A Comprehensive Guide to Counselling

Counselling is a field within psychology that addresses and facilitates individuals’ psychological, social, emotional, and scholastic needs. It focuses on helping them cope effectively and resolve challenging situations, hence improving their overall well-being. This article talks about basic counselling skills, the qualities of a good counsellor, principles of counselling, and the difference between guidance and counselling, along with other aspects.

What is Counselling and Who Does It Help?

Counselling aims at providing a safe space for individuals to open up about their problems. It’s a professional relationship between a client and a trained, certified, mental-health professional, aimed at improving the client’s mental, emotional, and social well-being.

World renowned American psychologist, Carl Rogers, one of the founders of Humanistic Psychology, describes counselling as, “the process by which the structure of the self is relaxed in the safety of the clients' relationship with the therapist.”

The purpose of counselling is to empower people and provide them with tools to overcome their difficulties and achieve personal, emotional, and mental growth. A counselling session focuses on positive mental health, self-care, and overall well-being.

Difference Between Guidance and Counselling

These words are frequently interchanged. Although, they have distinct differences:

• Guidance focuses on prevention of problem and helping the person move on; it results in gaining advice and help in decision-making.
• Counselling, on the other hand, is a professional section that focuses on solving the root cause of the issue; it is a therapeutic approach to the problem under specialized assistance.

For example, guidance is suggesting a career to a student, whereas counselling is mapping out the requirements for the same after conducting psychometric tests for a personalized result.

Principles of Counselling:

The core of counselling focuses on client comfort and trust. Principles of counselling vary, but the crux includes:

• Trustworthy relationship between the counsellor and counselee (or client)
• Non-judgemental opinions from the counsellor
• Confidentiality; by maintaining the privacy of the client
• Sensitivity and Empathy towards the feelings and emotions

Professional boundaries between the counsellor and the client

Types of Counselling and What They Address

Counselling as a whole has multiple sectors, each focusing on different issues. Commonly heard areas are as follows:

• Career Counselling: Focused on students who wish to seek clarity in what they can pursue

further. Career counselling helps students identify their strengths, explore options and develop clear goals. Tools like psychometric tests are used to assess the students’ personality, aptitude, and interests, deriving personalized results. Whether it’s a student entering college, someone stepping into the career world, considering a change, or facing uncertainty, career counselling provides a structured approach for them to make informed decisions.

• Mental Health Counselling focuses on emotional and psychological well-being of an

individual. Some common issues that mental health counsellors address across age groups are aggression, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and more. A counsellor specializing in this section provides individuals with coping mechanisms, helping them overcome challenges and maintain an optimistic mental health.

• Marriage Counselling helps couples facing difficulties. By creating a comfortable and safe space for both individuals, the counsellor builds an environment for open communication and mutual understanding. It helps partners resolve conflicts and strengthen their bond.
• Similarly, Family Counselling takes it a step further and addresses family dynamics. It works to improve communication, resolve disputes, and build stronger connections between members of the family.
• Rehabilitation Counselling, commonly known as rehab, focuses on individuals dealing with physical or developmental disabilities. It focuses on overcoming the person’s physical or mental limitations and helping them regain confidence and independence via different forms of physical therapies.
• Substance Abuse Counselling, aims to help improve those struggling with addiction. It provides a combination of psychological and practical self-management strategies to help individuals overcome substance dependency and adopt healthier habits.

Counselling is not only about solving problems; it’s about helping individuals in need, whether they realize they need help or not, with the tools and habits they need to thrive. Whether it’s through career guidance, mental health support, or addressing relationship conflicts, counselling plays a

transformative role in shaping lives.

From Confusion to Clarity: Stages of the Counselling Process:

The process of counselling has a free-flowing structure, depending upon the client’s preference and needs.

The key steps are:

• The first session focuses on building rapport and trust between the counsellor and the client, creating a supportive and non-judgmental environment.
• The counsellor then asks questions to help the person gain clarity about their emotions, behaviours, past experiences, and the challenges they are facing presently.
• Together, the counsellor and client explore goals and strategies and then work towards them. These goals may evolve as the sessions go on, depending on how the individual is progressing and opening up in each session.
• While it is the counsellor offering the guidance, tools, and fresh perspectives, the process

remains client-centred. Meaning, the focus will always be on the client and what they require.

What is Therapy?

Therapy is a core component and professional process in counselling, that aims at improving mental, emotional, and psychosocial well-being. The highlight of counselling is the supportive client- counsellor relationship that is built within this time frame. Some techniques of therapy are as follows:

• Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT)
• Psychodynamic therapy
• Behavioural therapy
• Exposure therapy
• Humanistic approaches, etc.

While counselling and therapy go hand-in-hand together; therapy involves a deeper focus on long- term psychological issues, whereas counselling focuses on addressing immediate concerns.

Why Counselling Truly Matters?

Counselling is not just about addressing the problems, it’s about helping individuals struggling with themselves. By providing them with tools they need to thrive, counselling has a transformative impact on lives.

At Infigon Futures, we host a live webinar – Confusion to Clarity, combining personalized techniques with individual support. We answer your common doubts and help individuals take the first step towards clarity and growth.

If you're ready to take the next step, speak to our expert advisor today and start your journey.