Page 142 - DEDU502_GUIDANCE_AND_COUNSELING_ENGLISH

Guidance and Counseling

Notes 12.1 Principles of Counseling

Counseling is based on a number of principles. These principles are :
1. Counseling is a process. It is necessary for the counselor to understand that counseling is a
process and a slow process. Failure to understand this will result in annoyance and
disappointment.
2. Counseling is for all. Especially in the school situation counseling is meant for all the students
and not only for those who are facing problems or other exceptional students. As we have
already discussed in the school situation Counseling is more developmental and preventive
than remedial in nature.
3. Counseling is based on certain fundamental assumptions.
(a) every individual in this world is capable of taking responsibilities for him/herself.
(b) every individual has a right to choose his/her own path, based on the principles of democracy.

4. Counselor does not deprive the right of self-choice but simply facilitates choice. The counselor
should give due respect to the individual and accept him/her as he/she is.
5. Counseling is not advice giving
6. Counseling is not thinking for the client, but thinking with the client. Counseling is for enabling
the client to do judicious thinking.
7. Counseling is not problem solving. The counselor simply assist the person to find solution on
his/her own.
8. Counseling is not interviewing but conversing with the client in order to help him/her develop
self-understanding.
9. The counselor should determine individual differences and provide for them.
10. The counselor has to prepare the client to open to criticism including self-criticism.
11. The counselor acts as a facilitator or catalyst only. He creates an atmosphere which is permissive
and non-threatening, through his warm and accepting relationship with the client which helps
the client to explore himself/herself and understand himself/herself better.
12.2 Counseling Process
The term ‘counseling process’ implies continuous change or changes that take place or rather which
should take place in the client in promoting personality changes in a desired direction. The kind of
change that the counseling process aims at is briefly: (1) awareness on the part of the client, (2)
behavioural change in a desired direction through which the client can achieve his goals, and (3)
understanding his potentialities, limitations and how to utilize them best in achieving his goals.
The counseling process, by and large, is the same for all problems and for all individuals. However,
certain important differences need to be clarified. In vocational and educational counseling the
major emphasis is on collecting factual information and helping the client understand this information
in a proper perspective. In such situations the emotional problems, though present, are not the main
concern of the counselor. In educational and vocational counseling the decision-making and planning
model occupies the counselor’s attention such that he tries to help rational problem-solving processes,
clarify self-concepts, values, etc. In this context counselors are often concerned with the appropriate
choice of educational goals or careers. The educational or vocational counseling usually proceeds in
a stepwise manner starting with (1) establishing a relationship, (2) stating the problem, (3) elaborating
and explaining the issues, (4) exploring the relevant psychological aspects of the counsellee’s
background, (5) structuring the nature of the process, (6) collecting the needed data from tests, case
material, personal documents, etc., (7) interpreting the test data and individual appraisal, (8)
discussing the data in the light of occupational and/or educational choices of the client, (9) discussing
alternate approaches or plans and trying out the plan(s), and (10) reassessing and, if necessary,
altering the plan(s).

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