COUNSELING AT WORK

1. GUIDANCE ANDCOUNSELLINGAT WORK
The oxfordEnglish dictionarydescribescounselingasprovisionof advice orguidance indecision-making,
inparticularlyinemotionallysignificantsituations. ButDryden,W.and Feltham, C.(1993) was of the
viewthat, “Counsellingisatype of talkingtherapythatallowsapersonto talkabout theirproblemsand
feelingsinaconfidentialanddependableenvironment.”Therefore, itcanbe deducedfromboth
definitionsthatcounselling helpsclientsexploreandunderstand theirworldsandsodiscoverbetter
waysof thinkingandliving. Hence inthiswrite-upwe are goingtoreport on the process and methods
used during counselling and guidance sessions on five(5) employees.
On the otherhand, Guidance has beenperceivedashelpgivenbyone persontoanindividualinmaking
choicesandadjustmentsandinsolvingproblems.Itaimsataidingthe helpee/counselee/clientele to
grow inindependence andabilitytobe responsibleforhim-self.Itisa service thatis universal asitisnot
confinedtothe school or the family.It isfoundinall phasesof life like inthe home,inbusinessand
industry,ingovernment,insocial life,inhospitalsandinprisons; indeeditispresentwhereverthere are
people whocanhelp- (BurksandSteffire,1979).
However, incase of ourfive employeesthatwe are reportingon;they have facedthe reality of work
culture biasfromabuse to lack of promotionformetconditionof exaltingone tohigherposition. But
the realityissuchthat attemptsshouldbe made to adjust these individuals topersonnel differencesand
theirunique dilemmas. Hence Counsellingand Guidance isseenasone of the approachestolessenwork
conflictsbetweenworkers andtheiremployersforasustainable workculture. Eventhough,counselors
oftensubscribe toparticularschoolsof thoughtasto the mosteffectiveanduseful wayof helping . A
critical variable inthisisthe extenttowhichthe solutionstoproblemsare providedbythe counseloror
by the client.This leadstotwoverydifferentrolesforthe counselor:problem-solvingorfacilitator.A
facilitativeapproachmayalsobe usedwhena more openexplorationapproachisused.
Consequently,muchof the process and methods used during counselling and guidance sessions will be
derivedfromthe professionaluse of counsellingand guidance toolsandtechniqueseffectively.As
techniqueswhichare generallyemployedbyguidance workersforcollectingbasic dataabouta person
may eitherbe standardisedornon-standardised.Boththe categoriesof techniquesare usedingetting
primarydata. All the techniquesare useful.The only consideration whichthe guidance workerkeptin
mindisthat the techniques employedgave reliableandobjective information.The use of a particular
technique, however,dependsuponwhatthe guidance workerwantstogetout of it.
CLIENT # 1
OBSERVATION –Isthe firsttool I usedinmy firstcounselingprocessandinvolves oral andvisual wayof
measuringwhata personsaysand whata persondoes.Itis basicto otherguidance technique which
doesnotnecessarily pertainonlytoverbal language. Inthistechnique,behaviourwas studiedthrough
observationbyme asa trainedobserver.The effectivenessof the techniquedependeduponmy
skilfulness.Consequently;Ihadto observe well definedbehavioursfreefrombiasesand prejudices. It

