The counseling process involves several stages: 1) Relationship building to establish trust and structure between counselor and client. 2) Assessment and diagnosis where information is gathered about the client's situation and standardized/non-standardized tools are used. 3) Formulation of client goals where the client articulates what they want to achieve in counseling in areas like behavior change, coping, decision-making, or relationships. 4) Problem solving using a treatment plan with clearly defined and achievable goals adapted over time focusing on a positive outcome. Counseling can be directive with the counselor guiding the client, or non-directive with the client driving the process in a supportive environment.

1. The Counseling ProcessThe Counseling Process

2. COUNSELLING PROCESS
For example students in a college or
university may be anxious about how to
study in university, lack of clarity on
educational or career direction, have
difficulty living with a room-mate of
another race or religion, have concerns
with self-esteem, feelings with being
“stressed out”, difficulties in relationships
and so forth

3. StagesStages

4. Stage OneStage One
Relationship BuildingRelationship Building
Tasks here include…Tasks here include…
*Laying foundations for trust*Laying foundations for trust
*Establishing the structure and form the*Establishing the structure and form the
relationship will takerelationship will take
*Informed consent process*Informed consent process

5. Stage TwoStage Two
Assessment and DiagnosisAssessment and Diagnosis
Gathering information to promote understanding ofGathering information to promote understanding of
client’sclient’s
situation and perspective….situation and perspective….
Completion of intake/of psychosocialCompletion of intake/of psychosocial
Standardized (e.g. psychological tests) andStandardized (e.g. psychological tests) and
Non standardized (e.g. clinical interview)Non standardized (e.g. clinical interview)
toolstools

6. Stage ThreeStage Three
Formulation of Client GoalsFormulation of Client Goals
The client articulates where they want their counseling journey toThe client articulates where they want their counseling journey to
take themtake them
*Client role as one of*Client role as one of driving the busdriving the bus
*Enhances sense of ownership and motivation – factors important in*Enhances sense of ownership and motivation – factors important in
the change processthe change process
Well identified goals help create a roadmap and means to evaluateWell identified goals help create a roadmap and means to evaluate
Goals may change, evolve as therapy progressesGoals may change, evolve as therapy progresses

7. Four CategoriesFour Categories
Counseling GoalsCounseling Goals
1. To change an unwanted or unwelcome behavior1. To change an unwanted or unwelcome behavior
2. To better cope2. To better cope
3. To make and implement decisions3. To make and implement decisions
4. To enhance relationships4. To enhance relationships

8. Stage FourStage Four
Problem solvingProblem solving
Characteristics of a good treatment plan…Characteristics of a good treatment plan…
*goals are clearly defined and*goals are clearly defined and
reachablereachable
*plan able to be adapted with time*plan able to be adapted with time
*positive and action-oriented focus*positive and action-oriented focus
Essential to an effective plan…is client’sEssential to an effective plan…is client’s
motivation and willingness to follow itmotivation and willingness to follow it

9. Types of Counseling
 •Directive Counseling
 •Non – Directive Counseling

11. Directive Counseling
(prescriptive counseling)
 • Counselor centered: the counselor direct
the client to take steps in order to resolve
his conflicts.
 • It is based on assumption that the client
cannot solve his own problems for lack of
information.

12. Cont…Cont…
 Five Steps of Directive Counseling:
 •Analysis
 •Synthesis
 •Diagnosis
 •Prognosis
 •Counseling

14. Cont…Cont…
 ‐‐ Analysis – to understand the client‐information collected is analyzed. Analysis – to understand the client‐information collected is analyzed.

 ‐‐ Synthesis – data collected is summarized and organized to understand Synthesis – data collected is summarized and organized to understand
 client’s strengths, weaknesses, adjustment, etc. client’s strengths, weaknesses, adjustment, etc.

 ‐‐ Diagnosis – drawing conclusions about the nature and causes of Diagnosis – drawing conclusions about the nature and causes of
 client’s problem. client’s problem.
 ‐‐ Prognosis – predicting the future development of the client’s problem. Prognosis – predicting the future development of the client’s problem.
 ‐‐ Counseling – brings about adjustment or readjustment in the client. Counseling – brings about adjustment or readjustment in the client.
 ‐‐ Follow‐up ‐ after counseling is over, the counselor helps the client to Follow‐up ‐ after counseling is over, the counselor helps the client to
 readjust the old problem reoccurs. readjust the old problem reoccurs.

15. Non-directive Counseling
 It is a client-centered process.
 • In this, the counselee is the pivot of the whole
counseling process.
 • The main function of the counselor is to create
an atmosphere in which the client can work out
his problem.
 • In this type of counseling, emotional elements
rather than intellectual element are stressed.