Introduction to

counseling
psychology
Major
developments in
psychology
 Definition of counseling
• a professional relationship between a
trained counselor and a client . . .
designed to help clients to understand
and clarify their views of their living
space, and to learn to reach their self-
determined goals through meaningful,
well-informed choices and through a
resolution of problems of emotional or
contd
• The key assumptions that underpin, and are implied by,
this definition include:
• 1 Counselling is an activity that can only happen if the
person seeking help, the client, wants it to happen.
Counseling takes place when someone who is troubled
invites and allows another person to enter into a
particular kind of relationship with them.
• 2 A person seeks a counselling relationship when they
encounter a ‘problem in living’ that they have not been
able to resolve through their everyday resources, and that
has resulted in their exclusion from some aspect of full
participation in social life.
 How does counselling help?
• Insight
• Relating with others.
• Self- awareness
• Self- acceptance.
• Self- actualization or individuation.
• Cognitive change. The modification or replacement
of irrational beliefs or maladaptive thought
patterns associated with self- destructive behavior.
 What is the difference between counselling and
psychotherapy?

• A clear distinction can be made between

counselling and psychotherapy. The
argument here is that, although there is a
certain amount of overlap between the
theories and methods of counsellors and
psychotherapists, and the type of clients that
they see, there is nevertheless a fundamental
difference between the two, with
psychotherapy representing a deeper, more
fundamental level of work, over a longer
Before 1900
• No mention in the professional literature until
1931
• Most counseling is informal; developed out of
humanitarian concerns to improve people’s lives in
the community adversely affected by the industrial
revolution
• Social welfare reform movement; spread of public
education, various changes in population makeup
• Helping process was dominated by psychoanalytic
and behaviorism theories
 Origin of vocational guidance
• Frank pearsons ( father of guidance
organized the Boston vocational beru
• He provides vocational assistance to
young people
• He trains teachers to become
vocational counselors
• in 1909, he published ‘choosing a vocation’
contd

• He discussed the role of the counselor

and techniques that might be employed
in counseling
1)Personal investigation
2)Industrial investigation
3)Organization and the work
 The 1900s
• Jesse Buttrick Davis
• Due to his pioneering work in putting an organized guidance
program in place in schools, Jesse Buttrick Davis is regarded as the
country's first school counselor.
• He had a significant role in the establishment of vocational
guidance in the late 1800s and early 1900s because of his work in
Michigan's public schools. His groundbreaking work in the public
schools of Detroit and Grand Rapids provided the groundwork for
the counseling specializations of school counseling and career
counseling. He also contributed to the founding of the National
Association of Secondary School Principals and the National
Vocational Guidance Association, which is today known as the
National Career Development Association.
Clifford beers
• Beers was born on
March 30, 1876, to Ida
and Robert Beers in
New Haven,
Connecticut. He was one
of five kids, including
Beers himself, whom all
experienced
psychological problems
and had to spend time
in mental hospitals
Contd
• Beers was a founder of the National Committee for
Mental Hygiene (1909) and the Connecticut Society
for Mental Hygiene (1908), organizations that
adopted the term "mental hygiene" from American
psychiatrist Adolf Meyer, who is Swiss-born, and that
created an educational and reform movement for the
treatment of the mentally ill.
• Beers later founded the American Foundation for
Mental Hygiene (1920) and the International
Committee for Mental Hygiene (1919). (1928).
Beers' mental illness symptoms reappeared in 1939,
and he was subsequently taken to a psychiatric
facility in Providence, Rhode Island, where he passed
Dorothy Dix

• Elizabeth Meriwether Gilmer,

better known by her pen name
Dorothy Dix, was an American
columnist and journalist who
lived from November 18, 1861,
until December 16, 1951. At
the time of her passing, Dix
was the highest-paid and most
frequently read female
journalist in America, serving
as a precursor to today's well-
liked advice columnists.
contd

