Introduction

UNIT 2 PROCESS OF COUNSELLING

Structure
2.0 Introduction
2.1 Objectives
2.2 The Process of Counseling
2.2.1 Counseling Process
2.2.2 Steps in Counseling Process
2.2.3 Stages of Counseling Process
2.2.4 Counselling Process Followed by Counselors
2.2.5 Procedure in the Counseling Process
2.2.6 Developing a Relationship
2.2.7 Working in a Relationship
2.2.8 Terminating a Relationship
2.3 Factors Influencing Counseling Process
2.3.1 Structure
2.3.2 Initiative
2.3.3 Setting
2.3.4 Client Qualities
2.3.5 Counsellor’s Qualities
2.4 Let Us Sum Up
2.5 Unit End Questions
2.6 Suggested Readings

2.0 INTRODUCTION
This unit deals with the counseling process. It starts the definition of the counseling
process, what it is and the typical features of the counseling process. This is
followed by steps in counseling process and the typical processes followed by
counselors in this process. Then we discuss the procedures involved in the
counseling process and how developing a relationship is important in this process.
Then we describe the working of the counselor and the client within the
relationship and then we present the termination of this relationship when the
counseling process reaches its goal. The next section deals with the factors
influencing counseling process which includes in it the structure, initiative to be
taken by the client, the setting in which the counsellign process takes place, the
client’s and the counsellor’s qualities.

2.1 OBJECTIVES
After completing this unit, you will be able to:
• Define the process of counseling;
• Elucidate the steps/stages involved in the process of counseling;
• Describe the key components involved in the different stages of counseling;
• Discuss the steps involved in the termination process of counseling; and
20 • Explain important factors influencing the counseling process.
 Process of Counseling
2.2 THE PROCESS OF COUNSELLING
In process of counseling, the goal is established by the client. He is encouraged
and assisted by the counselor to be as specific about the goal as possible. The
more specific the goal, the easier the process. Since humans are generally
considered to be goal oriented, the more specific the goal, the more likely the
client and the counsellor will keep themselves on the path to that goal. The client
narrates their experiences and problems and thus create a focus on their fear
and their goal in order to assist their mind to assist them. It is also of value to the
counselor to guide them in identifying their fears and apprehensions. In the process
of identifying the fear the counselor offers some alternatives while attempting to
avoid interfering in the clients decision.
Some of the fears are:
• a fear of abandonment,
• a fear of rejection,
• a fear of not being enough

2.2.1 Counseling Process

Counseling can help client learn to make better decisions. It can help improve
personal skills, develop greater confidence in the person’s academic or work
performance, define career directions and acquire a keener awareness and
appreciation of the client’s needs and those of other people. With counseling,
clients can improve their communication with a special person, establish more
meaningful relationships, or cope more effectively with feelings of depression
or anxiety. Any personal, academic, or career concern may be explored in
counseling.

During counseling, the client will be helped to clarify feelings and needs. The
client and the counselor will work together to define realistic goals and explore
available options. As the client discovers ways to make changes, he will be
better able to direct his choices. Counseling is an active process, both during
sessions and outside of counseling, as the client implements new skills and
insights. Depending upon the intensity of concern(s), and level of involvement
in making needed changes, clients are generally able to resolve difficulties in
four to eight counseling sessions.

The client’s personal commitment to helping him or herself is crucial to an

effective counseling process. Counselors can help the clients only if they are
willing to receive help, attend scheduled sessions, and engage in new ways of
thinking and acting outside of the counseling setting.

Counselling is a process with a beginning, a middle and an end, where the

counsellor facilitates an individual to consider the aspects of their life they wish
to change.

The whole idea is to enable the client to explore a difficulty or distress which
they may be experiencing, assisted by the counsellor whose main role is to
facilitate the client to make his or her own decisions on how to proceed. It is not
an environment where the counsellor will say what has to be done or even give
advice. However, through this process the counsellor will endeavour to guide
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Introduction the client from feeling a victim of circumstances to feeling that they have more
control over their life.

