How Does Counselling Differ from Other Helping Skills

INTRODUCTION TO COUNSELLING ASSIGNMENT ONE HOW DOES COUNSELLING DIFFER FROM an a nonher(prenominal)(prenominal) HELPING SKILLS? Lorna Wilson 15/12/09 How does Counselling Differ from other sh atomic number 18 Skills? In everyday life throng experience difficulties and problems that they tactual sensation they are not qualified to deal with on their own and motivation serve up with. The help that people receive to overcome their problems can be in many different forms.People may receive help in an informal way, such as having a chat to a intimately acquaintanceship or relative, who can offer support and advice or they may seek help in a more formal electrical capacity from various parcel passe-partouts, such as counsellors, social workers, psychiatrists, repairs, etc. For totally of these professionals it is their formal role to help people manage distressing problems of life, save the help that is given can be very different depending on the profession of the helpe r &038 their specific skills.This assignment aims to consider how discuss differs from other forms of share. Not every person who drills guidance skills is designated a counsellor. We can eff two groups of people who make aim of centering skills. People who are called counsellors, who take up in counselling as a distinct profession and others who use counselling skills as part of their role. We may go to a doctor to discuss a problem we are facing and a helping relationship is formed, however what the doctor offers is not counselling.They may well use their counselling skills, by listening to the patient to gain an understanding of their distress, and they also use other skills such as heavy(p) advice and providing real information. The British Association of Counselling &038 Psychotherapy define counselling as taking place when a counsellor sees a lymph gland in a private and confidential pose to explore a difficulty the client is having, distress they may be expe riencing or perhaps their dissatisfaction with life, or loss of a sense of direction or purpose.It is always at the request of the client, as no-one can properly be sent for counselling. It is a supportive relationship that enables clients to explore, understand, come to terms with and subside their problems. Hough (2006) describes counselling as a relationship which is often between two people, scarce can sometimes be in a group setting. The counselling relationship is unique to other forms of helping for various lawsuits. One reason is due to the fussy form of communication that takes place between the client and counsellor.A primary difference between counselling &038 other forms of helping is the way in which counsellors listen. By listening attentively and patiently the counsellor begins to perceive the difficulties from the clients spotlight of skyline and can help them to see things more clearly or from a different perspective. Active listening involves thinking behind the clients words and nigh their tints and emotions. It also involves being apprised of non-verbal communication such as eye contact, facial expressions and body language. All of which can countenance the counsellor with information about what the client may be experiencing. slightly helping relationships involve giving advice, which means telling people what they should do. This should not take place in counselling. The counsellor may well address through with the client what is possible and explore different ways that problems could be resolved but it is about helping the client to take function for finding a solution that feels right for them. This enables the client to take chasten of their own life and is based on the principle of empowerment. Freud (1920) even cautioned against giving advice.He felt that people should be helped to come to their own single-handed decisions without pressure. Confidentiality is also an essential part of the agreement between counsellor an d client, but it can also be important to other helping professionals in their work. During counselling, clients may reveal intimate details about their full of lifes. They would not motivation these private details to be passed on to other people and convey to be reassured of confidentiality, probably more so than in other helping professions due to the depth and intimacy of the information that is being discussed.However, it is not always that simple and at that place may be some instances when it is not possible to maintain total confidentiality and the counsellor my pick up to pass on certain information that was revealed. For example, if a crime has been committed or if thither is a risk of harm to other person. In this case the counsellor must(prenominal) be clear with the client what information they may incur to pass on and to whom. professional person counsellors are also bound by other ethics such as being non-judgemental and should not sweat their clients in any way.They must be respectful of how their clients choose to live and their right to self-determination. Counsellors must not impose their own thoughts or feeling on other people &038 should not founder any expectations or impose any conditions on their clients. The relationship between counsellor and client should be one of equality. Although, the client may not feel that there is equality, they may feel powerless, as they are seeking help. The counsellor must try and convey a sense of equality and use their skills and companionship to enable the client to take control of their life and feel empowered.The setting where counselling takes places is also very important. The counsellor must have an environs that feels comfortable, safe, private and consistent to enable the client to feel more at ease and therefore able to talk more freely about difficulties they are experiencing. Professional counsellors also have to undergo specific training. As previously mentioned many helping prof essionals use counselling skills such as listening and attending to clients, asking questions, helping clients to clarify their thoughts etc. Professional counsellors become experts at using these particular skills.Professional counsellors also have training in the theory behind counselling and for example have intimacy of the process of human development and personality, knowledge of problems which can come up at different stages of the lifespan and how the environment and other influencing factors can move peoples ability to deal with everyday life. They are aware of common psychological processes such as bereavement, loss and attachment and how people form and interact in relationships. Personal development is also another aspect of the role of a counsellor, as it is essential that they have increase self-awareness.The more self-aware the counsellor is the more they will be able to understand their clients. They often have their own supervision or counselling to enable them to reflect on their own thoughts and feelings. To summarise, people experience difficulties and problems that they feel they are not able to deal with on their own and need help with. The help that they receive to enable them to overcome their problems can be in different forms, it can be informal advice from a friend or family member or it can be help from a professional that has particular skills in helping others.It was identified that many professionals use helping skills in their work but this differs from the work of a professional counsellor. Counselling is a supportive relationship that enables the client to explore, understand and resolve their problems in a private and comfortable setting. There is a special relationship between counsellor and client that is based on equality, respect, confidentiality and a non-judgemental attitude. The counsellor uses expert skills such as listening, enabling them to perceive the difficulties from the clients point of view.They also have sp ecific training to develop these skills and have knowledge of the theory behind counselling and increased self-awareness through personal development. enounce Count 1300 References British Association for Counselling &038 Psychotherapy (2005) What is Counselling? , capital of the United Kingdom BACP. Egan,G. (1998) The Skilled Helper, Brooks/Cole Publishing Company Freud, S. (1920) A widely distributed introduction to Psychoanalysis. New York Horace Liveright. Hough, M (2006) Counselling Skills &038 Theory, London Hodder Arnold Swain, J (1995) The enjoyment of Counselling Skills A Guide for Therapists, Oxford Butterworth-Heinemann.