• Newspapers all around the world syndicated

her marriage advice. She amassed a
readership of over 60 million readers and
became well-known and well-liked while
traveling abroad. She participated in the
fight for women's suffrage and the passage of
the 19th Amendment to the United States
Constitution in addition to her journalism
job.
 Anna Y Reed
• She established guidance services in Seattle
• She believes that guidance services should be
important as a means of developing the best
possible educational product
• She believes in stiff competition and that people
needed to give their best effort to any assigned
task in order to see themselves as successful.
 1910’s
• Major events in the 19010s were
• Army tests: - The U.S. Army started using group
intelligence tests for military personnel during
World War I, designed by Lewis M. Terman, Robert
M. Yerkes, and others. The Army Alpha Test (also
known as the Alpha examination) was a verbal test
that assessed abilities like direction-following
aptitude. Illiterate individuals and new immigrants
with limited English proficiency were given
nonverbal issues to solve in the Army Beta Test (also
known as the examination).
Publication of the first
bulletin
 Eli weaver

• Established teacher guidance committees in

every high school in NewYork
These committees work actively to help youths
discover their capabilities and learn how to
use those talents to secure the most
appropriate employment
 Historical development of
• Kenya
counseling in Africa
Guidance and counseling in Kenya is a relatively new
profession. Formal guidance and counseling in Kenyan
schools was officially recognized in 1970. The Ministry
of Education (MOE) established a Guidance and
Counseling Unit under its inspectorate division. The
unit was charged with the responsibility of dealing
with educational and vocational guidance, and
psychological counseling in schools (Ministry of
Education, Science and Technology, [MOEST], 2005).
contd
• The call for the establishment of guidance and
counseling in Kenyan schools was renewed with
more vigor in the 1980s and 1990s after the
country witnessed the worst arson cases ever to
be committed in the schools (Government of
Kenya, n.d.). Most notably, in 1999, 17 girls
were killed and 70 others raped in a co-ed
boarding school. In March 2000, 26 girls were
killed in an arson attack at the Bombolulu
girls’ secondary school (Daily Nation, 2000).
contd

• In 2001, 67 boys were burnt to death in a boarding

school by their colleagues as they were sleeping
(East African Standard Team, 2001). These and many
other incidents grabbed the attention of the
government and all stakeholders in education.
• Following recommendations by human rights
organizations he government banned corporal
punishment in all schools through Legal Notice. In
its place, the government recommended that
guidance and counseling departments be established
in all schools. Since then, the Ministry of Education
has continued to establish guidance and counseling
programs.
 South Africa
• The origin and development of counseling psychology in South
Africa has been profoundly influenced by the country’s socio-
political history and the impact of apartheid.
• Although scholars such as Painter and Terre Blanche (2004)
and Van Ommen and Painter (2008) have chronicled the
history of psychology in SA, the development of CP is relatively
poorly documented. One exception is the work of
Leach et al. (2003) who claim that the origin of CP can be
traced to Stellenbosch University (an Afrikaans-language
tertiary institution considered to be the intellectual cradle of
Afrikaner nationalism) and the appointment of H. F. Verwoerd
(one of the major architects of apartheid) to the position of
professor of applied psychology in 1927.
Contd

• At the time, clinical psychology in SA was

associated with English-medium universities, was
focused on psychopathology, and was aligned with
more politically liberal and progressive psychology
departments argue that CP thrived in SA because
Afrikaner academics wished to establish a sub-
discipline separate from clinical psychology and
focused on promoting the career development and
psychological well-being of White Afrikaans
speaking citizens.
Contd

• It was not until 1974 that the professional

category of “Counselling Psychologist” was
recognized in SA and professional training
programmers were established at four
Afrikaans-speaking universities
 Historical development of
counseling in Ethiopia
• In Ethiopian higher education, “Guidance and
Counseling” was introduced in 1964 when the first
“Guidance and counseling center” was opened at
Hailesellasse 1st University. By 1966/67 the first course
called “Introduction to Guidance and Counseling” was
introduced in Addis Ababa University Curriculum.
Contd

• The introduction and development of psychology in

Ethiopia has been mainly limited to Addis Ababa
University in the capital city, and also to educational
and school psychology which was highly influenced
by the field of education at this pioneering
university. Similarly, mental health services have
been principally developed at the Amanuel Mental
Hospital in Addis Ababa that has existed since the
1950s.
 Ethiopian Psychologists
Association (EPA)
• The Ethiopian Psychologists Association (EPA) is a
professional organization established in May 1992.
The association strives to make psychology a relevant field
in addressing psychological and psychosocial problems
affecting Ethiopians.
Counseling Theories and
Techniques

