Here is exactly what we cover in this course:

15.1 THE PRINCIPLES  & PROCESS OF SUPPORTIVE COUNSELLING

Supportive counselling is a helping intervention  on primary healthcare level where people do not require the specialist skills of a psychologist. Supportive counsellors (SP) work as first line of entry on ground levels where people struggle with day to day issues. Supportive counselling comprises a helping relationship entered into between the counsellor and the counselee (client).  The purpose of the relationship is that of lending support and help to the client or counselee without abrogation of the client’s freedom of response.  The client seeks help and support but retains the right to make own decisions true to his/her understanding of life and mental framework of reference.  The task of the counsellor is that of facilitator and sounding board.  The essence of counselling is not to give advice, but to solicit understanding and motivate the client to take charge of his/her life.

Supportive counselling is not a recipe to be executed in three easy steps.  It is a creative process that is constituted according to the needs required by the specific situation in accordance with the skills of the counsellor. In this study unit we will introduce the student to the process, principles and methods of counselling.

15.2 THE CONCEPTUAL WORLD OF THE CLIENT

The one very important thing to realize in the counselling process is that the counselee belongs to a whole world made up of ideas, opinions, persuasions, discourses and perspectives.  These are the things that shape the counselee on a cognitive level.  

The objective of the counselling process is clearly not to change the world view of the counselee, but to understand the person within the context of his/her own world.  Different subjects explore particular segments of the world we live in.  We cannot hope to offer effective counselling without being able to understand where the client comes from and what makes them ‘tick’.