Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes: Role of Counseling

Role of Counseling

Counseling entails giving professional support to a client who is experiencing a personal challenge, with the aim of promoting their well-being and personal growth. For counseling to be effective, a trusting relationship between the counselor and his/her client has to be built and sustained. The competency-based approach provides effective avenues for the breeding of this kind of relationship. This approach requires a guidance counselor to demonstrate competence in three core areas; i) knowledge; ii) counseling skills; and iii) ethical and professional attitudes and practice, each of which is subdivided into specific components. However, the three competencies above do not work independently; rather, they qualify each other to give every counselor a unique integration.

Knowledge

A practitioner ought to have knowledge of;

factors that influence distress and well-being systemic and contextual social, biological, and family factors affecting human conditioning

The nature of cultural and human diversity, particularly in the context of such factors as sexuality, religion, language, educational level, ethnicity, gender, and age.

Theories underlying the leadership and functioning of experiential groups, as well as psychotherapy and counseling

The psychology of life span development, and factors influencing personal development; and how they both relate to counseling

Research on effective practice, and any developments within the context of practice setting

Counseling Skills

In their practice, guidance practitioners ought to exercise a number of professional skills, including;

Employing counseling modes that are based on the psychology of life span development, and the counseling theory framework

Addressing clients' concerns within their knowledge and skill levels

Prioritizing issues, and hence being able to summarize and structure sessions in a way that best achieves the desired outcomes

Being able to monitor and evaluate a client' progress

Assisting clients to develop a sense of self-worth

Assisting clients or client groups in dealing with conflict effectively

Being able to assess and make decisions on the cultural relevance of resources when dealing with different clients

Being able to identify resources that best respond to a client's needs

Being able to maintain calm and composure when faced with client distress

Being able to evaluate the effectiveness of overall outcomes

Ethical and Professional Attitudes

In their practice, guidance practitioners ought to demonstrate a number of competencies, including;

Resolving ethical dilemmas in accordance with professional standards

Establishing procedures for effectively handling emergency situations and client crises

Maintaining the confidentiality of client records at all times

Engaging in continuous professional development

Displaying knowledge of the practices, policies, and standards that govern their profession at all times

Demonstrating knowledge of the mission/philosophy of the institutions for which they work, and developing a personal philosophy out of this

Recognizing their professional responsibility to engage with continuing supervision

Demonstrate readiness to enhance their practice through ongoing supervision

Formulating methods of assessing the effectiveness of their professional styles

Complying with any regulations governing their practice

Counselors possess basic qualities, attitudes and skills that enable them to relate effectively with clients from diverse backgrounds. When dealing with a client, a guidance counselor assumes the 'second fiddle' status, and lets their client drive the session. In this regard, counselors are regarded as active listeners; they listen with undivided attention, and see situations as clients express them, rather than how they would expect or like them to be. Unlike most people, counselors have the ability to resist the urge to trigger words out of a client, reach premature conclusions, or read in expectations. Furthermore, counselors possess the 'gifts' of remembering what their clients say, and being able to read the message 'behind a client's words'. Another fundamental strength that counselors possess is the ability to maintain calm and composure when faced with a client's distress.