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MANY MODULES Several different modules of counseling have been used over the last 100 years.
DEFINITION: COUNSELING
I am using the word counseling to mean process of giving advice or guidance by an expert for purpose of healing.
That includes relationship, marriage, sexual dysfunctions.
I am excluding genetic counseling, palliative therapy counseling, group counseling, and HIV/AIDs specific counseling. Obviously, legal or career counseling isn't the subject here. Often psychotherapy is used in place of counseling.
STEPS OF COUNSELING PROCESS
The present widely practiced method of counseling is interpersonal communication between counselor and the person who has emotional disturbance/disorder/difficulty. The steps, in brief would be:
1]
Confidential meeting
With prior appointment both meet in a secluded (to maintain confidentiality) office room.
2]
Listening
Client narrates the immediate problems in detail. This is cross checked with a relative to separate facts from the consequences. Thus, 'words of abuse uttered' is fact and 'the reaction of the client whether violent or otherwise' would be the consequence/disturbance.
Then the counselor summarizes the 'problem', which the person has so that the client is assured, "Yes. The counselor has understood correctly what I mean to say."
3]
Dissecting
Personality consisting of 'innate nature', and a person's belief, which is acquired or result of conditioning by socio cultural environment, are clearly understood. This enables dissecting 'significance' and 'meaning' attached to facts so that the root of disturbance is exposed.
4]
Empowering
The manner in which people react to same 'incidence' differs from person to person, based on their 'innate nature' and 'acquired beliefs'.
The process of counseling empowers the client to dissociate and understand 'incidence', which is not under the client's control as separate from both the 'disturbance' and the resulting 'reaction', which are under one's own voluntary control. Thus, instead of 'reaction' that is based on the disturbed mental state, appropriate 'action' can be chosen.
5]
Outcome
The relation between the Counselor and the client influences the outcome of treatment. Hence, mere correct knowledge is not enough, but the counselor must have the art and heart of healing.
This is perhaps the best briefest and most lucid description of the steps of counseling process.
Dr. Ashok Koparday
Relationship Counselor
