Diass

• Counselling is an interactive process characterized by a unique relationship between the counsellor and client
• Changes experienced by the client in counselling can be in the areas of behavior, beliefs, and level of emotional distress
• The objective of counselling is achieved through functions such as advice, reassurance, communication, release of emotional tension, clarified thinking, and reorientation
• The important components of counselling are the counsellor, the client, and the working alliance between them
• A counsellor is a trained professional who serves clients through therapeutic communication
• A counsellor should possess attributes such as a genuine desire to help the client, acceptance and respect for the client, ability to listen and understand the client's pain, and excellent therapeutic communication skills
• The client brings personal pain, help-seeking by choice, and personal issues to counselling
• The work alliance between counsellor and client involves core conditions like empathy, respect, and genuineness
• Process goals in counselling are objectives that must be achieved during counselling sessions and in the counsellor's office
• Outcome goals of counselling include behavioral change, coping with life realities, making important life decisions, change in beliefs, and relief from emotional distress
• Counselling has stages that follow a complete sequence, including the initial disclosure, in-depth exploration, and commitment to action
• In the initial disclosure stage, the counsellor encourages self-disclosure by setting trust-promoting conditions
• In the in-depth exploration stage, the client gains a clearer understanding of life concerns and develops a new sense of hope and direction
• In the commitment to action stage, the client decides on how to accomplish goals defined and commits to a plan with help from the counsellor
• Types of counselling include directive counselling, nondirective or client-centered counselling, and participative counselling
• Ethical dimensions of counselling include informed consent, confidentiality, and the protection and development of the client and counsellor