Counseling involves purposeful conversation between two people to help identify and solve problems. It focuses on practical solutions through empathy and trust rather than advice-giving. The counselor listens without judgment and helps the client find their own answers. Common issues addressed include personality, family, educational, vocational, financial, and health problems. The counseling process involves getting started, identifying issues, developing solutions, and reviewing progress.

1. What is counseling?
Counseling is the means by which one
person helps another through purposeful
conversation
Counseling is a method of identifying
practical solution to an identified problem

2. Common Problems
Personality problems
Family conflicts, Personal problems (Difficulty
to adjust with others) etc.
Educational problems
Lack of motivation, Reading difficulties, etc.
Vocational problems
Difference between interests & aptitude
Financial problems
Need for self- support at school or college
Health problems
Psycho- somatic disorders (Insomania)

3. Common factors for counseling
Two persons are present during counseling
The process leads to action on the part of the
client
The counselor is a person who listens
The client can be trusted to find their own
solutions
Personal growth of the client usually occurs

4. Counseling is not usually concerned
with
Advice-giving
Psychotherapy
Treatment of severe mental illness
Solving client’s life’s problems
Not a remedy for all problems at a
single instance

5. Elements of counseling
An empathetic relationship
The counselor and client relates well
The counselor sticks closely to the clients
problems
The client feels free to say what they like
An atmosphere of mutual trust and confidence
exists
Rapport is essential

6. Personal qualities of a Counselor
Empathy
Ability to stand empathetically with clients
See the world as they see it
Warmth
Delicate one
Genuineness
Professional manner
But friendly manner

7. Positive regard
Disposition towards others is positive
Concreteness
Get to listen
Listens empathetically
Clarifies your thoughts
Leads you to logical conclusion

8. Counseling process
Getting started
Introductory talk
Identifying the issues
Coping with feelings
Identifying possible solutions
Agreeing a plan
Implementing the plan
Review

9. Counseling skills
Listening
It is the process of ‘hearing’ the other
person.
Linguistic aspects
Actual words using by the client
Ex: Expanding a business may turn to
developing a business

10. Paralinguistic aspects
Apart from speech, the timing,
volume, pitch, accent of the individual
Ex: Variation in volume (speech) in
certain times
Non-verbal aspects
refer to ‘body language expression
through the use of the body. ( facial
expression,use of gestures, body
position and movement)

11. Giving information
How much information is given during a counseling
session will depend on the nature of the counseling
relationship
Concrete issues
Expanding a business
Developing a career
Completing a college course
Buying a house
The expert counselor will access the particular and
accurate information of the individual.

12. Personal issues
- Continuing a relationship
- Coping with the death of a relative
- Developing self awareness
- Working through depression
Client is the ‘expert’

13. Making suggestions
‘Concrete’ domain
Ex: Due to parents(option) force a
student may be forced to choose a
subject

14. Drawing out
Open questions:
Do not have one correct answer
Have one word answer
Ex: How did you feel when that happened?
Closed questions:
Yes or no answer only.
Ex: Have you discussed with your
parents?

15. Reflection
Back of the few words client has
spoken
To clarify his thoughts and feelings
Ex: I found it is difficult to get a
job……………

16. Challenging
v Challenge to client saying
v Counselor role is a supportive
v Counselor is in ‘plain speaking’
Ex: There is no one in my
organization that I can talk to at all

17. Supporting
§ Client’s advocate - Counselor
§ Problems the client identified
§ Counselor “follow traveler”
Ex: I have some difficulties to
study at my home

18. Review
Evaluation carried out
Ex: Positive and negative
feedback about the counseling

19. Stages in Career Guidance
Reviewing
Individual needs in relation to work and available
options. (Occupational information)
Goal – setting
Clarify and set achievable goals (Self Assessment)
Action planning
Agreed, undertaken and evaluated (Training)

20. Difference between Counseling &
Guidance
Counseling
Helps to analyse the
problem
Professional manner
Rapport is essential
left to the individual
Guidance
Giving assistance
In Friendly concern
To develop a positive
outlook
Expects to advice

21. Requirements to establish a
career counseling center
• Physical setting
• Privacy
• Rapport
• Test material should be available
• Maintain confidentiality
• Communication
• Attentiveness