Module one – Part 2

Hello everyone, welcome to Part two of Module one. In this module we will discuss
about nature and goals of counselling in detail. In the first part we have seen two
exhaustive definitions of counselling. They have given us fair idea about the nature
of the counselling. Let us have an elaborate discussion on it.

Counselling is not just something happens between two people naturally. It is a

planned and methodical process, which has evolved and changed rapidly since last
forty – fifty years. It has become now an integral part of many social institutions.
Today it contains variety of different practices, methods, theories, therapies and
schools of thought.

Depending on clients need counselling may be short term, long term or over a
lifetime.

Counselling may be short term, long term or over a lifetime; it depends upon
clients’ needs. Counsellors follow empirical method to address various issues of the
client. Irrespective of time element, the counsellor records each and every session
and create a strong evidence base for assessment of the client and his situation.
Counsellor creates all interventions based on this data. He/she develops his
interpersonal skills, and communication skills to facilitate or empower the client.
There are n number of factors the clients may explore during these counselling
sessions. It can be self-identity, relationships with self and others, influence of past
experiences, traumas, associations with family, friends, community. It can be grief,
abusive life experiences, stressful events, unusual experiences or spirituality. It can
also be growth, progress, creativity, right choices, dilemmas, interests, inclinations,
confusions or decisions. The counsellor make such wide scope of ideas and
thoughts available to the client merely through discussions and conversations.

Hence we can expect changes in the client such as change in perspective, new
insight to his issues and problems, change in the way of thinking about the
happenings, events and people around him, awareness about own feelings,
emotions, cognitions, enhanced capacity to tolerate and regulate feelings of self
and others’, acceptance to self and others’ actions, behaviours and intentions, and
improved ability to take decisions on his own.
Counsellors work with children, youth, adults, couples, families, groups,
employees, executives, managers. For every age group and family or professional
background they have different strategies, methods and techniques. They have an
objective approach towards clients and their life situations. Counsellors make the
clients feel comfortable, safe, respected, understood at any circumstances. They
offer empathy and deep listening to the clients.

Hence ‘Counsellors’ is a trained and professional community. They have graduate

and post graduate degree in the area of mental health. They are expected to
participate in practical work under experts’ supervision. They are not only expected
to be educated, professionals but also they are expected to be ethical.

Now let us discuss various goals of Counselling

Imagine 40-50 thousand years back, we human beings and stone age. How that
time people of stone age must have not only sustained without facilities and
advancement which we enjoy today, but they have developed, created resources
with the help of nature for their secure living? It is astonishing to understand how
merely with the realization of his proactive intelligence we human beings has
travelled a long way. But what we have really achieved? 40k years back humans
wanted a safe life, a guarantee of life, a creative life. in a way today we are wanting
the same, but in different format, different structure. So we are same, animals with
brains and minds. The equation is still same that we all want pleasures and
happiness. And that come from the calculations, what was expected and what is
actual?

Do you agree with me guys? We have digested many philosophies, ideologies and
isms! so what are we seeking ultimately? Psychologists and counsellors are trying
to search answers for these questions hence they have defined few goals of
counselling, which help people find the right purpose to live. As discussed earlier
counselling brings change in perspective and perceptions. Hence the first goal of
counselling is To develop the insight of a person – counselling makes the person
search his internal world and understand the origin of his difficulties. It then leads
to gain capacity to take rational approach towards feelings and actions.
The second goal of counselling is Self- acceptance – it is about developing positive
attitude towards self and all types of day today happenings. It helps in reducing
self-criticism, self-rejection and development of self-acceptance. It also gives
accurate sense of how self is perceived by the person and by others.

The third goal is To develop the need for self - actualization –It may happen that
the person has blocked many of his feelings and denied many small pleasures in his
life just to make adjustments. Self-acceptance leads to openness to experience. The
person starts acknowledging himself or herself irrespective of existing cultural and
social set up. It helps the person move in the direction of exploring of his potential.
Counselling assists the person in this journey. The person learns to focus on his
competencies.

The next goal is Problem solving – Problems are often a creation of mind.
Counselling develops an approach to look at the problem from different
perspective. Sorting out issues and proper categorization of the issues help the
person understand origin and development of his difficulties. Counselling helps to
frame the problems in appropriate words. Stating right problem is important than
a solution. It gives us clarity of thoughts and emotions.

The next goal is the development of Social skills – with the help of counselling the
individual enable himself / herself to form and maintain meaningful, satisfactory
relations with people around him or her. Counselling is a way to learn to master
interpersonal skills, developing positive conversations with people and at the same
time improving on assertiveness by gaining anger control.

The next goal is to learn to let go things in life – Letting go is a principle of

detachment. Detachment or letting go refers to mentally, emotionally, and
sometimes physically disengaging oneself from another person’s life,
responsibilities, and problems that we cannot solve. And it doesn’t mean that we
stop caring and completely shut ourselves off. Letting go also mean detaching from
past experiences and future expectations. This helps us look at our relationships,
both personal and professional, more objectively, which gives us greater clarity.
Counsellor with the help of various non directive methods help the client
understand his required and unnecessary engagements. The client learns to when
to switch on himself for particular task and when to switch off for the same. It helps
him to stay in present. Counsellor helps the person to be happy for whatever he
has in his life.
One more goal of counselling process is to teach the client to feel responsible for
his own life. Normally people blame others or hold others responsible for bad
happenings in their life. We are good judge when others commit mistakes and we
are good lawyers when we commit mistakes. So we fight for ourselves but at the
same time think that others should behave properly. That sometimes creates
continuous complaining about the people and the situations around. But the reality
is everyone is responsible for his or her own life. Counselling and the discussions
make the people understand that even a small mistake can cause serious
consequences. We humans are free to live our lives the way we choose so we are
responsible for the choices we make. Freedom and responsibility go hand in hand,
whether we like it or not. This understanding creates feeling of responsibility and
sincerity towards life.
The most important goal is achieving behaviour modification – Counselling enable
the person to acquire new ideas and techniques to understand self and others. It
also works on irrational beliefs and maladaptive thoughts of the person. The most
influential feeling is feeling of guilt. It derives out of realization of mistakes or by
merely influence of social and cultural norms. Which may lead to self-destruction.
Counselling aims at replacing this self-destructive behaviour with positive thoughts
and actions. Counsellors apply directive and non-directive approaches to help
people to come out of feeling of anger as well as guilt. Behavioural change and
behaviour leading to happy and resourceful is what the counselling expects
ultimately.

To conclude, the goal of counselling is to help the individuals overcome their

difficulties and problems. Counselling helps people improve their social skills and
problem solving skills. Different methods and techniques demonstrate various
ways for acceptance of self, others and the surrounding. In a way counselling takes
the individual to his/her true self. Counsellors assist individuals to become self-
confident, self-dependent, self-directed and to live a meaningful life.

Thank you.