THE CONCEPT OF GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING

• Counseling is as old as society. In every-day life we find counseling goes on at many levels-in a family set-up, parents counsel their children, in society doctors counsel patients, lawyers counsel clients and teachers counsel students and at the place of work.
• Counseling is a scientific process of assistance extended by an expert in an individual situation to a needy person.
• Counseling involves relationship between two persons in which one of them (counselor) attempts to assist the other (counselee or client) is so organizing himself as to attain a particular form of happiness, adjusting to a life situation or in short self-actualization.
• It is a relationship of natural respect between counselor and counselee.
• In this private interview counselee acquires independence and develops a sense of responsibility.
• Counseling process is structured around the felt needs of the counselee.
• The main objective of counseling is to bring about a voluntary change in client.
• For this purpose, the counselor provides facilities to help achieve the desired change or make the suitable choice.
• The client alone is responsible for the decisions or the choice he makes, though the counselor may assist in this process by his warmth and understanding relationship.
• Thus counselor helps counselee to discover and solve his personal problems independently.
• Counseling and guidance are not synonymous terms.
• Guidance is a relatively more comprehensive process which includes counseling as one of its functions.
• Counseling is a part of guidance, not all of it.
• It is a specialized and individualized part of total guidance process.
• Thus all counseling is guidance but all guidance is not counseling.
• Guidance and counseling is a concept of helping individuals discover and develop their psychological, educational, and vocational potentialities, to achieve an optimal level of personal happiness and social usefulness.
• It is essentially democratic in that each individual has the right to shape his own destiny

KEY CONCEPTS & THEIR DEFINITIONS:

1. Counseling:

Counseling is a chance to talk over what is on your mind with an objective person. She/he can help you learn new skills and ways of looking at situations so that you will be more capable of solving problems on your own.

Counseling is the means by which one person helps another through a purposeful conversation.

It is also a method of identifying a practical solution to an identified problem.

2. Guidance:

Guidance refers to information given for the purpose of resolving a problem or difficulty and is mainly given by someone of authority.

It is also seen as steering and directing a certain process or event in a certain way. Guidance can be given through a guidance and counseling session by a specialist.

3. A theory:

Theory is a group of ideas meant to explain a certain topic, such as a single or collection of fact(s), event(s), or phenomena (a) (on).

A theory is not the same as a hypothesis.

A theory provides an explanatory framework for some observation and from the assumptions of the explanation follows a number of possible hypotheses that can be tested in order to provide support for, or challenge, the theory.

Someone who develops theories is called a theorist.

4. A scientific theory

is a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world that is acquired through the scientific method, and repeatedly confirmed through observation and experimentation.

As with most (if not all) forms of scientific knowledge, scientific theories are inductive in nature and aim for predictive power and explanatory force.

Empathy is the experience of understanding another person’s condition from their perspective.

You place yourself in their shoes and feel what they are feeling.

Empathy is known to increase prosocial (helping) behaviors.

5. Self-awareness

Self-awareness is one of the first components of the self-concept to emerge.

While self-awareness is something that is central to each and every one of us, it is not something that we are acutely aware of at every moment of every day.

Instead, self-awareness becomes woven into the fabric of who we are and emerges at different points depending upon the situation and our personality.

We are not born with self-awareness, however.

Researchers have demonstrated that the awareness of us begins to emerge at around one year of age and becomes much more developed by around 18 months of age.

6. Self-concept

“A self-concept is a collection of beliefs about one’s own nature, unique qualities, and typical behavior.”

We are not born with self-awareness, however.

Researchers have demonstrated that the awareness of ourselves begins to emerge at around one year of age and becomes much more developed by around 18 months of age.

Your self-concept is your mental picture of yourself. It is a collection of self-perceptions.

For example, a self-concept might include such beliefs as ‘I am easygoing’ or ‘I am pretty’ or ‘I am hardworking.'”

7. Self-esteem.

In psychology, the term self-esteem is used to describe a person’s overall sense of self-worth or personal value.

Self-esteem is often seen as a personality trait, which means that it tends to be stable and enduring.

Self-esteem can involve a variety of beliefs about the self, such as the appraisal of one’s own appearance, beliefs, emotions and behaviors.

