The document defines counseling as a helping process where one person gives their time and skills to help a client explore their situation and identify solutions. It discusses the attributes and skills required of an effective counselor, including pre-training attributes like self-awareness, psychological health, and trustworthiness, as well as inter-training skills like active listening, identifying themes, and managing interactions. Finally, it outlines the functions of a counselor as providing advice, reassurance, improving communication, releasing tension, and helping with reorientation.

2. DEFINITION OF COUNSELLING
Counseling is a helping process where one
person ,explicitly and purposefully gives his/her
time ,attention and skill to assist a client to explore
the situation ,identify solutions within the
limitations of their given environment.

3. ATTRIBUTES AND SKILL REQUIRED OF A
COUNSELLOR
For effective counseling the counselor needs to
demonstrate certain attitude ,skills and knowledge.
There are two types of counselors attributes:-
 PRE TRAINING ATTRIBUTES
 INTER TRAINING ATTRIBUTES

4.  PRE TRAINING ATTRIBUTES
1. SELF AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING
A person who has awareness of her
needs, motivation for helping ,feelings, personal
strength and weakness acts as a good counselor.
2. GOOD PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH
Although no persons is totally problem
free but a person with less problems or good
psychological health can be trained to be
counselor.

5. 3. SENSITIVITY
A person who is aware of resources ,limitations
and vulnerability of other persons feelings and
need are considered to have sensitivity.
4. OPEN MINDNESS
A person who is free from fixed or pre
occupied ideas .They are aware of their own
values and beliefs and are able to distinguish them
from the beliefs and values of others.

6. 5. THRUST WORTHINESS
A person who is reliable ,honest and does not
hurt other persons. He/She keep the information to
herself.
6. APPROACHABILITY
The counselor who is friendly has positive
attitudes about others and can be approached
without a feeling of apprehension.

7.  INTER TRAINING ATTRIBUTES
A counselor need to have skills in
interviewing .Infact without these skills a counselor
cannot counsel. Stewart etal (1978) have identified
six components of interviewing skills .They are:-
1.)INTERVIEW SETTING AND GREETING
STARTED
A. PHYSICAL ARRANGEMENT
The chairs should face each other with a
learning facility for both. The closeness of
counselor helps in indicating the attentiveness

8. B. GREETINGS
A warm and friendly greeting facilitate the helping
process.
eg:Shaking hands with the individual or greeting with a
smile.
C. INVITING THE INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPATION
Counselor should not waste time on rituals
like “oh”,Todays climate is very good etc.But
should start the interview by asking the individuals
why they have come for counseling .simple
statements such as “ so may I help you”?or “What
should you like to discussed.

9. D. MAINTAINING EYE CONTACT
Eye contact helps in building personal
relationship and permits the counselor to observe
non verbal behavior.
E. DEMONSTRATING PROPER BODY POSTURE
An attentive and relaxed counselor helps in
building intimate atmosphere. A mobile posture
Allows freedom to movement and ability to use the
body to assist in communications.

10. 2.) PROBLEM FOCUSS
Most counseling is short term , so the
counselor should assist the individual to focus
on important problems.
3.) IDENTIFYING AN IMPORTANT THEME
While the individual is talking the counselor
should try to identify the important theme by
observing the individuals pre occupations and the
emotional significance attached to the topics.

11. 4.) FOCUSSING ON A THEME
The counselor should direct verbalization of
the individual once the theme has been
identified.
5.) DIRECTING THE THEME TOWARDS THE
GOAL
Once the theme has been identified and
explored in sufficient depth to have an
understanding if individuals self perception and
environment.

12. 6.)MANAGING INTERACTION WITH THE
INDIVIDUAL
To Facilitate the discussion, more skills are
needed ,the following techniques may be used to
continue the interaction.
a.) Restatement
It involves putting the individuals
statement into different words to draw the attention
or to point out the individual what she is finding
difficult to verbalize.

