Counselling Definition

Counselling is thought to be an activity freely entered into by the person seeking help and a person occupying the role of counselor which offers opportunity to identify things that are troubling for that person. According to Russel ,Dexter and Bond(1992) this “process should help to identify thoughts, emotions and behaviors that once accessed, may offer the client a greater sense of personal resources and self-determined change”. Some authors state that a relationship between counselor and his client   is a special form of communication because it involves quality of helper listening and therefore it must be developed   as a result of training along with other interpersonal skills (Hough, 2006). Counselling is also a confidential and non-judgmental form of helping a client in order to make him feel comfortable and safe. Each client should be treated as unique and with unique experience. Carl Rogers believes that core conditions of empathy, genuineness and unconditional positive regard towards the client are essential to facilitate growth and change within a client(Hough 2006) Process of counseling is based on principle of empowerment which “indicates a confidence in the innate potential of self-determination”( Hough,2006:4).Only when all above factors that define essence of counseling are present , it   becomes possible   to” give the client opportunity to explore, discover and clarify ways of living more resourcefully and towards greater well-being”

Reference:
1. Hough Margaret 2006, Counselling skills and Theory ,London,Hodder Education
2. Sanders 2002 First Steps in Counselling, a student companiuon in basic introductory courses ,Ross-on-Wye,Pccs Books
3. Russell,Dexter,Bond 1992 Differentiation between advise, guidance,, befriending,counseling skills and counseling,Advaice, Guidance, and Cunselling Lead Body