What Is Counselling ?

What Is Counselling?

Many people will, at some point in their lives, find themselves thinking that exactly what is counseling. While, many times in our life, we find ourselves in the role of a counselor. Even without having a true understanding of the concept of counseling or what the role of the professional counselor entails.

confusing fact about counselling:

The Concise Oxford Dictionary (9^th Edition) gives at least two definitions of counseling, which appear to be conflicting, adding to potential confusion:

“give advice to (a person) on social or personal problems, especially professionally.”

and

“the process of assisting and guiding clients, especially by a trained person professionally, to resolve especially personal, social, or psychological problems and difficulties.”

Counselling in the sense of psychology

Counselling psychology specifically has a strong focus on providing effective treatments. Such treatment helps clients who are experiencing a broad range of symptoms. According to the Society of Counseling Psychology, counselling psychology can be defined as a professional psychology field that pays attention to the “emotional, social, vocational, educational, health-related, developmental, and organizational concerns” that normally affect our daily lives. Across all stages of development from childhood through old age. It makes counselling psychology up of culturally-based practices. That is used for addressing school adjustment problems, life transitions, relationship difficulties, learning deficits, stress management, organizational issues, and career moves.

Why should I seek a counsellor?

Being mentally healthy has many benefits. How those mental health benefits are realized can come through the process of mental health counselling. We have this debate that the efficacy of psychotherapy and other forms of counselling for years. Meta-analyses have brought empirical proof of the benefits that many experience from undergoing mental health counselling (Brown, 1987). Following are some proven benefits which proves the need for a counsellor:

• Improvements in communication
• Peer group facilitation
• Supported emotional exploration
• Advocacy for suspected neglect, or abuse
• Improvements in attention and academic achievement
• Reduction in anger and behavioural outbursts
• Helps saves marriages
• Prevention of crime
• Rehabilitation
• Feeling less alone
• Help in solving matter and problems
• Seeing the lighter side of life

These are only a few facts that we have shared with you. But the truth is there are hundreds of cases where counselling has saved the lives of people who are going to suicide, or even committing crimes.

Often in this field, all the focus is on the mental side of things, but as physical beings, our physiology and overall health and wellbeing play into the equation too. Some such benefits people get as a result of counselling can be more energy, sounder sleep, and a better appetite. This often has a knock-on effect, making people more active, which can elevate feelings of positivity. The other side of this coin is the simple benefit of spending time in proximity to other people which, especially for those feeling lonely, sad, or depressed, can have a hugely comforting effect.

Psychological Therapies

There are many psychological therapies. However, they all have the same aim, one common therapeutic goal. They seek to facilitate changes in well-being.

A. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies

These kinds of therapies include

• Acceptance and commitment therapy
• Behavior therapy
• Cognitive analytic therapy
• Rational emotive behavioral therapy

B. Psychoanalytic and psychodynamic therapies

• Psychoanalytic therapy

• Dynamic interpersonal therapy

•  Jungian therapy

C. Humanistic therapies

• Existential therapy

• Gestalt therapy

•  Client-centered therapy

• Brief therapy: focused problem resolution

• Transactional analysis

• Transpersonal psychology

D. Artistic therapies

• Artistic psychotherapy

•  Drama therapy

• Music therapy