DEFINITION OF COUNSELLING

      Counseling is a helping process where one
 person ,explicitly and purposefully gives his/her
 time ,attention and skill to assist a client to explore
 the situation ,identify solutions within the
 limitations of their given environment.
ATTRIBUTES AND SKILL REQUIRED OF A
  COUNSELLOR
        For effective counseling the counselor needs to
    demonstrate certain attitude ,skills and knowledge.

           There are two types of counselors attributes:-

   PRE TRAINING ATTRIBUTES
   INTER TRAINING ATTRIBUTES
   PRE TRAINING ATTRIBUTES

1. SELF AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING
            A person who has awareness of her
    needs, motivation for helping ,feelings, personal
    strength and weakness acts as a good counselor.

2. GOOD PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH
          Although no persons is totally problem
   free but a person with less problems or good
   psychological health can be trained to be
   counselor.
3. SENSITIVITY
      A person who is aware of resources ,limitations
   and vulnerability of other persons feelings and
   need are considered to have sensitivity.

4. OPEN MINDNESS
       A person who is free from fixed or pre
   occupied ideas .They are aware of their own
   values and beliefs and are able to distinguish them
   from the beliefs and values of others.
5. THRUST WORTHINESS
       A person who is reliable ,honest and does not
   hurt other persons. He/She keep the information to
   herself.


6. APPROACHABILITY
         The counselor who is friendly has positive
   attitudes about others and can be approached
   without a feeling of apprehension.
   INTER TRAINING ATTRIBUTES
             A counselor need to have skills in
    interviewing .Infact without these skills a counselor
    cannot counsel. Stewart etal (1978) have identified
    six components of interviewing skills .They are:-

1.)INTERVIEW SETTING AND GREETING
   STARTED
     A. PHYSICAL ARRANGEMENT
              The chairs should face each other with a
    learning facility for both. The closeness of
    counselor helps in indicating the attentiveness
B. GREETINGS
        A warm and friendly greeting facilitate the helping
   process.
 eg:Shaking hands with the individual or greeting with a
   smile.
C. INVITING THE INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPATION
          Counselor should not waste time on rituals
   like “oh”,Todays climate is very good etc.But
   should start the interview by asking the individuals
   why they have come for counseling .simple
   statements such as “ so may I help you”?or “What
   should you like to discussed.
D. MAINTAINING EYE CONTACT
       Eye contact helps in building personal
   relationship and permits the counselor to observe
   non verbal behavior.
E. DEMONSTRATING PROPER BODY POSTURE
       An attentive and relaxed counselor helps in
   building intimate atmosphere. A mobile posture
   Allows freedom to movement and ability to use the
   body to assist in communications.
2.) PROBLEM FOCUSS
         Most counseling is short term , so the
   counselor should assist the individual to focus
   on important problems.
3.) IDENTIFYING AN IMPORTANT THEME
         While the individual is talking the counselor
  should try to identify the important theme by
  observing the individuals pre occupations and the
  emotional significance attached to the topics.
4.) FOCUSSING ON A THEME
      The counselor should direct verbalization of
   the individual once the theme has been
   identified.
5.) DIRECTING THE THEME TOWARDS THE
   GOAL
     Once the theme has been identified and
  explored in sufficient depth to have an
  understanding if individuals self perception and
  environment.
6.)MANAGING INTERACTION WITH THE
   INDIVIDUAL
      To Facilitate the discussion, more skills are
 needed ,the following techniques may be used to
 continue the interaction.
      a.) Restatement
             It involves putting the individuals
 statement into different words to draw the attention
 or to point out the individual what she is finding
 difficult to verbalize.
b.) Interpretation
       It is used to counselor while presenting
   solutions to the individual for mutual
   consideration. the purpose is to have different
   perspective of the same solution.
c.) Managing Pause and Silence
         Pauses and silence are important
  techniques in counseling but too long pauses and
  silence may give a feeling of avoidance.
CHARACTERISTICS OR QUALITIES OF A
 COUNSELLOR
I.) INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
   Friendly nature
   Sympathetic ,understanding
   Sincerity
   Patience
   Tactfulness
   Ability to maintain confidentiality
   Respects clients attitudes and needs
   Attentive listener
   Speaks in clients languages
   Capacity for being trusted by others
II.) PERSONAL ADJUSTMENT

   Shows matured behaviour,Integrated personality
   Maintains emotional stability
   Flexilibility and adaptability
   Aware about ones limitations
   Shows self respect and self confidence

III.) SCHOLASTIC POTENTIALITIES AND
    EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUNDS
    Should be motivated and committed
   Aware of polices ,beliefs, misconceptions and rumors
    existing with in the local community.
   Capacity for work
   Positive interest
   Scholastic aptitude
   Respects the facts

        He will have masters degree in essential areas
    of guidance programmed the area in training are:-
      a.) Counselor process
      b.) Understanding the individual
      c.) Educational, occupational and vocational
          information
      d.) Administrative relationship
e.) Research and evaluation procedures
f.) Additional training in behavioral sciences
    (Psychology & Sociology)

IV. HEALTH AND PERSONAL APPEARANCE
    Pleasing voice
    Pleasing appearance


V.    LEADERSHIP
     Ability to stimulate and lead others
     Reinforces important information
VI.    PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE
      Good character
      Positive philosophy of life
      Integrated personality
      Shows significant spiritual and religious values


VII. PROFESSIONAL DEDICATION
      Interest in guidance work, professional
      attitude
      Shows loyalty
 Had strong sense of professional ethics
 Maintaining helping relationship
 Shows interest in research activity
 Uses psychotherapy in solving client problems



VIII. FAITH IN THE SPIRITUAL QUALITY OF
   THE WORLD RESPECTS UNIVERSAL
   PRINCIPLES OF RELIGION


IX.   HAD A SENSE OF MORALITY
FUNCTIONS OF THE COUNCELLOR
        Councilor plays an vital role in the
 counseling process .the general objective of
 counseling is to help the client to improve their
 mental health and develop in
 selfconfidence,understanding ,self control and
 ability to work effectively .the various functions of
 councilor include :-
   1.) ADVICE
           One of the important function of
 counseling is offering advice to counselee. The
 councilor has to understand the problem of the
 counselee.
2.) REASSURANCE
     In order to give courage to face a problem
  confidently,counselling provides clients with
  reassurance .normally reassurance is not
  acceptable to the counselee.
3.) COMMUNICATION
       Counseling will improve both upwards and
   downward communications abilities of the
   counselees.
4.) REALASE OF EMOTIONAL TENSION
      Releasing emotional tension is an
   important function of counseling . People feel
   emotional release from their frustration after
   counseling.
5.) CLARIFIED THINKING
        Release of tension and thereby removal
  of mental of mental blocks ton the solution
  through counseling allows the counselee to
  think freely and objectively.
Thus clarified thinking tends to be the result of
 emotional release.

6.) REORIENTATION
        Reorientation is not just emotional release
   or clear thinking. but it involves a change in
   the counselee’s psychic self through a change
   in the basic goals and values.
COUNSELLOR PREPARATION
    A.) Education:
         Masters or bachelors degree in teaching
    and education .they should have basic course in
    principles and practice of the guidance
    programmed and additional area of training either
    in behaviour sciences of community health.

    B.) Experience:
    2 years in teaching or counseling experience.
   1 year of cumulative work experience in the field of
    school programmed.
   3-6 months of supervised counseling experience.
   Significant experience in social activities ( eg:
    working with in the community ,volunteer work,
    participating community training programmed)
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