2. tooktime to consolidate myfindingsonseveral occasionsand inorderto make records that would
reveal the personalityandaportion of the totalityof the individual.
Therefore,Iaskedmyfirstclienttowrite upa structuredautobiographysketchof him-self andinclude
thingslike;routine behaviour,attitudes,interests,ideals.Thiswasameansof securinginformation
aboutmy clientandalso an effective source primarydatain counselingprocess. Itisaform of
therapeutictreatment,releasing tensionswithinanindividual. Eventhough,itisoftendifficulttowrite
freelyandfullyaboutone’sexperienceswhomaytendtoexaggerate the truthsorfacts,thismethod
allowedme togeta descriptionof myclient inhisownwords.Asa guidance technique inthisvein,it
gave me valuable informationaboutthe individuals’ interests,abilities,personal history,hopes,
ambitions,likes,dislikes,etc.Since feelings,valuesandattitude cannotbe measuredbyanyother
technique, thishelpedme toappraise myclient’s characteristics andgive guidance onthe perceived
weaknessof myclientsothathe can make an informeddecision.
CLIENT # 2
ANECDOTALRECORDS – Thisis a short description of asignificantevent/incidentof aperson’sovert
behaviour.This devicefacilitatesthe sharingof observationmade bya counselor,withthe cooperation
of the staff memberswhocollectthe recordsor leave theirreports fromtime totime inside the
employee’sfolder. Myanecdotal recordcontained shortdescriptive accountsaboutsome events
regardingmyclient.Everyaccountisa reportof a significant episodeinthe life of anemployee.Itisa
simple statementof an incidentdeemedbyme asthe counselor tobe significantwithrespecttoa given
client.Itprovideddescriptionsof the client’sspontaneousbehaviourinvarioussituations. Hence,it
revealedproblemsand offeredinformationthat helpedmyclientunderstandhim-self.
To ensure objectivityinthiscounsellingprocess,myAnecdotal records possessedthe followingtechnical
criteria:
- Meaningthatanecdotal recordsdid notgive anaccountof the personal emotional
reactionof the reporter.
Adequate Background- recordsgave definite informationabouttime,place and personinvolvedas
well asname,age and the specificsituationswhereinthe counselee isobserved.
-Employers selectedwhichof the anecdote were significantinunderstandingacounselee’s
problemfortheirworkenvironment.
- the reportwere basedexactlyonone’spersonal observation,noton hearsay.
(Adoptedfrom- Agrawal J.C.(1985))
Client#3
CASE STUDY It is an intensive investigationemploying all typesof research,makinguse of tests,
checklists,interviews,andobservation.Itsfunctionistoassistindiscoveringthe causesof needstotake

3. remedial measures .The use of techniquesasobtainingfacts,diagnosisortreatmentiscalledthe case
study methodbecause itutilizesthe scientificproceduresfollowedbyaphysician. Itisdefinedasa
collectionof all available information - social,physiological,biographical, environmental,vocational -
that promisestohelpexplainasingle individual. A case studyisa comprehensivecollectionof
informationwiththe helpof all availabletoolsandtechniquesof datacollection. Itisthe most
importanttechnique andthe-bestmethodof studyingthe whole individual. Itspurpose istosay
positivelyandwithconfidence that,asfaras possible,all sourcesof informationhave beentappedand
all kindsof data have beengatheredfromthem. The mainobjectbehindacase studyisto observe the
individualasa whole andthe problemstudiedinacase studyisnot a problemof ill-health. (Felthamand
Dryden,1993)
To ensure authenticityinmycase studyforthe counsellingprocess,Ifollowedthe followingsteps;
1. Recognitionof the statusof the client tobe investigated.
2. Collectionof datarelatingtothe factors associatedwiththe problemunderstudy.
3. Diagnosis- identificationof causal factors.
4. Applicationof remedial measures forthe problemsidentifiedinmydiagnosis.
(Adoptedfrom -BernardHaroldW.(1969)).
5. Follow-uptechniques- Thesewere necessarytocheckthe correctnessof the diagnosisandto modify
the treatmenttosuit the case.
Nevertheless,factscollected inthe case studywhere establishedwaybefore Iwenttomy studysite.
The individual thatsortguidance was firstidentifiedto know whotheyare intermsof needfor
guidance. ButI tooksome investigations of the environmenttoascertainwhathasmade my client
behave inthe wayhe did. Therefore, thisprovided anadequate case studyaboutmyclient’spresent
basicinformationonthe following topics:
a) The physical,socio-economicandcultural environment
b) The historyand presentstatusof the family
c) His owndevelopmentandpresentstatus.
CLIENT#4
CUMULATIVE RECORDS- It isa record of information concernedwiththe appraisalof anindividual
employee/counselee.The information isobtainedperiodicallythroughvarioussources,techniques,
tests, interviews,observations,case studyandthe like,isassembledinasummaryformon a cumulative
record card, sothat it may be usedwhenthe employee needsour(guidancecounselor) adviceforthe
solutionof some educationalorvocational problem. They containspacesforrecordingthe dataneeded
for whatis calledthe inventory serviceof guidance. A methodof recording,filingandusinginformation

