Counselling 1

Counselling

  • a process in which the counsellor assists the counselee to make interpretations of facts relating to a choice, plan, adjustments which he needs to make. (Smith, 1955)

  • a process which takes place in a one-to-one relationship between an individual troubled by problems with which he cannot cope alone, and a professional worker whose training and experience have qualified him to help others reach solutions to various types of personal difficulties. (Hahn and McLean, 1955)

  • that interaction which a) occurs between two individuals called a counsellor and client; b) takes place in a professional setting and c) is initiated and maintained as a means of facilitating changes in the behaviour of a client.

  • the process involving interpersonal relationships between a therapist and one or more clients by which the former employs psychological methods based on systematic knowledge of the human personality in attempting to improve the mental health of the latter. (C. Patterson, 1959)

  • helping an individual become aware of himself and the ways in which he is reacting to the behavioural influences of his environment. It further helps him to establish some personal meaning for his behaviour and develop and clarify a set of goals and values for future behaviour. (Donald Blocker, 1966)

  • a variety of procedures systematically undertaken by a counsellor to promote specific changes in the behavior of clients. (Thoresen, 1969 )

  • a process by which a troubled person (the client) is helped to feel and behave in a more personally satisfying manner through interaction with an uninvolved person (the counsellor) who provides information and reactions which stimulate the client to develop behaviours which enable him to deal more effectively with himself and his environment. (Lewis, 1970)

  • bringing about the best possible congruence between the counselee and his environment. (Lucian, 1973)

  • the helping relationship which includes 1) someone seeking help; 2) someone willing to give help; 3) who is capable of or trained to help; and 4) in a setting which permits that help to be given and received. (Hackney and Nye, 1973)

  • assisting and guiding clients, especially by a trained person on a professional basis, to resolve personal, social, or psychological problems and difficulties.

  • a talking therapy that involves a trained therapist listening to you and helping you find ways to deal with emotional issues (UK NHS)

  • is a learning-oriented process, carried on in a simple, one-to-one social environment, in which a counsellor, professionally competent in relevant psychological skills and knowledge, seeks to assist the client, by methods appropriate to the latter’s needs and within the context of the total personnel program, to learn more about himself and to accept himself, to learn how to put such understanding into effect in relation to more clearly perceived, realistically defined goals to the end that the client may become a happier and more productive member of his society. (PsycINFO Database Record © 2016 APA)

Counselling is not 

Patterson, 1967

  1. information giving although information may be given in counseling.

While information can be shared during counselling sessions, it's not the primary goal. The focus is on helping the person understand their own thoughts, feelings, and experiences.

  1. dispensing advice

Counselors don't tell clients what to do. Instead, they help clients explore their own options and make their own decisions.

  1. influencing attitudes, beliefs and behaviours by persuading, compelling or threatening

Counsellors don't try to force their own opinions or beliefs on clients. They create a safe space for clients to explore their own thoughts and feelings without judgment.

  1. selection and assignment of persons for jobs or activities

It's about helping individuals understand themselves better and achieve their goals.

  1. interviewing alone

While interviews can be a part of counselling, they are not the same thing. Counselling involves a deeper exploration of a person's thoughts, feelings, and experiences.


Counselling aims at facilitating personal and interpersonal growth.  It's not just for troubled, off-balanced, unable-to-cope people, it also accommodates normal people.


People come for counselling because:

  • Experiencing a turning point in their lives 

  • Dealing with a significant change in their career, relationships, priorities

  • Depression, anxiety, fluctuating moods, trauma marital problems, addiction, self-esteem, uncontrollable fears and many other potential life stressors.


Notions and Misconceptions

  • Myth: A counsellor's role a to give advice

A therapist works to facilitate change not direct it.

The process is a collaborative partnership (cooperation, give and take) 

How therapy progresses resides with the client, ultimately. 

  • Myth: Counselling is a last resort

"You never seek counselling only when you feel desperate”—the earlier the intervention, the better the prognosis.

  • Myth: The counsellor does not know me and can't help me

The counter is more objective and dispassionate in assisting the client because of this.

  • Myth: Counsellors just sit there nod and stay silent 

Counselors are active and engaged using a variety of skills in responding to the client.

  • Myth: Counselling takes forever

The length of counselling depends on the client's goal, motivation, and severity of problems

Generally, it's short-term 8 to 15 sessions.

  • Myth: Everyone will know I'm seeing a counsellor

Counselling is a confidential experience for the client and is confident completely to both the counsellor and the client

  • Myth: Couple counselling always makes one person the villain

The counsellor encourages the couple to make changes to improve their relationship.