1.Psychoanalysis/Psychodynamic Theory
Psychoanalysis or psychodynamic theory, also known as the “historical
perspective,” has its roots with Sigmund Freud, who believed there
were unconscious forces that drive behavior. The techniques he
developed, such as free association (freely talking to the therapist about
whatever comes up without censoring), dream analysis (examining
dreams for important information about the unconscious), and
transference (redirecting feelings about certain people in one’s life onto
the therapist).
Psychotherapists and counselors who use this approach
direct much of their focus and energy on analyzing past
relationships and, in particular, traumatic childhood
experiences in relation to an individual’s current life. The
belief is that by revealing and bringing these issues to the
surface, treatment and healing can occur.by changing the
unconscious to conscious. This theory is highly researched,
and as the field of neuroscience advances, counselors are
finding how psychodynamic theory can actually positively
affect a client’s brain. Psychodynamic theory can be more
time intensive in comparison to some short-term theories
because it involves changing deeply fixed behaviors and
requires significant work on understanding one’s self.
Structure of personality
1. id
Which is animal part of our personality. Is driven by pleasure
principle, which strives for immediate gratification of all desires,
wants and needs. If these needs are not satisfied immediately the
result is a state anxiety or tension.
2. Ego
It is the component of personality that is responsible for dealing
with reality that it strives to satisfy the id’s desires in realistic and
socially appropriate ways.
3. Super Ego
Based on morals and judgments about right and wrong, the super
ego reasons based on moral values. It wants to be perfect which is
unrealistic.
 Technique

Psychoanalytic therapy usually involves free-flowing, in-

depth conversations in one-on-one sessions with a trained
therapist. Psychoanalytic therapists also use techniques like
transference analysis, dream analysis, interpretation, and
free association to help patients identify self-defeating
patterns.
 2. Behavioral Theory Behavioral theory
Is based on the belief that behavior is learned. Classic
conditioning is one type of behavioral therapy that stems from
early theorist Ivan Pavlov’s research. Pavlov executed a famous
study using dogs, which focused on the effects of a learned
response (e.g., a dog salivating when hearing a bell) through a
stimulus (e.g., pairing the sound of a bell with food).
B. F. Skinner developed another behavioral therapy approach,
called operant conditioning. He believed in the power of rewards
to increase the likelihood of a behavior and punishments to
decrease the occurrence of a behavior. Behavioral therapists
work on changing unwanted and destructive behaviors through
behavior modification techniques such as positive or negative
reinforcement.
I. Classical Conditioning
● Unconditioned stimulus (UCS)
● Unconditioned response (UCR)
● Conditioned stimulus (CS)
● Conditioned Response(CR)
II. Operant Conditioning
Behavior and consequence
● Positive Reinforcement
● Negative Reinforcement
● Punishment
● Extinction

Techniques
1. Contingency management
2. Extinction
3. Behavior modeling
4. Token economies
 3. Cognitive Theory
In the 1960s, psychotherapist Aaron Beck developed. This
counseling theory focuses on how people’s thinking can change
feelings and behaviors. Unlike psychodynamic theory, therapy
based on cognitive theory is brief in nature and oriented toward
problem solving. Cognitive therapists focus more on their
client’s present situation and distorted thinking than on their
past. Cognitive and behavioral therapy are often combined as
one form of theory practiced by counselors and therapists.
Cognitive behavioral therapy has been found in research to help
with a number of mental illnesses including anxiety, personality,
eating, and substance abuse disorders.
Techniques

1. Self-Instructional Methods
2. Problem-Solving Methods
3. Homework
4. Modeling
5. Validity Testing
6. Cognitive Rehearsal
 4. Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
(REBT)

Is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) developed by

psychologist Albert Ellis. Is an action-oriented approach that's
focused on helping people deal with irrational beliefs and learn
how to manage their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in a
healthier, more realistic way. The goal is to help people
recognize and alter those beliefs and negative thinking
patterns in order to overcome psychological problems and
mental distress.
Techniques

