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Unit 11: Counseling: Concept, Need and Goals with Reference to India

organism has one basic tendency and striving to actualize, maintain and enhance the experiencing Notes
organism”. Snygg and Combs (1959) refer to the enhancement of the self as the “all inclusive
human need which motivates all behaviour at all times and in all places”. The concept of self-
actualization is a universal need and, therefore, may be looked upon as an ultimate good because
it is the goal of life. May (1967) states that the goal of therapy (counseling is interpreted as a form
of therapy throughout this book) is to help the patient to actualize his potentialities. According
to Byrne (1963), the ultimate goals derive substance from the conceptions of universal man and
the nature of life. Intermediate goals are explained by the reasons for seeking a counselor’s help,
and immediate goals as those that refer to the present intentions of the counsellee.
A major criticism levelled is that goals such as ‘self-actualization’, ‘actualizing potentialities’, etc.,
are too general and amorphous and hence not useful in actual practice. Krumboltz (1966) holds that
an operational definition of terms would be a more useful approach. He suggests that a general
concept could be reduced to specific, objective and measurable variables. Ultimate goals, owing to
their very broad and general nature, cannot be evaluated as immediate or mediate goals.
Mediate goals (Parloff, 1967) may be considered as specific steps contributing to the realization of
general goals. Behaviourists place much emphasis on mediate goals. These comprise the reduction
of anxiety, feeling of hostility, undesirable habits, etc., on the negative side; and the increase of
pleasure, acquisition of adaptive habits, understanding of self, etc., on the positive side. The
immediate goal of counseling is to motivate a potential counsellee to make an appointment with
a counselor and go through the counseling process till the mediate goals are realized. It is
through the realization of mediate goals that the ultimate goals of ‘self-understanding’, ‘self-
realization’ and ‘self-actualization’ can be reached. The process of self-exploration is perhaps a
kind of immediate goal which sets the counseling process in motion.
According to Rogers (1951), an important outcome of counseling is that the client feels less
anxious about the possibility of achieving his goals. Rogers (1954) further holds that counseling
produces a change in personality organization and behaviour, both of which are relatively
permanent. Areas in which change is considered desirable are relations with other individuals,
academic achievement, job satisfaction, etc. Desirable change may be understood as the bringing
about of more positive responses to frustrating situations through adopting different attitudes
towards other people as well as towards oneself.

Some of the major goals of counseling generally accepted by counselors are given below.
11.3.1 Achievement of Positive Mental Health

The need for mental health cannot be over-emphasized. It is identified as an important goal of
counseling by some individuals who claim that when one reaches or secures positive mental,
health, one learns to adjust and responds more positively to people and situations. Others hold
that prevention of emotional tensions, anxieties, indecision and such other problems is also an
important goal of counseling. They hold the view that counseling should lead to positive feelings
of warmth and of being liked. Kell and Mueller (1962) hold that the “promotion and development
of feelings of being liked, sharing with, and receiving and giving interaction rewards from other
human beings is the legitimate goal of counseling”.
Resolution of Problems

Another goal of counseling is the resolving of the problem brought to the counselor. This, in
essence, is an outcome of the former goal and implies positive mental health. In behavioural
terms three categories of behavioural goals can be identified, namely, altering maladaptive
behaviour, learning the decision-making process and preventing problems (Krumboltz, 1966).
Wolpe (1958) feels that the goal of counseling is to relieve the suffering and disability of the
clients.

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