The Various Forms Of Counselling
There are different ways of achieving the same outcome in regards to counselling i.e providing the client with the opportunity to work towards living their life in a more satisfying and resourceful way.
Here I shall explain the various forms of counselling:
Face to face counselling would be the best way for you to assess whether the counsellor is right for you. The counsellor may be working from home, a clinic or a counselling suite run by an organisation. The first session with your counsellor will be a good opportunity for you to discover whether you feel good about the counsellor and the way he/she works. It is important that you feel happy with your counsellor, and build up a level of trust, so that you feel comfortable to open up and reveal your feelings.
This form of counselling differs from face-to-face counselling, in that it is easily accessible and provides a certain amount of anonymity. The advantages are that the client is in control here, and able to make contact with a counsellor, or terminate a conversation at their own will. The disadvantage being that a telephone counsellor may not realise how a client is feeling as he/she cannot pick up all the signs such as non verbal signals.
Counselling by e-mail or chat room. Many counsellors and support groups make their services known via the Internet. Some advantages which include the act of the client writing down their problem can be therapeutic, as it can help them view their problem from an outside perspective. Clients can express their feelings via e-mail as they are experiencing them, rather than waiting for the next counselling session to come around.
This type of counselling used to be referred to as 'marriage guidance'. Nowadays it is recognised as being required by a couple married or otherwise. There is usually a big waiting list for this type of counselling. You can work alone with the counsellor, or with your partner, or in a group.
The development of group therapy was introduced after the large number of service men who required psychotherapy following the Second World War. The idea of group therapy is to produce an environment that will help with self awareness and personal development. The members of the group learn how to understand and handle the feelings and behaviours of one another.
Being a member of this type of group gives a sense of support and acceptance of others, and realising that there are other people with similar problems. Group numbers of about 8 -12 are average, there are usually 2 facilitators present. Some facilitators are there to observe and interpret, others take part in the session.
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