A core concept of REBT is the ABC model. This model

explains how, while we may blame external events for our
unhappiness, it is our interpretation of these events that truly
lies at the heart of our psychological distress. "ABC" is an
acronym for A: Activating event, which is when something
happens in the environment around you B: Belief, which
describes your thoughts about the event or situation C:
Consequence, which is your emotional response to your
belief 1, Identifying Beliefs and Applying the ABC Model 2,
Disputation 3, Gaining Insight and Changing Behavior
 5. Humanistic Approach
Humanistic therapists care most about the present and helping their
clients achieve their highest potential. Instead of energy spent on the
past or on negative behaviors,
humanists believe in the goodness of all people and emphasize a
person’s self-growth and self-actualization. Humanistic theories include
client-centered, gestalt, and existential therapies. Carl Rogers
developed client-centered therapy, which focuses on the belief that
clients control their own destinies, clients were given a healthy and
encouraging environment and provide validation to grow there self. He
believed that all therapists need to do is show their genuine care and
interest. Gestalt therapists’ work focuses more on what’s going on in
the moment versus what is being said in therapy.(the whole is greater
than its part) Existential therapists help clients find meaning in their
lives by focusing on free will, self-determination, and responsibility.
Humanistic counselors see their role not as one of directing
clients in how to address their problems but, rather, as one of
helping clients to discover and access within themselves the
restricted resources they need to solve problems on their own.
The therapist shows unconditional positive result. Focus on
mismatch between who, people think they are and who they
think they should be in the source off low self-esteem. (Real vs.
Ideal)
Techniques
1. Congruence
2. Empathetic understanding
3. Reflective listening
6. Holistic/Integrative Therapy
Holistic and integrative therapy involves integrating various
elements of different theories to the practice. In addition to
traditional talk therapy, holistic therapy may include nontraditional
therapies such as hypnotherapy ( is a type of mind–body
intervention in which hypnosis is used to create a state of focused
attention and increased suggestibility in the treatment of a medical
or psychological disorder) or guided imagery.
The key is to use the techniques and psychotherapy tools best suited for a
particular client and problem. There are various therapies that counselors
can choose to study, but the type of theory matters less than the success of
the relationship between client and therapist. In the counseling online
Master of Arts in Counseling Program, students are prepared to become
self-reflective practitioners and learn to examine the factors that influence
the client-therapist relationship to become successful counselors.
Techniques
Holistic therapy techniques are designed to foster a greater
sense of self-awareness to better understand the connections
between their body, mind, and relationships and how these
elements play a role in mental health.
Some of these practices include:
Acupuncture
Biofeedback
Breath work
Hypnosis
Massage
Meditation
Mindfulness
Tai chi
Yoga
 7. Narrative Therapy
Narrative therapy is a method of therapy that separates a
person from their problem. It encourages people to rely on
their own skills to minimize problems that exist in their lives.
Is a style of therapy that helps people become an expert in
their own lives.

Techniques
1. Developing their Own Story
2. Externalization
3. Deconstruction
4. Unique Outcomes
 8. Motivational interviewing

Is a counseling approach designed to help people find the

motivation to make a positive behavior change. This client-
centered approach is particularly effective for people who have
mixed feelings about changing their behavior. Has helped
many people find the motivation to make both small and major
behavior changes. It’s best for people who have mixed feelings
about changing their behavior.
Motivational interviewing can effectively treat a variety of
conditions. Such as; addiction treatment, Health related issues
(Diabetes control, Diet, Obesity prevention, Physical activity,
Sexual behavior, Smoking)
❖ Have different benefits such as
● Building the client's self-confidence and trust in themselves
● Helping clients take responsibility for themselves and their
actions
● Lowering the chance of future relapse
● Preparing clients to become more receptive to treatment
● Showing clients that they have the power to change their lives
themselves
● Teaching clients to take responsibility for themselves

