Counselling – Types, Benefits, Myths And Facts

By – Dr Renita Dsouza
People of all walks of life seek mental peace and happiness. People struggle hard within themselves to adjust to the environment, it can be at school, home, college or work place. In this struggle they can adopt faulty thinking and behavior.

Table of Contents

What is counselling?

Counselling is not about giving advice, suggestion or solution, counselling is all about guiding or assisting a person to help himself resolve his personal or social problem by making use of his own hidden potential.
Read – Depression, Suicidal Tendency: Case Study, Counselling

Difference between Counselor and counselee

A counsellor is a trained person who undertakes counselling. A counselee is one who need to be counseled, known as client.

Why do we need counselling?

Counselling a person can help him change the way of thinking, perception of self or of others or a change in behavior. This enables him to understand himself and take right steps in life to be happy and peaceful. Most of us have some faulty or unhelpful method to cope with emotional, psychological or social problems. For example – Eating excess during stressful situations. The purpose of counselling is to help a person face every situation of life in a healthy and effective way.
Read – How My Husband Reversed His Diabetes

Types of Counseling

Counselling can be classified into various types. Here are few simple classifications of counselling.

Based on level of Counselling

Informal counselling – helped by a responsible person
Non-specialist counselling by professionals – Doctors, Lawyers, Teachers etc
Professional counselling – helped by a person who is specially trained as counsellors

Based on theoretical background

Directive counselling
Non – directive counselling
Eclectic counselling

Based on number of persons involved for counselling

Individual counselling – Interaction is between 2 people, the counsellor and the counselee
Family counselling – Interaction is between counsellor, counselee and his family
Group counselling – Here group of people having similar problems are counselled together at the same time.

Based on specific problems

Marriage counseling
Educational counselling
Rehabilitation counseling
Mental health counselling
Substance abuse counseling
Read – Alcoholism: Ayurvedic Treatment, Medicines, Remedies

Benefits of Counselling

High self esteem
Optimistic outlook
Improves self confident
Self acceptance
Increases decision making skills
Better understanding of self and others
Coping effectively with anxiety, fear, grief, depression
Increased productivity and creativity
Effectively managing stress
Improves problem solving ability
Managing and expressing anger in a right way
Graceful and successful aging
Helps to have effective communication
Maintaining healthy and happy relationship
Helps to live in the present
Read – Anxiety Tips, Ayurvedic Treatment, Herbs, Home Remedies

Myths and Facts

Counselling is for those with mental illness

Counselling helps to manage the symptoms of mental illness and it is used for any person who need help to resolve everyday problems such as relationship issues, adjusting to new work place, low self esteem, fear, anxiety, grief, procrastination, time management etc.

Talking to a friend is as same as talking to a counselor

Talking to friend is not same as talking to a trained counselor. A trained counselor applies the techniques of counselling which help individual open up easily without being judged and finds relieve. The counselee or client also learn skills from trained counselor that can help overcome personal problems.
Read – Success Tip – Never Listen To Your Friends

How Counselling Helps in Life Decisions? 2 Examples

Counselling is giving advice or suggestion

Counselling is not giving advice or suggestion instead it removes the blockage within the client and help him find solution and improves the decision making ability.