13. b.) Interpretation
It is used to counselor while presenting
solutions to the individual for mutual
consideration. the purpose is to have different
perspective of the same solution.
c.) Managing Pause and Silence
Pauses and silence are important
techniques in counseling but too long pauses and
silence may give a feeling of avoidance.

14. CHARACTERISTICS OR QUALITIES OF A
COUNSELLOR
I.) INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
 Friendly nature
 Sympathetic ,understanding
 Sincerity
 Patience
 Tactfulness
 Ability to maintain confidentiality
 Respects clients attitudes and needs
 Attentive listener
 Speaks in clients languages
 Capacity for being trusted by others

15. II.) PERSONAL ADJUSTMENT
 Shows matured behaviour,Integrated personality
 Maintains emotional stability
 Flexilibility and adaptability
 Aware about ones limitations
 Shows self respect and self confidence
III.) SCHOLASTIC POTENTIALITIES AND
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUNDS
 Should be motivated and committed
 Aware of polices ,beliefs, misconceptions and rumors
existing with in the local community.

16.  Capacity for work
 Positive interest
 Scholastic aptitude
 Respects the facts
He will have masters degree in essential areas
of guidance programmed the area in training are:-
a.) Counselor process
b.) Understanding the individual
c.) Educational, occupational and vocational
information
d.) Administrative relationship

17. e.) Research and evaluation procedures
f.) Additional training in behavioral sciences
(Psychology & Sociology)
IV. HEALTH AND PERSONAL APPEARANCE
 Pleasing voice
 Pleasing appearance
V. LEADERSHIP
 Ability to stimulate and lead others
 Reinforces important information

18. VI. PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE
 Good character
 Positive philosophy of life
 Integrated personality
 Shows significant spiritual and religious values
VII. PROFESSIONAL DEDICATION
 Interest in guidance work, professional
attitude
 Shows loyalty

19.  Had strong sense of professional ethics
 Maintaining helping relationship
 Shows interest in research activity
 Uses psychotherapy in solving client problems
VIII. FAITH IN THE SPIRITUAL QUALITY OF
THE WORLD RESPECTS UNIVERSAL
PRINCIPLES OF RELIGION
IX. HAD A SENSE OF MORALITY

20. FUNCTIONS OF THE COUNCELLOR
Councilor plays an vital role in the
counseling process .the general objective of
counseling is to help the client to improve their
mental health and develop in
selfconfidence,understanding ,self control and
ability to work effectively .the various functions of
councilor include :-
1.) ADVICE
One of the important function of
counseling is offering advice to counselee. The
councilor has to understand the problem of the
counselee.

21. 2.) REASSURANCE
In order to give courage to face a problem
confidently,counselling provides clients with
reassurance .normally reassurance is not
acceptable to the counselee.
3.) COMMUNICATION
Counseling will improve both upwards and
downward communications abilities of the
counselees.

22. 4.) REALASE OF EMOTIONAL TENSION
Releasing emotional tension is an
important function of counseling . People feel
emotional release from their frustration after
counseling.
5.) CLARIFIED THINKING
Release of tension and thereby removal
of mental of mental blocks ton the solution
through counseling allows the counselee to
think freely and objectively.

23. Thus clarified thinking tends to be the result of
emotional release.
6.) REORIENTATION
Reorientation is not just emotional release
or clear thinking. but it involves a change in
the counselee’s psychic self through a change
in the basic goals and values.

24. COUNSELLOR PREPARATION
A.) Education:
Masters or bachelors degree in teaching
and education .they should have basic course in
principles and practice of the guidance
programmed and additional area of training either
in behaviour sciences of community health.
B.) Experience:
 2 years in teaching or counseling experience.
 1 year of cumulative work experience in the field of
school programmed.

25.  3-6 months of supervised counseling experience.
 Significant experience in social activities ( eg:
working with in the community ,volunteer work,
participating community training programmed)

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