There are different models of counselling, differing routes or tools to enable the
client to change. Transactional Analysis (TA) is a model for understanding
personality, relationships and communication. In TA counselling, people talk
about their Parent, Adult and Child. These are distinctive parts of us all, available
and necessary for living as a whole, integrated person. TA holds that everyone
has intrinsic dignity and worth; they are ‘OK’. Everyone has the capacity to
think. There is a commitment to change, to making decisions and taking personal
responsibility for personal outcome.

Clarifying the problem and the desired change encourages the person to decide
how they wish to be. Often unpacking one problem may reveal its connection to
another. When people start the process of counselling they begin to experience
the recurring patterns in their lives, to identify their negative feelings and how
they play games and thereby limit themselves. A decision to make positive change
is a further step. Someone may know what their goal is, but they have to decide
to take positive action to achieve that goal.

The Counsellor offers support and facilitation on the basis that the client has
decided what he or she feels.

2.2.2 Steps in Counseling Process

The basic steps of counselling involve people in:
• gaining recognition for their skills and experience
• being confronted, from a caring position, by the ways they used to discount
themselves and others
• re-experiencing, in the present, any relevant events from the past. This can
help them to obtain emotional release from feelings or beliefs to which they
may be clinging, that are stopping them from meeting their immediate needs.

Emphasis is given to feelings and thoughts, as stimuli for action and change.
Support, challenge and practice are essential to enable all these steps to be
achieved.

Counselling may comprise a few sessions, or it may take longer, but it does not
go on for ever. In the end, the clients are helped to find the tools to enable them
to think, feel and behave in the way they desire.

2.2.3 Stages of Counselling Process

Effective leaders use the counseling process. It consists of four stages:
• Identify the need for counseling.
• Prepare for counseling.
• Conduct counseling.
• Follow up.
Counselling is a process that focuses on enhancing the psychological well being
of the client, such that the client is then able to reach their full potential. This is
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achieved by the counsellor facilitating the client’s personal growth, development, Process of Counseling
and self understanding, which in turn empowers the client to adopt more
constructive life practices.

Counselling may be helpful in a number of ways. It can enable the client to

develop a clearer understanding of his or her concerns and help the client acquire
new skills to better manage personal and educational issues. The counsellor can
offer a different perspective and help the client to think of creative solutions to
problems. For the client, sharing his thoughts and feelings with someone not
personally involved in his life can be most helpful.

The counsellor treats all the information that the clients share as confidential
material. The counsellors are involved in case consultations and supervision for
the purposes of best practice. These meetings involve discussion of clients
concerns with the aim of formulating the best possible assessment and intervention
plan. Where possible, the identifying personal information is removed from the
discussion.

2.2.4 Counselling Process Followed by Counsellors

The counselling process will depend on the individual counsellor, the individual
client and the specific issue. However, there is a general counselling process that
the counsellors will follow:
1) Background information collection
2) Identification of core issues
3) Case formulation
4) Goal setting for the therapeutic process
5) Implementation of intervention
6) Evaluation of intervention
7) Closure
Prior to the initial interview, reception staff will ask the client to complete a
personal data sheet. During the initial interview, the counsellor will discuss the
client’s concerns with him and explore with him the alternative services if
indicated. By the end of the initial interview the client and the counsellor may
decide on one of the following options:
• no further counselling is required at this time, if during the initial interview
the client has been able to clarify his concerns and plan and appropriate
course of action.
• further appointments are needed to continue to explore the issues before
reaching a decision. A second appointment will be made with the client
either by the counsellor or by reception.
• alternative services are appropriate and the counsellor will assist the client
to identify specific resources to consider and pursue.
Counsellors work from differing theoretical approaches. Different counsellors
will place varying levels of emphasis on behaviour, on thinking and/or on
emotional aspects. All counsellors have the central goal to assist the client in
increasing his or her sense of well being.
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Introduction Change does not happen quickly for most of us. The length of treatment depends
on a number of variables. Variables include:
• the severity of the problem,
• the motivation of the client,
• the type of problem and
• the age of the client.
• The more focused and limited the problem being addressed, the shorter
treatment can be.
• The more the treatment addresses healing emotional injuries, the longer it is
likely to take.
If the client feels dissatisfied with any aspect of the Counselling Services, they
are encouraged to discuss their concerns with the Senior Counsellor.

