Counselling is a talking therapy that allows people to discuss their problems with trained professionals in a peaceful and safe ambiance. The exact meaning of counselling might vary among individuals. But in general, it is the process where you talk about your issues in detail either intending to overcome the same or to explore your thoughts comprehensively. 

 

The role of a counselor doesn’t limit to suggesting you do this or that. Rather they support you to speak about your problems in detail to identify the primary cause behind them. Furthermore, they develop an action plan to help you cope up with the issue or win over it. 

 

There are different formats through which the counselling sessions can take place, The client is free to choose a format that suits and fits his needs the best. Below are the popular counselling formats that people mostly favor: 

 

• In-Person: Face-to-face counselling sessions take place in the counselor’s chamber where you meet them in person after scheduling an appointment to discuss your problems. It is one of the most popular counselling formats.

 

• Group Counselling: Professionals provide group counselling sessions where you can join to address the issues. Joining such a group will help you find people with similar problems and you will be able to develop a strong network of support as well. However, if you wish to focus on your problem, in-person sessions are better. 

 

• Telephonic Sessions: A great alternative to in-person counselling sessions are telephonic rounds that can be scheduled from the comfort of your home. Telephonic counselling rounds are best for busy individuals who might find it difficult to get into the chambers. In this flexible process, you can discuss the problems with the counselor in a secure environment from your room. 

 

• Online Counselling: If you wish not to meet your counselor face to face and protect your anonymity, you have the option to email the counselor. In this process, you have the scope to think well and decide which of the problems you want to discuss with him. The online counselling trend is becoming much more popular these days. 

 

Counselling Process: 

 

When a person seeks counselling, he or she suffers from something serious be it mental issues, emotional problems, or family problems. The process isn’t rushed but rather involves a systematic evaluation that includes a detailed process. 

 

The counselling process involves a step-by-step approach and the counselor conducts it in a way to make sure that his client is comfortable with the process. Lets have a look at the five crucial stages of a counselling process. 

 

1: Building a Warm Relationship 

2: Analysis

3: Setting the Goal

4: Plan of Action 

5: Overcoming the Problem 

 

Counselling Skills:

 

 Being a professional counselor requires some core skills to be able to handle client queries and drive the best results for them. The vital skills that a professional counselor must have are as follows: 

 

• Effective Listening: A counselor must be a patient listener who not only listens to the clients queries but can handle them intricately. Without hearing the issues minutely, it is impossible to get ahead with the next counselling steps. Therefore, the counselor has to be someone with good listening skills who gives full attention to the client and their details. 

 

• A Good Communicator: A counselor is someone who listens to his clients, analyses the problems, and develops a plan of action to achieve a target. It is indeed critical to be a very good communicator to help the person feel comfortable around him and make sure the client is not hesitating while speaking in front of him about his problems. Developing a good relationship is very important. 

 

• Analysis: A successful counselor is someone who is not only a good listener but a good analyzer too, who uses his skills and expertise to reach the root of the problem and analyze it. Without analysis, the entire process is in vain as no goals can be set and the client will not be able to undergo any plan of action.

 

Types of Counselling: 

 

The counselling types are numerous and here we will be discussing a few of them. 

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• Mental Health Counselling

• Career Counselling 

• Rehabilitation Counselling 

• Relationship Counselling 

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The list of counselling types isn’t limited to these and the numbers are vast. I think I could make the definition and types of counselling clear to you folks. See you again on the next blog with something more interesting.