Counseling as a helping profession

A helping profession is one in which the members are specially trained as licensed or certify to perform a unique and needed service for fellow human beings.

Helping professional serve; they are recognized by the society as the sole professional providers of the unique and needed services they offer.

The helping professions include medicine, law, dentistry, education, psychology, and social work.

The roots of each lie in the nature of humankind and society, past and present.

In the instance of the helping profession, including counseling, it is appropriate to begin with the very foundation of their existence- namely the human client.

This client has certain distinguishing characteristics that provide a basis for the counseling profession and the institutions and agencies through which this profession contributes its special knowledge and skills.

These distinguish characteristics are: Humans are among the weakest species at birth. Humankind has greatest potential for growth and development of all

species. Human have highest level of communication skills, skills that enables us

to express our thoughts in detail to many other, to teach our language to others(even other animal species at certain levels); and to record, send and receive information.

The human species exhibits wider range of differences than any other species.

Human beings manipulate and are manipulated by their environment. Humans are the only living organisms that understand past and future

time. Humans have the ability to reason and to gain insight.

The fundamental basis for counseling program development must be rooted in our understanding of the characteristics and needs of all our clients, plus an understanding of the environment that shapes them.

Societal needs and expectancies also play an important role in a profession’s development and functioning.

Role of a professional counselor Professional counsellor must become fully trained and

qualified to meet the needs of the client population they elect or are designed to serve. Training requires an appropriate graduate level (masters degree at least) programme that leads to an understanding and awareness of the systematic theories guiding professional practice.

Professional counselors activity seek and obtain certification or licensure appropriate to their training, background, and practice setting.

Professional counselors need to be professionally and personally committed to constantly updating and upgrading their knowledge to reflect the latest and ongoing process in their professional field.

Professional counselors are aware of and contribute the advancement of the profession by conducting and participating in research studies designed to increase knowledge for the profession. In addition they ensure the disseminations of such studies to the profession through professional writing and program presentation at professional meetings.

Professional counselors are active participating members of appropriate professional organisations at all levels(national, regional, state and local)

Professional counselors are aware of and adhere to all legal and ethical guidelines pertaining to the profession and the practice of counselling. Note that in the majority of states the use of the title counselor is protected by law.

ROLE OF A COUNSELOR

establishing a relationship of trust and respect with clients;

agreeing a counselling contract to determine what will be covered in sessions (including confidentiality issues);

encouraging clients to talk about issues they feel they cannot normally share with others;

actively listening to client concerns and empathising with their position;

accepting without bias the issues raised by clients;

helping clients towards a deeper understanding of their concerns;

challenging any inconsistencies in what clients say or do;

helping clients to make decisions and choices regarding possible ways forward;

referring clients to other sources of help, as appropriate;

attending supervision and training courses; undertaking personal therapy (mandatory

for accreditation);

liaising, as necessary, with other agencies and individuals to help make changes based on the issues raised by clients;

working to agreed targets in relation to client contact;

undertaking group as well as individual therapy on occasions;

keeping records and using reporting tools.