2.2.5 Procedure in the Counseling Process

1) Establish a safe, trusting environment
2) Help the person put their concern into words.
3) Active listening: find out the client’s agenda
a) paraphrase, summarize, reflect, interpret
b) focus on feelings, not events
4) Transform problem statements into goal statements.
5) Explore possible approaches to goal
6) Help person choose one way towards goal
7) Make a contract to fulfill the plan (or to take the next step)
8) Summarize what has occurred, clarify, get verification
9) Get feedback and confirmation
In general, a counsellor will listen to the client without butting in or imposing
their own values and beliefs on him or her. They will give the client the needed
space to explore their thoughts, feelings, or behaviour, whatever they are. People
can find it helpful just to have their concerns taken seriously.
The counsellor may also employ a variety of techniques to help the clients
understand their feelings. For instance, the counsellor may ask questions designed
to reflect back to the clients their thought processes and to help them make
sense of their feelings. The client thus might explore and implement changes in
the way he or she does things, and then can go on to enhance his life or his
relationship.
Counselling is a process guided by theory. Process can refer to what the counselor
does with the client as well as how change occurs within the client. The process
of counseling develops in definable stages with recognisable transitions. There
is a natural progression that takes place within the context of the helping
relationship. This process enables the counselor and the client to build a
relationship, assess the situation, set goals and come up with a plan to bring
about the desired results. This progression is known as the counseling process.
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The process of counseling is dynamic in nature. The effectiveness of counseling Process of Counseling
ultimately depends upon how the process of counseling happens. It can be said
to start with rapport establishment, then progress through problem identification,
goal setting, intervention and then finally follow up.

Broadly, three major stages in the process can be described as follows:

1) Developing a relationship
2) Working in a relationship and
3) Terminating a relationship
Each stage has its own universal qualities and problems associated with it.
Counselors must be aware of the problems involved in the process of counseling.
Now let us discuss each stage in the process of counselling.

2.2.6 Developing a Relationship

Building a relationship, the first stage in the process of counselling, is a continuous
process. It begins by having the counsellor win the battle for structure and client
win the battle for initiative. In such situations both parties are winners. The client
wins by becoming more informed about the nature of counselling and learning
what to expect. The counsellor wins by creating an atmosphere where the client
is comfortable about sharing thoughts and feelings.

In order to develop positive helping relationships with the client, the counsellor
has to connect with them. This can only happen when they are made to feel like
the counsellor genuinely care about the clients well being and that the counsellor
understands why the clients are coming and the causes thereof. It is about behaving
and demonstrating the core conditions of genuineness, respect and empathy. To
develop solid relationships, the counsellor needs to create a safe environment
where they will feel comfortable enough to open up and talk to the counselor
about anything that is on their minds. The counsellor also needs to help them
see that despite their circumstances they have strengths.

Early stages of the counselling relationship afford the chance to build counsellor
understanding of client and issues faced. The counsellor is advised to use listening
skills and attend to non verbal communication. The counsellor should not be
judgmental in his decisions and jump to conclusions immediately. Certain tasks
to be taken care of by the counsellors are:

