In this article we will discuss about the definitions and characteristics of counselling.
Counselling is a personal or individual process. Counselling is a series of direct contacts with the individual which aims to offer him assistance in changing his attitudes and behaviour. It is always personal. It cannot be performed with a group.
Definitions of Counselling:
1. Webster’s Dictionary:
“Counselling means consultation, mutual interchange of opinion, deliberating together.”
2. Ruth Strang:
“Counselling is a face to face relationship in which growth takes place in the counsellor as well as the counsellee.”
3. Harriman:
“Counselling is the psychotherapeutic relationship in which an individual receives direct help from an adviser or finds an opportunity to release negative feelings and thus clear the way for positive growth in personality.”
4. Hamphery 2 Traxler:
“Counselling is the application of the personal resources of the school or other institution to the solution of the problems that individuals have.”
Characteristics of Counselling:
According to cattle counselling has the following characteristics:
1. Counselling is highly personal process. It has close contact of two persons.
2. It is joint quest of counsellor and counsellee.
3. The counsellor brings change in his feelings and emotions.
4. The counsellor should have full understanding of his task.
5. It has very intense conversation between the two persons – counsellor and counsellee.
6. The interview is the basic technique for counselling process.
7. Counselling deals the problems of abnormal behaviour and emotional problems.
8. Counselling releases him from the feeling of inferiority and compulsion.
9. The purpose of counselling is to make counsellee cheerful, to gain confidence for social responsibility.
10. Group counselling is an anamally.