Stages and Attributes of Counselling

This report discusses the stages involved in the counselling process, including relationship building, problem assessment, goal setting, counselling intervention, and evaluation or termination. It also explores the importance of attributes like empathy and flexibility in counselling sessions. Examples of simulation techniques are provided for illustrating the first and last stages of counselling.

Counselling
Education

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Discussion of all stages of procedure of counselling that is needed by counsellor to know as
well as elaborate each stage of counselling:................................................................................1
Giving examples of simulation which a counsellor requires to do for illustrating first and last
stage of counselling procedure:...................................................................................................4
Discussion on five attributes of a counsellor and explanation on its importance in the session
of counselling:..............................................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Professional counselling refers to a process which occurs at a time when client as well as
counsellor set aside a period of time for the purpose of exploring difficulties that may involves
emotional feelings and stressful situations of a client. Counsellor is a person whose job is to help
its clients for viewing things more clearly and from different perspective. In other words,
counselling can be explained as a talking therapy which allows person to discuss their issues or
problems, in a safe as well as confidential environment (Butts. and Gutierrez, 2018) .
Counselling are of various types such as, face to face counselling, individual and group,
telephonic, and online. It enhances self-understanding and helps in identification and resolution
of concerns.
This report covers description of counselling and elaboration of stages which are involved in
the procedure of counselling. Further, examples of simulation which are required by counsellor
is illustrated in relation to first as well as last stage of counselling procedure.
MAIN BODY
Discussion of all stages of procedure of counselling that is needed by counsellor to know as well
as elaborate each stage of counselling:
Counselling can be described as a professional relationship which empowers diverse
groups or individuals with the motive of accomplishing goals related to mental health, education,
career or wellness (Carrington, 2016). It includes activities of helping people for making
required changes or modifications in context to ways in which people behave, feel or think.
Overall, it is a goal based and collaborative procedure which involves non-judgemental and
supportive counsellor that fosters activities of viable goal setting for clients, developing effective
strategies, and making essential plans for attaining targets which are set.
The process of counselling is a planned and structured dialogue among counsellor and
client. It indicates a cooperative procedure that facilitates a trained professional to help a client in
relevance to identification of sources of problems or difficulties as well as concerns which a
person is experiencing. Hence, counselling process refers to a series of tasks or steps which is
followed by counsellor while conducting its work related to counselling. Steps which are
involved in a process of counselling are described below:

 Relationship building: It is a first step in the counselling process and it states building a
relationship. Hence, in this process the focus of counsellor is on engagement of clients for
the purpose of exploring issues which affects a person directly. Here, relationship
indicates establishment of rapport with a person or client, i.e., a psychological climate
which is positively created. It helps in enhancing the likelihood for achievement of
desired outcome. For building of a positive relationship with client, the first thing that is
important is conduction of an interview. Interview facilitates reading of verbal as well as
non-verbal messages (Charnley, 2020). For the purpose of establishing effective
relationship between client and a counsellor, empathy, genuineness as well as
unconditional caring serves as a three important conditions. Empathy indicates that
counsellor is able to sense feeling which are experienced by client and further
communicates such understanding to client. Apart from it, genuineness and caring is a
state of mind of counsellor which signifies positive regard, congruence, and spontaneous
attitude.
 Assessment of problems: Second stage indicates in-depth exploration by counsellor with
the motive of identifying and assessing problems which are faced by client. Hence, it is a
stage of problem assessment. Here, information about situations that are faced by client
in life and reasons which fostered a person to seek for counselling is collected as well as
classified. As, person seeks a counsellor for gaining a help in relevance to resolving
issues or concerns that is interfered by person is daily life and which negative impacts or
causes despair. Such problems are identified by a counsellor in this stage. In other words,
missing pieces of puzzle are identified. Assessment of issues enables counsellor for
making an accurate and effective diagnosis. Apart from it, suitable treatment plan for
client is also determined through it. Further, problem identification fosters activities
related to development of measurable targets and achievement of goals. Factors which
are addressed in this stage are identification of data related to client, such as, family
history, qualification, name, address, age etc.; evaluation of a person’s current life style;
description of client’s behaviour and presentation of problems faced by a person. It
fosters implementation of link between stated issue and other information which are
collected.