• Laying foundations for trust

• Establishing the structure and form the relationship will take
• Informed consent process
• Articulating roles of counselor and client and developing a collaborative
working alliance
• The “getting to know you” phase is the most critical stage of the relationship.
The counselor should work on the following things during this stage:
1) Developing Rapport and Building Trust
2) Create core conditions necessary for counselling
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Introduction 1) Developing Rapport and Building Trust

i) Predictability and consistency

During the first stage of the relationship, it is critical to be both predictable
and consistent. If the counsellor schedules an appointment to meet the client
at a certain time, it’s important to keep it. It is understandable that at times
things come up and appointments cannot be kept. Consistency is the key to
speed up the trust building process.

ii) Testing
Young people generally do not trust adults. As a result, they use testing as a
coping or defense mechanism to determine whether they can trust the
counsellor. They will test to see if the counsellor really cares about them. A
client might test the counsellor by not reaching for a scheduled meeting to
see how the counsellor will react.

iii) Establish confidentiality

During the first stage of the relationship, it is important to establish
confidentiality with one’s client. This helps in developing trust. The
counsellor should let the client know that whatever he or she wants to share
with the counsellor will remain confidential, as long as (and it’s important
to stress this point) what the client tells the counsellor is not going to harm
the client or someone else. It’s helpful to stress this up front, within the first
few meetings with the client. Later on if the counsellor needs to break the
confidence because the information the client shared was going to harm
him or her or someone else, the client will not feel betrayed.

iv) Goal setting (transitions into Stage 2)

It is helpful during Stage 1 to take the time to set at least one achievable
goal together for the relationship. What do the client and counsellor want
to get out of this relationship? It is also good to help the client set personal
goals. Sometimes the client does not know how to set goals, and this will
provide them with the opportunity to set goals and work toward achieving
them.

2) Core Conditions Necessary for Successful Counselling

Rogers (1957) originally proposed core conditions needed in building a

relationship:
i) Empathetic understanding: Empathy promotes rapport and relationship.
ii) Unconditional positive regard: Considering Client as person of worth,
and is separate from actions.
iii) Congruence: Showing Genuine self in client interaction
Carkuff (1969) adds to these…
i) Respect: It strengthens the focus.
ii) Confrontation: It promotes realistic and accurate view.
iii) Immediacy: Consideration of problem with Here and Now attitude.
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iv) Concreteness: Paying attention on what is practical in the process. Process of Counseling

v) Self disclosure: Promoting positive perception and appropriate focus in

counseling relationship.

2.2.7 Working in a Relationship

The successful outcome of any counselling process depends on a working alliance
between counsellor and the client. This occurs after clients and counsellors have
established a relationship and explored possible goals towards which to work.
Once trust has been established, the relationship moves into Stage 2. These phases
are facilitated by mutual interaction between the individuals involved. The
counsellor can help the client by appropriate leads, challenges to perception,
multi focused responding, accurate empathy, self disclosure, immediacy,
confrontation, contacts and rehearsal.

i) Changing Perceptions
Clients often come to counsellor as a last resort when they think that situation is
not only serious but hopeless. Counsellors can help clients change their distorted
or unrealistic perceptions by offering them an opportunity to explore thoughts
within a safe, accepting and in a non judgmental atmosphere. Perceptions
commonly change through the process of reframing which offers the client another
probable and positive viewpoint of what a situation is or why an event might
have happened.

ii) Leading
Changing client’s perceptions requires a high degree of persuasive skill and some
direction from the counselor. Such input is known as leading.

iii) Accurate Empathy

Use of empathy is one of the most vital elements in the counseling. Empathy is
the counsellor’s ability to experience the client’s world as if it were your own
without ever using the quality.

Two Components of Empathy are:

a) Empathic rapport. This refers to accurately sensing and being able to see
the client’s world the way they do.

b) Communicative attunement. This refers to verbally sharing one’s

understanding with the client.

There are two types of Empathy:

1) Primary Empathy. The ability to respond in such a way that is apparent to
both client and counsellor that the counsellor has understood the client’s
major themes.
2) Advanced empathy. It is a process of helping a client explore themes, issues
and emotions new to his or her awareness.
iv) Self Disclosure
Self disclosure is an important way to let clients know the counsellor as a person.
Self disclosure at a moderate level is seen more positively by clients than
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Introduction disclosure at a high or low level (Edwards & Murdock, 1994). In moderation, it
is helpful for the counsellor to disclose facts about himself, if it serves the needs
of the session / client.