Techniques
1. Open-Ended questions
2. Affirmation
3. Reflective Listing
4. Summaries
 9. Emotionally Focused Therapy
Is a type of short-term therapy that is used to improve attachment
and bonding in adult relationships. This approach to couples
therapy was developed by doctors Sue Johnson and Les
Greenberg in the 1980s and is rooted in research on love as an
attachment bond. It has also been adapted for use with families.
This treatment can help couples and family members form a more
secure emotional bond, which can result in stronger relationships
and improved communication. It helps to have Better emotional
functioning, Strong bonds, Improved interpersonal understanding
between families.
Techniques
1. De- Escalation
2. Restructuring
3. Consolidation
 10. Existential therapy
Is based on existential theory. It states that the human condition
is one of loneliness, life has no meaning, and death is inevitable.
Despite this, existential theory also claims a human being has the
free will to create a meaningful life. Emphasizes that humans
have the freedom and a responsibility to find meaning in life
despite their circumstances.
The 4 Existential 'Givens'
● Freedom: Human beings have the freedom and responsibility to
create meaningful lives.
● Isolation: Human beings are ultimately alone.
● Meaninglessness: Life can feel meaningless.
● Death: No one can escape death.
Existential therapy can help with:
● Feelings of hopelessness or anxiety because of uncontrollable
circumstances
● Self-empowerment
● Fear and anxiety, including death anxiety
● Low self-esteem
● Feelings of hopelessness and despair

Techniques
1. Open dialog between patient and therapist without judgment
2. Mindfulness
3. Encouraging patients to remain present by asking questions
about their experiences
4. Treating all experiences as equally important in their
potential for meaning
5. Treating negative feelings and inner conflict
6. Encouraging exploration of new ideas and experiences
7. Discussing interactions with the larger world
 MARRIAGE AND FAMILY COUNSELING
• HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
Family therapy evolved from the traditions of
individual psychotherapy. The impetus came from the
frustration that therapists experienced in applying
individual psychotherapeutic strategies and
techniques to hospitalized schizophrenic and
delinquent populations
How communications and structures contribute to
symptom formation and maintenance became a
primary research focus of the early family therapy
theorists. Marriage therapy evolved more from the
work of pastoral counselors and social workers.
THEORETICAL APPROACHES
the development of theoretical counseling perspectives in the mid-
I900s.
In the 1950s, the client-centered, existential approach emerged as a
powerful alternative to the more traditional medical model based on
the psychodynamic view; this created divisions within and among the
mental health professions.
During the 1960s, the cognitive, behavioral and transactional
theoretical perspectives gained prominence and the competition
between these different "schools" led to a confused and often dogmatic
search for the "right approach." The 1970s saw the systems and
transpersonal theoretical perspectives emerge as alternative views.
Recently, the counseling literature reflects a more eclectic trend that
attempts to integrate these disparate perspectives
 What Is Marriage and Family Counseling or Therapy?

• It focuses on love relationships such as premarital,

marital, parent-child, and sibling relationships, and on
larger family systems, which may involve in-laws,
grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, children, or ex-
spouses from a previous marriage.
• Marriage and family therapy is primarily concerned with
systems—the inter-relationships between the self and
other things in the world. This branch of psychology
posits that these relationships are at the core of our
psychological state and therefore must be included in any
meaningful psychological treatment.
 TYPES OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY
COUNSELING

The most frequently cited types of marriage

and family counseling are conjoint and group
counseling. Other types include multifamily
group counseling, structured modalities,
marital therapy, home-based counseling,
premarital counseling, and sex therapy.
 Conjoint Counseling
• Conjoint family counseling means that all members
of the nuclear family who live together are seen in
the same session.
• As stated earlier, this emphasis on the entire family
as the unit of treatment is what differentiates family
counseling from individual counseling.
• the unit of treatment is not regarded as important as
the family theory perspective, and many counselors
work from a systems perspective with the whole
family, with individuals or with other subsystems (Ok
un & Rappaport, 1980).
 Group Counseling
• Group counseling for special interest groups is becoming
increasingly prevalent
• The group may consist of one or both parents, children,
siblings, or parent/child subsystems. This type of counseling
deals with family problems but provides support and feedback
from other families with similar concerns.
• For example, an off and Lewis (EJ 204 274) describe an
innovative group experience for couples expecting their first
child. In this project, the purpose was to stimulate couples to
become aware of their communications and support systems
as necessary building blocks for healthy family emotional
development.
 Multifamily Group
• Counseling Multifamily group counseling is also reported in
the literature. This group consists of two or more whole
families.
• Gould (EJ 248 237) studied how family members utilized the
intra family interaction more than the interfamily mode.
• Either mothers or fathers tended to dominate with the
interfamily mode. When dominant, mothers talked more to
other mothers, while fathers talked mostly to children or
fathers.
• Some of the multifamily therapy is based on common
themes, such as reconstituted families, type of illness or
handicap, or stage of family development. There is potential
for increased learning, support and problem-solving.
 Structured Modalities
• the marriage counseling reported in the
literature concerns structured
communication models, marriage
enrichment, and marriage encounter groups.
• Most of these structured modalities occur in
groups. Such modalities are viewed as
preventive, developmental, and educative
rather than as therapeutic or crisis-oriented.
They are intended for general applicability
rather than idiosyncratic issues.
 Marital Therapy