4. isessential forthe guidance of the employee.Itisa helpful currentandfuture guide inchartingthe
progressof special needs forthe employees. Jones,J.A., (1979).
The needforthis counselingprocesswasrealised toprovide useful informationto the employer,
counselors andadministrators.Thisisbecause cumulative recordsinguidance andcounselinggive basic
principlesandassumptionsthat take intoconsiderationthe individual differences.Everyindividual
differsfromthe otherinsome psychologicalcharacter, qualityortrait.For example,notwoindividuals
are alike.Theydifferfromeachotheras faras interests,aptitudesandabilitiesare concerned.
Cumulative recordsrevealedsuchindividual differencesandindicatedthe nature andamountof
professionalassistanceneededbyindividual employees/counselee atvariousstagesof their
development.
The cumulative recordsleft,savedas apermanenthistoryof the educational developmentof the
individualemployee.Itindicated hisattendance,health,achievementandvariousother aspectsof
employmentlife.Hence itwillstill be usefulin analyzingthe future needsof the individual employee
and propereducational andoccupational guidance will be offeredonthe basisof hisneeds.For
example,if itindicatesthe weaknessesinthe physicaldevelopmentof the employee,stepstoremove
those weaknesseswill be suggested.
CLIENT # 5
THE QUESTIONNAIREMETHOD- A questionnaire isalistof questionstobe answeredbyanindividual or
a group of individuals,especiallytogetfacts or information. Borrow HaroldW.(1973). In line withthis
thought,myquestionnaireswere wellelaboratedtomatchwith othertechniques. Theywere designed
to getinformationaboutconditionsandpractices aboutwhichthe respondent(s) were presumedto
have the knowledge. TwoTypesof Questions IusedinmyQuestionnaire include:
1. Close-endedtypes- Whichrequired the answerinthe formyesorno or in a limitednumberof given
categoriese.g. Doyouenjoywatchingothersfighting?YES/NO -Do youhave the feelingthatother
people donotlike you?YES/NO- Do you oftenfindthatyouare tiredforno accountable reasons? YES/
NO.
2. Open-endedtypes- Requiredthe individual tothinkandwrite e.g.whatkindof frienddoyouwantto
have?2. What typesof activitiesdoyoulike todo most?
Thismethodhelpedme toquicklygetthe informationIneededfrommyclient.Duringdataanalysis,I
identifiedthe needyareasof myclientandinstitutedthe appropriate remedies. Thoughthere maybe a
numberof theories thatgauge the objectivityof thismethod includingthose heldbythe clientand
those heldbythe counselor,the informationIobtainedprovidedme with simplifiedmodelsfor
understandingandwaysof acting on counselee’sneeds.Ithelpedme toperceivethe client inert
behaviouranddecide whattodo. On the part of the client,itprovidedthemwith ideasforwhattothink
and do differently.
SUMMMARY

5. In summary Employee Assistance Programs(EAP) are beingignoredinalot of institutionsandthe
organisationIvisitedappreciatedmyresumptionof theirratherdormantemployeecounselingprocess
to assistemployeesindealingwiththe primarycausesof stress andothersocial problems.Aftermyvisit
and recommendations,the institutionIvisited decidedtostartoffering counselingandpsychological
servicesforemployees. Theyappreciatedthe wayIutilizedthererecordsandrealised how muchthe
informationinthe same recordsreviewedabouttheiremployeesandhintedtheywouldalwaysutilize
the same informationforpersonneldevelopment. ItwasparticularlynotedthatCounselingis common
at transitionpointsinaperson'slife,where theyare movingfromthe familiartothe strange,goingfrom
childto adult,single tomarriedandsoon. These changes provedtobe difficultand asa guidance
counselorIhelpedtheiremploysto successfullymake realisticchange,bothemotionallyandcognitively.
Reportedby;BMM.

6. REFERENCES
Agrawal J. C. (1985) EDUCATIONAL VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING,
New Delhi: Doaba House Ltd.
Bernard Harold W. (1969). PRINCIPLES OF GUIDANCE ALLIED-PUBLISHERS, New
Delhi: Pvt. Ltd.
Burks, H.M. and Stefflre, B, (eds) (1979) THEORIES OF COUNSELING, New York:
McGraw-Hill.
Dryden, W. and Feltham, C. (1993). BRIEF COUNSELLING, A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR
BEGINNING PRACTITIONERS, Milton Keynes: Open University Press
Jones, J. A., (1979) PRINCIPLES OF GUIDANCE, New York: Mc Graw Hill.