 Setting of goals: This stage plays a vital role for ensuring success of entire counselling
process. It includes making of a commitment for setting conditions in context to course of
actions or outcomes. hence, this stage of counselling process indicates commitment to
actions. Formulation and selection of goals by problem solver enhances chances related
to target attainment (Cook, Jones and Welfare, 2020). It helps in determination of
activities that are required to be done for ensuring achievement of desired results of
counselling. Implementation of goal setting fosters identification of specific ways for
resolving certain problems or issues and evaluation of required course of action for it.
Setting of clear goals enhances chances of attaining desired result and motivates a person
to achieve set targets. Criteria that is required to be concentrated in this stage of setting
goals is that, goals should be well-defined, feasible, measurable, within range of person’s
knowledge or skills, and most importantly such objectives should emphasize growth.
Here, larger objectives which counsellor focuses on achieving is to be divided into
smaller steps. These small parts of steps consist discrete actions that is to be undertaken.
Task of a counsellor here is to make clients identify their gaining from current behaviour
and objective set. Goal setting serves as a central part in relevance to change process.
Overall, this procedure motivates clients for making desired changes and helps counsellor
regarding evaluation of progress.
 Counselling intervention: This stage of counselling process ensures implementation of
therapies for resolving issues of clients. There are various theories, approaches as well as
techniques which is utilised by a counsellor as per requirement and behaviour of clients.
Main approaches that are applied by professional counsellors and humanistic,
behavioural, cognitive as well as psychodynamic. Psychoanatical counselling focuses on
id, ego and super ego. Humanistic counselling implies goodness in nature of human.
Behaviour theory believes on consequences of a particular behaviour instead of its cause.
And lastly, cognitive approach of counselling stresses on importance associated with
rational process of thought. Application of approaches in relation to issues related to
clients enables a person to express and take ownership for situation which is faced by
them. It ultimately fosters resolving of problems with combined efforts of counsellor and
client. Hence, it is a stage of action where steps which are required for attainment of set
objectives are ultimately implemented practically.

 Evaluation or termination: Aim of initiating a process of counselling is its successful
termination (Friedman, 2017). It is important that termination of counselling procedure is
conduction by maintaining sensitivity with client and by ensuring that client have
knowledge about ending of this procedure. This is the last stage of process of counselling,
here, client is expected to become a self-accepting person which is open for changes that
is presented by life.
Giving examples of simulation which a counsellor requires to do for illustrating first and last
stage of counselling procedure:
Simulation can be explained as set of problems that is utilised for teaching something to
someone. Implementation of simulation techniques fosters providing of wide range for
counselling and experiences to clients which are not obtainable in an easy manner in regular
practical conditions. It provides an opportunity for giving specific straining to a person.
Utilization of simulation in counselling represents an attempt to provides essential information
along with experience. It proximate a session of full therapy and incorporates peer role play
which leads to enhancement of client's experience. Some examples of simulation is discussed
below for the purpose of illustrating requirement of simulation in the first stage as well as last
stage of the process of counselling.
Examples of simulation in the first stage of counselling: Therapy simulation: It signifies an integrated and mixed therapy which radically
changes the unit of focus in relation to experience of therapy of clients and performance
of therapist or counsellor in sessions or training in counselling. While considering
working of simulation therapy, it can be stated that this type of simulation requires
adequate implementation of a computer that is enabled with audio or video and for
groups or classes in person, a projector as well as screen is required (Killian and Floren,
2020). Here, a scenario is created for the purpose of aligning better with results or
outcomes that are intended. It pertains an ability to focus on embedded events of learning.
Further, it helps in analysing as well as setting around the situation of a client in context
to preferred techniques or methods.
Example of simulation in the last stage of counselling:
 Instructional simulations: It is applied with the motive of gaining enhanced
understanding of behaviour of a client. Instruction simulation pertains a potential of

engaging clients in a deep learning which empowers and fosters understanding of a
counsellor in opposition to surface learning that only needs memorization. It is also
termed as an educational simulation. It involves some instructional elements which
facilitates a learner or client to explore, navigate as well as obtain additional information
which cannot be acquired otherwise. This type of simulation is mainly oriented towards
goals and focuses on specific concepts and facts. Overall, instructional simulation
provides an environment for virtual learning. Teaching or providing knowledge with
application of instructional simulation requires an instructor preparation. It indicates that
an efficient instructional session of simulation involves an effective preparation of
intense lessons. Apart from it, active participation of client is also required along with
high involvement of counsellor. Effectiveness of this type of simulation rests on
engagement level of clients and counsellor for setting goals that fosters process of
problem solving. Further, discussion post completion of simulation also plays a crucial
role in enhancement of level of understanding (Nittoli and Guiffrida, 2018).
Discussion on five attributes of a counsellor and explanation on its importance in the session of
counselling:
Counsellor refers to a person that provides advice to people in context to elimination or
minimization of their personal problems that foster mental well-being of an individual. It is
essential for a counsellor to pertain certain attributes which helps them in understanding and
listening to clients in an better way (Ohrt and et.al., 2019). A counsellor is a professional that is
concerned for practical issues of a person and provides supportive solutions to them. Such
attributes are discussed below along with its essential requirements in the process of counselling:
 Empathy: It indicates that a counsellor senses feelings and communicates this
understanding to clients. An effective counsellor is required to practice as well as impart
an empathy skill in interaction of client and counsellor. Being empathic enables a
counsellor to listen and deals with concerns or problems of clients in an adequate way
and without incorporating any kind of judgement on them. Most of the decision making
of counsellor requires an emotional understanding. Empathy can be described as an
inmate participation in relation to in-scape of another person. In counselling, it is required
that clients feels safe and secured for speaking in front of a counsellor. Hence,
incorporation of feeling of empathy ensures that clients of counsellor feels that they are

