1. GOALS AND SCOPE OF
COUNSELLING
Disciplines and Ideas in the Applied Social
Sciences
2. GOALS OF
COUNSELLING
•INTRODUCTION
•Different individuals have different perceptions of
what can be expected of counseling. Individuals
preparing to become counselors, and those who seek
counseling, as well as parents, teachers, school
administrators and governmental agencies, all differ
in their expectations of the counseling experience.
3. ENHANCING COPING SKILLS
We will inevitably run into difficulties in the process of
growing up. Most of us do not completely achieve all of our
developmental tasks within a lifetime. All of the unique
expectations and requirements imposed on us by others will
eventually lead to problems. Any consistencies in
development can result in children learning behaviour
patterns that are both inefficient and ineffective. Learned
coping patterns, however,may not always work. New
interpersonal or occupational role demands may create an
overload and produce excessive anxiety and difficulty for the
4. IMPROVING RELATIONSHIPS
Many clients tend to have major problems relating to
others due to poor self-image. Likewise, inadequate
social skills cause individuals to act defensively in
relationships. Typical social difficulties can be observed
in family, marital and peer group interaction (e.g., the
troubled elementary school child). The counselor would
then strive to help the client improve the quality of
their lives by developing more effective interpersonal
relationships.
5. FACILITATING CLIENT POTENTIAL
Counseling seeks to maximize an individual’s
freedom by giving him or her control over their
environment while analyzing responsiveness and
reaction to the environment. Counselors will
work to help people learn how to overcome, for
example, excessive substance use and to better
take care of their bodies.
6. FACILITATING BEHAVIOUR CHANGE
Most theorists indicate that the goal of counseling is
to bring about change in behaviour that will enable
the client to be more productive as they define their
life within society’s limitations. According to Rodgers
(1961), behaviour change is a necessary result of the
counseling process, although specific behaviours
receive little or no emphasis during the process.
7. PROMOTING DECISION-MAKING
The goal of counseling is to enable the individual to
make critical decisions regarding alternative courses of
action without outside influence. Counseling will help
individuals obtain information, and to clarify emotional
concerns that may interfere with or be related to the
decisions involved. These individuals will acquire an
understanding of their abilities and interests. They will
also come to identify emotions and attitudes that could
influence their choices and decisions.
8. SCOPE OF
COUNSELLING
• INDIVIDUAL COUNSELLING
• 1.Adolescent identity, concerns, teen-parent relationships, peer
relationships
• 2.Anxiety
• 3.Anger management
• 4.Children’s concerns within the family unit, sibling relationships, school
experiences, peer relationships
• 5.Depression
• 6.Family of origin dynamics and issues
• 7.Gender: identity, sexuality, homosexuality
• 8.Grief and bereavement
9. INDIVIDUAL COUNSELLING
• 1.Relationships: personal and interpersonal dynamics
• 2.Sexual abuse recovery
• 3.Seniors: challenges, limitations, transitions
• 4.Singles: single, newly single, single through divorce or
being widowed
• 5.Spirituality
• 6.Stress management
• 7.Workplace stress and relationships
• 8.Young adult: identity, relationships, vocation
10. MARITAL AND PRE-MARITAL COUNSELLING
• 1.Marital and relational dynamics
• 2.Extended family relationships
• 3.Fertility issues
11. FAMILY COUNSELLING
• 1.Adolescent and child behaviourswithin family dynamics
• 2.Adult children
• 3.Divorce and separation issues and adjustment
• 4.Family dynamics: estrangement, conflict,
communication
• 5.Family of origin / extended family issues
• 6.Life stages and transitions
• 7.Parenting patterns: blended, single, co-parenting
families
