective and quality counselling services, but it also
represents an integral component of social and human relations programmes offered to people at the
community level. The next chapter presents the theoretical framework of traditional counselling.

References
Akinade, E. A. (2012). Modern Behaviour modification, principles and practices. Ibadan:
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Borrow, H. (1983). Career Guidance for new age. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.
Egbo, A. C. (2013). Development of Guidance and counselling. Enugu: Joe best publishers.
Egbo, A. C. (2013). The Role of Guidance and Counselling in Effective Teaching and
Learning in Schools: The Nigerian Perspective.
Gysbers, N. C. (2006). Developing and managing your school guidance program.
Washington, DC: American Counseling Association.

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