Self disclosure takes the following forms:

• The counsellor’s own problems
• Facts about the counsellor’s role
• The counsellor’s reactions to the client (feedback)
• The counsellor’s reactions to the counselor-client relationship
v) Positive Regard
Client revelations must be protected from counsellor’s “personal reactions,”
especially rejection or disdain. The counsellors should express appreciation of
the client as a unique and worthwhile person and embrace the client’s ethnic self
as well as other experiences that have shaped the client’s worldview.

vi) Responding Styles

Counselling is often perceived as just focusing on feelings but it is not true.
While counselling helps people work through feelings, how one responds and
communicates with others will affect how the counsellor responds to the client.
There are different Responding Styles of the clients;
1) Affective Responding. This focuses on feelings;
2) Behavioural Responding. This focuses on actions and behaviours;
3) Cognitive Response. This focusses on thoughts and cognitions. The
counsellor will balance these throughout the session with a client.
vii) Immediacy
This involves a counselor’s understanding and communicating of what is going
on between the counsellor and client within the helping relationship.
There are 2 types of immediacy
1) Relationship immediacy. (Between client & counsellor); 2)
2) “Here & Now” immediacy focuses on some particular event in the session.
viii) Humor
Humor can have a positive effect on the counselling process when used properly.
It must be used with sensitivity and timing. It does not demean and is supportive.
A session is not a time to try out a new joke heard at lunch.

ix) Confrontation
This is not skill at putting the client down for doing something wrong. This is an
invitation to the client to look more closely at behaviour that is not working or
interfering with growth, change, or healthy functioning.

x) Transference and Counter-transference

A concept as old as Freud, transference and counter-transference are issues that
affect all forms of counselling, guidance, and psychotherapy.
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Transference: This is the client’s projection of past or present feelings, attitudes, Process of Counseling
or desires onto the counsellor. It can be direct or indirect and will cause the client
to react to the counselor as they would in the past or present relationship.

Counter-transference: This is the counsellor’s projected emotional reaction to

or behaviour towards the client. It can take on many forms, from a desire to please
the client, to wanting to develop a social or sexual relationship with the client.
When this happens, supervision or counseling for the counsellor is called for.

2.2.8 Terminating a Relationship

Termination is an important, though often misunderstood phase of counselling.
This is often ignored or taken for granted. Yet successful termination is vital for
the well being of client as well as counsellor. Termination is the end of the
professional relationship with the client when the session goals have been met.
It is a phase of counselling that can determine the success of all previous phases
and must be handled skillfully. A formal termination serves three functions:
• Counselling is finished and it is time for the client to face their life challenges.
• Changes which have taken place have generalised into the normal behaviour
of the client.
• The client has matured and thinks and acts more effectively and
independently.
Timing of Termination
There is no one answer when termination is to take place. Questions the counselor
may wish to ask concerning termination include:
• Have clients achieved behavioural, cognitive, or affective goals?
• Can clients concretely show where they have made progress in what they
wanted to accomplish?
• Is the counselling relationship helpful?
• Has the context of the initial counselling arrangements changed?
Resistance to Termination
Clients and Counsellors may not want counseling to end. In many cases this
may be the result of feelings about the loss and grief or insecurities of losing the
relationship. For clients, this is something to process. For counsellors, this is an
issue for supervision.

Premature Termination
Client
Many clients may end counselling before all goals are completed. This can be
seen by not making appointments, resisting new appointments etc. It is a good
idea to try and schedule a termination/review session with the client so closure
may take place. At this time a referral may be in order.