heard, understood as well as accepted. Some of the messages of a person are verbal,
while some are non-verbal which are expressed through tone of voice, postures,
expressions etc. As a counsellor a person is required to listen to clients as open minded as
possible, which states that person should not be judgemental and should pertain
capability of understanding behaviour and situation of client (Prosek and Michel, 2016).
Empathy is a skill which is intellectual as well as emotional and it requires practice of
consistency or patience. Hence, counsellor should be patient and empathic with clients so
that a person feels secured and explores time for growth and healing. Empathy comes
with genuineness and positive regard. It states ability of a counsellor to make its client
feel that he or she pertains inherent self-worth as well as dignity regardless of their
behaviour and appearance.
 Flexibility: It is an important attribute for an effective counsellor. A counsellor is
required to pertain certain flexibility in the manner of treating or dealing with a person.
Flexibility indicates a strong understanding in relevance to multicultural issues. Every
person that interacts with a counsellor comes from a different background, pertains
different level of experience and engagements. Hence, attribute of flexibility is essential
for client as it facilitates ability to transiting from one perspective to the another one
(Reese, 2016). Apart form it, flexibility indicates ability of communicating when things
are not working as per expectations. Counsellor communicates with different types of
persons that have different state of mind and way of thinking, further, issues or problems
that is faced by persons are also of various types. Hence, it is essential for a counsellor to
understand challenges faced by people and accept their behaviour which facilitates a
counsellor to adequate understand their struggle and find appropriate solutions for coping
with the same. It fosters formulation of effective strategies that ultimately ensures quick
attainment of desired results.
 Spontaneous: It pinpoints an ability of expressing one-self along with tactful honesty,
that too without any requirement of screening that stated response. It crates a sense of
realness in a person. It is important for counsellor to be spontaneous while interacting
with a client. As, any person does not want his counsellor to be stiff or formal.
Spontaneity can be described as a dimension for subjective experience of an individual
and it improvises the level of engagement of a person in an interaction. Spontaneous

counsellor is pertains a quality of sensing freedom and lacks constraint which is
associated an action or response.
 Communication skills: Counsellor is required to possess effective communication skills
and the reason is that counsellor have to regularly interact with clients for identification
and resolution of issues faced by a person. In addition to it, counsellor conducts
interviews and question clients for analysing the accurate reason for arrival of problem
and suggesting effective approaches for solving the same. Basic skills of communication
helps in improving expression of emotions of a person and formulation of their thoughts.
Communication skills incorporates skills related to listening and expressing point of view
to another person. Emphasized skills related to counselling incorporates active listening
that facilitates sense of caring as well as understanding of a person (Testa and
Sangganjanavanich, 2016). Another important factor of this attribute is adequate
expression of point of view to a client. If a counsellor is not able to communicate
effectively with a person than it is not possible to resolve queries or issues which are
faced by them. Such attributes is essential and beneficial for maintenance of effective
relationship between a person and counsellor.
 Emotional stability: It is important for a counsellor to be an emotionally stable. It
indicates ability of a counsellor for withstanding critical or difficult situations and handle
diversity while dealing with clients. Despite of it, emotional stability facilitates a
counsellor to remain capable as well as productive throughout. Attribute of emotional
stability can be gained by changing one's perception in context to dealing with difficult
situations. It restricts a counsellor to be aggressive and become over emotional.
Counsellor deals with people which are not mentally well or emotional stable in life due
to critical issues which they are facing in their life. Therefore, if a counsellor himself is
not stable emotionally it is just not possible for the person to manage emotional
fluctuations of another person. It serves as an important trait in the field of counselling.
Emotional stability pinpoints an ability of a counsellor to remain stable as well as
balanced. Client of counsellor are already facing difficult times in life or is engaged in
some queries that lead to emergence of a requirement for a session of counselling. Hence,
such clients pertains high tendency to experience negative emotions, easily and quickly.
So, counsellor are required to have better understanding and emotional stability for

dealing with their own issues for ensuring that counselling sessions and interactions are
not affected by it (Wright, 2017).
A professional and qualified counsellor pertains all above mentioned attributes which
helps in enhancing effectiveness and success of counselling sessions. Incorporation of above
mentioned attributes enables a counsellor to improvise effectiveness of their sessions and achieve
desired results in an effective and adequate manner.
CONCLUSION
From the above report it can be concluded that counselling is a procedure of interactions
between client and a counsellor for setting a specific period of time for the purpose of exploring
difficulties. Such issues and difficulties leads to emotional dis-balance and emergence of
stressful situation of a person. There are various stages in the process of counselling that is
required to be known by counsellor. It involves building of an effective professional relationship
with client, assessing and identification of problems faced by a person, setting of an objective,
counselling intervention and evaluation or referral. Apart from it, this report states that theory
simulation serves as an example of simulation for the first stage of counselling process and
instructional simulation serves as an example for last stage. In addition to it, five attributes of
effective counsellor are, flexibility, communication, emotional stability, spontaneous and
empathy.

REFERENCES
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Friedman, K., 2017. Counselor self-care and mindfulness. Contemporary Buddhism. 18(2). pp.
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