Dr. Manju Antil | Counseling Psychologist | Psychotherapist | Educator| Founder- Wellnessnetic Care

Meaning of Counselling

Counselling is a purposeful, systematic process of helping individuals cope with their personal, social, emotional, and professional challenges in order to promote psychological well-being and holistic development. At its core, counselling is based on a collaborative relationship between counsellor and client, where the counsellor uses scientifically established methods of listening, empathy, reflection, and problem-solving to facilitate change.

The term “counselling” comes from the Latin word consilium, meaning “advice” or “consultation.” However, in modern psychology, counselling has evolved far beyond mere advice-giving; it emphasizes facilitating self-discovery, growth, and resilience.

Definitions of Counselling

Different scholars and professional associations define counselling to highlight its multidimensional nature:

• American Counseling Association (2014): “Counseling is a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families, and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals.”

• Carl Rogers (1951): Counselling is a series of direct, personal communications by which the client is assisted in making decisions about courses of action and adjustments.

• Burks & Stefflre (1979): Counselling is a professional relationship in which the counsellor assists the client in understanding and resolving problems by applying established principles of psychological growth.

In India, counselling is often linked with guidance and mentorship traditions, emphasizing the holistic development of mind, body, and spirit.

Nature of Counselling

The nature of counselling can be understood through its essential characteristics:

1. Goal-Oriented: Counselling aims to help clients achieve better adjustment, resolve conflicts, and promote self-actualization.

2. Developmental and Remedial: It serves both preventive functions (guiding individuals before problems arise) and remedial functions (solving existing issues).

3. Confidential: Trust and privacy are central, enabling clients to share without fear of exposure.

4. Relationship-Based: The counselling relationship—marked by empathy, unconditional positive regard, and genuineness—is the foundation for change.

5. Non-Directive yet Structured: Counselling respects client autonomy while following structured techniques.

6. Dynamic and Culturally Sensitive: Counselling must adapt to the socio-cultural context, such as India’s collectivistic family systems.

Historical Background

Global Development

• Early Traditions: Counselling practices can be traced to ancient societies where priests, philosophers, and elders guided communities.

• 19th–20th Century: The formal discipline of counselling emerged with the vocational guidance movement led by Frank Parsons in 1909, who emphasized matching individuals’ aptitudes with careers.

• Humanistic Expansion: Carl Rogers (1940s–1950s) shifted counselling towards a client-centered approach, emphasizing empathy and unconditional positive regard.

• Integration: By the 1970s, counselling incorporated psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and existential theories.

Indian Development

• Ancient Roots: In India, counselling has roots in spiritual and philosophical traditions. The Bhagavad Gita can be seen as a dialogue of counselling, where Lord Krishna counselled Arjuna about duty, purpose, and morality.

• Modern Times: Systematic counselling entered Indian universities in the 1950s and 1960s through guidance bureaus and educational counselling centers.

• Post-Independence: Counselling grew alongside psychology departments in institutions such as Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) and National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS).

• 21st Century: Counselling in India is expanding in schools, workplaces, hospitals, and community centers, particularly with mental health awareness campaigns like Manodarpan and the Tele-MANAS helpline by the Government of India.

Theoretical Background

Counselling draws from major psychological theories:

1. Psychodynamic Theories: Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalysis emphasized unconscious conflicts. Later, Carl Jung and Alfred Adler modified these ideas, highlighting collective unconscious and social interest.

2. Behavioral Theories: Based on principles of learning (Pavlov, Skinner, Bandura), counselling interventions like systematic desensitization and behavior modification emerged.

3. Humanistic Theories: Carl Rogers’ Person-Centered Therapy emphasized empathy, congruence, and unconditional positive regard. Abraham Maslow introduced the hierarchy of needs.

4. Cognitive Theories: Aaron Beck’s Cognitive Therapy and Albert Ellis’ Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) highlighted the role of maladaptive thoughts in emotional distress.

5. Existential Theories: Viktor Frankl emphasized meaning-making and resilience through logotherapy.

6. Integrative Approaches: Modern counselling often combines techniques, emphasizing eclectic and multicultural counselling models.

Current Applications of Counselling

Counselling today has expanded into diverse fields:

1. Educational Counselling: Helping students with exam stress, career choices, and adjustment problems.

2. Clinical Counselling: Supporting individuals with anxiety, depression, trauma, and addiction.

3. Family and Relationship Counselling: Addressing marital conflicts, parenting concerns, and communication issues.

4. Career Counselling: Guiding individuals in professional choices, skill assessment, and future planning.

5. Community Counselling: Disaster relief counselling, crisis intervention, and rehabilitation services.

6. Workplace Counselling: Employee assistance programs (EAP), stress management, and performance enhancement.

Case History (Indian Context)

Case of Meera, a 19-year-old student in Pune
Meera experienced severe anxiety before her university exams. She often reported palpitations, lack of concentration, and negative self-talk. She visited her university counselling cell where a counsellor applied a Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)-based counselling approach.

• Assessment: The counsellor identified Meera’s irrational belief: “If I fail this exam, my life is over.”

• Intervention: Through Socratic questioning and relaxation techniques, the counsellor helped Meera challenge this belief.

• Outcome: Within four sessions, Meera reported reduced anxiety and improved exam preparation.

This case highlights how structured counselling using evidence-based approaches can transform the lives of Indian students.

Examples of Counselling in Practice

1. Post-Disaster Counselling: After the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, psychologists provided crisis counselling to affected families in Tamil Nadu.

2. School Counselling: The CBSE-affiliated schools in Delhi NCR employ counsellors for student well-being, exam stress, and bullying issues.

3. Corporate Counselling: Infosys and Wipro provide Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) for workplace mental health.

4. Healthcare Settings: Counsellors work in cancer hospitals (e.g., Tata Memorial, Mumbai) to provide grief and palliative counselling.

Current Trends in Counselling

1. Digital Counselling Platforms: Apps like YourDOST, BetterLYF, and MindPeers have popularized online counselling in India.

2. School Mental Health Programmes: NEP 2020 emphasizes socio-emotional learning and counselling in schools.

3. Integration of Yoga and Mindfulness: Blending indigenous practices with Western counselling frameworks.

4. Tele-Counselling and AI: Initiatives like Tele-MANAS are making counselling accessible to rural populations.

5. Workplace Mental Health Policies: Increasing corporate investment in mental health awareness and counselling services.

6. Trauma-Informed Care: Counsellors are being trained to deal with issues like domestic violence, child abuse, and pandemic-related grief.

Citations

• American Counseling Association. (2014). ACA Code of Ethics. ACA.

• Corey, G. (2021). Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy (10th ed.). Cengage Learning.

• Egan, G., & Reese, R. J. (2019). The Skilled Helper: A Problem-Management and Opportunity-Development Approach to Helping (11th ed.). Cengage.

• Miller, W. R., & Rollnick, S. (2013). Motivational Interviewing: Helping People Change (3rd ed.). Guilford Press.

• Nair, S. R. (2019). Counselling in India: Historical roots and contemporary practices. Indian Journal of Psychological Research, 13(2), 101–114.

• Singh, A., & Misra, G. (2020). Applications of counselling psychology in India. Psychology and Developing Societies, 32(1), 47–67.