Counsellors
At times, counsellors have to end counselling prematurely. Whatever the reason
for the termination, a summary session is in order and referrals are made, if
appropriate, to another counsellor. 29
Introduction Referrals
At times, a counsellor needs to make a referral. When this is done, specific
issues need to be addressed with the client.
Reasons for the referrals
Note specific behaviours or actions which brought the need for a referral.
Have the names of several other counsellors ready for referral.
It is important to remember that the counselor cannot follow up with the new
counsellor to see if the client followed through (Confidentiality issue).
Follow Up
At times, a follow-up may be scheduled for various reasons including evaluation,
research, or checking with client. It needs to be scheduled so as to not take the
responsibility of change away from the client.

Self Assessment Questions

1) List out the things to be taken care of during the first stage of developing
a relationship.
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2) Describe the different core conditions necessary for successful counselling.
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3) Describe the different responding styles of the client.
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 Process of Counseling
4) Discuss the different issues related to terminating a relationship.
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5) When does premature termination occur? What are the things to be
kept in mind during premature termination.
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2.3 FACTORS INFLUENCING COUNSELLING

PROCESS
The counselling process is influenced by several factors. The counselor need to
know these so that he can help it becto make the counseling time a productive
one both for the client and counsellor. The major factors which influence the
counselling process are as follows.

2.3.1 Structure
Structure in counselling is defined as the “joint understanding between the
counsellor and client regarding the characteristics, conditions, procedures, and
parameters of counselling” (Day & Sparacio, 1980, p.246). It helps in clarify the
counsellor client relationship and give it direction. It protects the rights, roles
and obligations of both counsellors and clients and ensure the success of
counselling.

Structure gives form to what the formal process will look like. Practical guidelines
are part of building structure. They include time limit of the session, action limits
for the prevention of destructive behaviour, role limits and procedural limits.
Counselling moves forward when client and counsellor know the boundaries of
the relationship and what is expected.

Structure is provided throughout all stages of counselling but is especially

important at the beginning. Its importance is most obvious when the client arrives
for counselling with unrealistic expectations or with no idea what to expect.
Counsellors need to stay flexible and continually negotiate the nature of structure
with their clients.
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Introduction 2.3.2 Initiative
Initiative can be thought of as the motivation to change. Majority of the clients
who visit the counsellors are reluctant to some degree. Such clients lack initiative.
Some counsellors become impatient, irritated and insensitive and may ultimately
give up trying to work with such clients. Many counsellors end up blaming either
themselves or their clients. A role reversal exercise can help the counsellor to
understand the mental state of the involuntary, reluctant and resistant client.

A reluctant client is one who has been referred by the third party and is frequently
unmotivated to seek help. They do not wish to be in counselling. Many reluctant
clients terminate counselling pre maturely and report dissatisfaction with the
process.

A resistant client is one who is unwilling or opposed to change. Such an individual

may actively seek counselling but does not wish to go through the pain that
change demands.

There are several ways in which counsellors can help clients to win the battle
for initiative and achieve success in counselling. One way is to anticipate the
anger, frustration and defensiveness that some clients display. A second way is
to show acceptance, patience, and understanding as well as non judgmental
attitude. A third way is to use persuasion and the fourth way is through
confrontation.

2.3.3 Setting
Counselling can happen anywhere, but some physical settings promote the process
better than others. Among the most important factors that help or hurt the process
is the place where the counselling occurs. The room should be comfortable and
attractive with soft lighting, quiet colors, an absence of clutter, and harmonious
and comfortable furniture. The professional generally works in a place that
provides Privacy, Confidentiality, Quiet and Comfort. When working with a
client, youthe counselor must want to send a message that he is listening. This
can be done by being attentive both verbally and nonverbally. A distance of 30 to
39 inches is the average range of comfort between counsellor and clients of both
genders.