THE PRINCIPLES AND THEORIES OF GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING

• • Five Counseling Theories and Approaches
    • Psychotherapy theories provide a framework for therapists and counselors to interpret a client’s behavior, thoughts, and feelings and help them navigate a client’s journey from diagnosis to post-treatment.
    • Theoretical approaches are an understandably integral part of the therapeutic process.
    • Psychoanalysis/Psychodynamic Theory
    • Behavioral Theory
    • Cognitive Theory
    • Humanistic Approach
    • Holistic/Integrative Therapy

PRINCIPLES OF COUNSELING

• These refer to a set of norms that guide implementation (standards).
• Principles aim at ensuring quality services.
• We need these principles because:
  • They ensure quality of the services
  • Smooth implementation of the activities
  • Act as safety measures
  • Ensure cost effectiveness
• These are the universal principles that counsellors are expected to know and practice.
• The major principles of counselling:
  • 1. Individualization: People prefer to be treated as individuals rather than a case or a type.
  • 2. Self-expression of feelings: All human beings need to be given the opportunities to express their feelings including negative feelings.
  • 3. Creating Rapport: This involves setting a conducive atmosphere where the client feels free to express his/ her feelings and concerns.
  • 4. Client’s self-determination: Direct efforts towards helping clients identify and fulfil their goals as well as needs within the limitations of their capacity, potential and circumstances.
  • 5. Impartiality: As a counsellor you should not take sides or blame any client on what is happening in their lives or the problems they are facing.
  • 6. Controlled emotional involvement: Counsellors need to have empathy instead of sympathy.
  • 7. Self-Reflection: Dealing with human beings calls for continuous self-critique in order to improve the counsellor’s helping relationship with his or her clients.
  • 8. Self-Awareness: This involves knowing ones strong and weak areas.
  • 9. Externalization: A counsellor should not label the clients according to their problems as this promotes discrimination and stigmatization.

QUALITIES OF A GOOD COUNSELLOR

• 1. Empathetic Understanding: This is the ability to cognitively and emotionally experience the world on the other person’s perspective and help them cope and be able to stand up on their own feet as soon as possible.
• 2. Sincerity: This is the ability and willingness to be open, real and consistent in the relationship with the client.
• 3. Un conditional positive regard: This refers to the ability to communicate with the client without blame or negative feelings, expelling all fear from the client and making them feel they are accepted the way they are and are wanted despite the weaknesses they may feel.
• 4. Emotional Stability and maturity: The counsellor must be a mature person who can handle his/ her own problems effectively, should be aware of his feelings and motives free from un necessary anxiety and insecurities so that the help they offer can be objective, unbiased, wise and supportive.
• 5. Warmth: This is showing a true welcoming.
• 5. Knowledgeable: Counselors should be well trained and equipped with basic skills such as active listening, clarifying, paraphrasing, reflection, communication skills as applied to counselling and guidance.
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THE IMPORTANCE OF SELF-AWARENESS IN COUNSELING

• Definition
  • Self Awareness is having a clear perception of your personality, including strengths, weaknesses, thoughts, beliefs, motivation, and emotions.
  • Self Awareness allows you to understand: Other people, how they perceive you, Your attitude and your responses to them in the moment.
• Introduction
  • We might quickly assume that we are self-aware, but it is helpful to have a relative scale for awareness.
  • With practice we can learn to engage these types of heightened states and see new opportunities for interpretations in our thoughts, emotions, and conversations.
• Why Develop Self Awareness?
  • 1. To develop the ability to make changes in the thoughts and interpretations you make in your mind.
  • 2. Self awareness is the first step in creating what you want and mastering your: Where you focus your attention, your emotions, reactions, personality and behavior determine where you go in life.
  • 3. Having self awareness allows you to see where your thoughts and emotions are taking you.
• Self Awareness in Relationships
  • Relationships are easy until there is emotional turmoil.
  • When you can change the interpretation in your mind of what you think you can change your emotions and shift the emotional quality of your relationships.
  • Having a clear understanding of your thought and, behavior patterns helps you understand other people.
• How do we Develop Self Awareness?
  • Self awareness is developed through practices in focusing your attention on the details of your personality and behavior.
  • Self awareness isn’t learned from books.
• Self Awareness as applied in Counseling.
  • • Introduction: Because of the intimately private counseling work that qualified counselors and psychotherapists do with clients, it is vitally important that a counseling professional is fully self-aware.
    • How self awareness helps counselors:
      • 1. Relating to Others: Counsellors will naturally draw their own conclusions about self-awareness.
      • . Becoming More Self-Aware: Self-awareness is something that grows over a period of time and with exploration.
      • Dealing with Intimacy: Counseling is a very personal, private and confidential process for each individual client.
      • Changing Attitudes: Through supervised counselling sessions and consultations with experienced professionals, a counsellor will be able to explore their own self-awareness and personal development.