In addition to the above arrangements the counsellors should not be interrupted

during sessions. The counsellor should keep in mind the SOLER technique.
SOLER is an acronym which serves to remind the counselors how to listen:
S: Face the client squarely; that is, adopt a posture that indicates involvement.
O: Adopt an open posture. Sit with both feet on the ground to begin with and
with your hands folded, one over the other.
L: As you face your client, lean toward him or her. Be aware of their space
needs.
E: Maintain eye contact. Looking away or down suggests that you are bored or
ashamed of what the client is saying. Looking at the person suggests that
you are interested and concerned.
R: As the counselor incorporates these skills into the attending listening skills,
relax.
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2.3.4 Client Qualities Process of Counseling

Counselling relationship starts with first impressions. The way the counsellor
and the client perceive one another is vital to the establishment of a productive
relationship. Counsellors generally like to work with clients who are most like
them. They are influenced by the physical characteristics of one’s best work to
all clients.

The client: Clients come in all shapes and sizes, personality characteristics, and
degree of attractiveness. The most successful candidates are said to be YAVIS:
Young, Attractive, Verbal, Intelligent, and Successful (Schofield, 1964). Less
successful clients are seen as HOUND: Homely, Old, Unintelligent, Nonverbal,
and Disadvantaged; or DUD: Dumb, Unintelligent and Disadvantaged (Allen,
1977).

A counsellor must consider a client’s body gestures, eye contact, facial expressions
and vocal quality to be as important as verbal communication. Cultural
background of the client should keep in mind while evaluating the non verbal
communication.

2.3.5 Counsellors Qualities

The personal and professional qualities are very important in building up
relationship with the client. Okun (1992) lists five important characteristics that
counsellors must possess:
• Self awareness,
• Honesty,
• Congruence,
• Ability to communicate, and
• Knowledge.
Clients depending on their culture initially like to work with counsellors who
are perceived as Experts, Attractive and Trustworthy. Expertness is the degree to
which a counsellor is perceived as knowledgeable and informed about his or her
specialty. Attractiveness is a function of perceived similarity between a client
and a counsellor. Counsellors can make themselves attractive by speaking in
clear, simple sentences and offering appropriate self disclosure. Trustworthiness
is related to the sincerity and consistency of the counsellor. The counsellor is
genuinely concerned about the client and shows it over time by establishing a
close relationship with the client.

Self Assessment Questions

1) Describe the importance of providing structure to the counselling
process.
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Introduction
2) Describe the different aspects related to the setting of counselling.
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2.4 LET US SUM UP

The process of counselling develops in definable stages with recognisable
transitions. There is a natural progression that takes place within the context of
the helping relationship. There are certain important factors that influence the
counselling process. The major are: Structure, Initiative, Setting, Client Qualities,
and Counselor Qualities. The process of counselling occurs in stages like,
developing a relationship, working in a relationship, terminating a relationship.
The counsellor has to keep certain tasks in mind such as laying foundations for
trust, establishing the structure and form the relationship will take, in its first
stage of building relationship. Empathetic understanding, Unconditional positive
regard and Congruence are certain core conditions which are mandatory for
successful counselling. The last phase includes termination which is the end of
the professional relationship with the client when the session goals have been
met. It is a phase of counselling that can determine the success of all previous
phases and must be handled skillfully. Counselling can not be considered complete
and successful without the follow-up procedure.

2.5 UNIT END QUESTIONS

1) Differentiate between a reluctant and a resistant client.
2) What is SOLER technique?
3) List qualities of a client needed for successful counselling relationship.
4) What is transference and counter transference?
5) Explain Empathy and its components.
6) Discuss the significance of termination in counselling relationship.

2.6 SUGGESTED READINGS

Corey, G. (2008): Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy. USA:
The Thompson Brooks.

Welfel & Peterson (2004): The Counseling Process: a Multi-theoretical

Integrative Approach. Thomson/Brooks/Cole.

Narayana Rao (2008): Counseling and Guidance. New Delhi: Tata Mc-Graw
Hill.

Samuel T. Gladding (2009): Counseling: A Comprehensive Profession. Pearson

34 Education.