In a comparative analysis of alternative marital

therapies, Bornstein and others (EJ 282 495) found
that behavioral and systems approaches were rated
more acceptable than analytic or eclectic therapies.
. Behavioral and cognitive marital therapies are
increasingly described in the lit.
. Cognitive self-disclosure, behavioral contracts,
modeling, cognitive restructuring, problem-solving
and communication skills are the major foci of
marriage counseling
 Home-based Counseling
• Home-based therapy is also called home-based
psychotherapy, home-based counseling, or in-home
therapy. It takes place when a therapist provides
counseling in a person's home.
• Home-based therapy takes place at the home of
a person in therapy rather than in an office. It can
help people who have difficulty getting to private
practices or mental health facilities.
• money issues, age, chronic medical
issues, agoraphobia, and responsibilities at home or
work.
 Premarital Counseling
• Premarital counseling is a form of couples therapy that can
help you and your partner prepare for marriage.
• It is intended to help you and your partner discuss several
important issues, ranging from finances to children so that
you are both on the same page.
• It can also help identify potential conflict areas and equip you
and your partner with tools to navigate them successfully.
• Premarital counseling aims to help you build a strong
foundation for marriage.
 Sex Therapy
• Sex therapy is a type of talk therapy that's designed
to help individuals and couples address medical,
psychological, personal, or interpersonal factors
impacting sexual satisfaction.
• Sex therapy affirms the fundamental value of
sexuality as an inherent, essential, and beneficial
dimension of being human.
• Heritage and West (ED 188 059) claim that since
approximately 50% of American marriages have
some sexual dysfunction and because sexuality is
such an important part of a person's life, counselors
must be sensitive to the sexual concerns of clients
and must be comfortable discussing these concerns.
Career Development and Counseling

• Career development is the process in which people grow

to fashion their own work identity and interact with work
• Counseling in regards to career development has been
designed throughout the years to guide and assist
individuals when making occupational choices
• This form of counseling is something that can be giving
throughout adulthood, be it in the late years of college or
well within the middle aged years. There is no age limit to
career development.
 History of Career Counseling

• Career counseling originated from the United States during late 19th century
• This phenomenon was caused by the many economic issues that were caused
by the rapid industrialization that took place during that time
• Frank Parsons who is said to be the founder of career counseling began his
work during that time, influenced by Jane Addams
• He stated that there are three broad factors in the choice of an occupation:
knowledge of self, knowledge of the requirements for success in different
occupations, and matching these two groups of facts.
• There were four stages of the growth and progression of career counseling
through history
Stages of growth in career counseling

• During the first stage of growth, the two main factors that took place
were the implementation of psychological testing and the support
received from the progressive social reform movement.
• The second stage was dominated with the emergence of educational
counseling
• The third stage was characterized by the focus of societal resources on
colleges and the training of professional counselors due to WW2 and the
USSR’s achievements
• The fourth state was defined through the times of idealism and hope, and
the seeking of meaningful work
• The fifth stage brought about the emergence of the private practice
career counselor
 Theoretical Approaches

• There are 5 main theoretical approaches that we will be

focusing on, these are
• Trait-and-Factor Theory.
• Theory of Person-Environment Fit
• Learning Theory of Career Counseling
• Social Cognitive Career Theory and
• The Cognitive Information Processing (CIP) Approach
 Psychology of person with
special needs
Historical perspective
• Counseling professionals historically have had limited contact
with special need population for a variety of reasons. Some
counselors lack confidence and training to serve these groups.
Some are uncomfortable around people with special need.
Others have incorrect information about or prejudices toward
those with exceptional needs. In addition, because services to
person with special need are most often delivered by special
education personnel, counselors may believe that their skills
are not needed for these groups.Although people with special
need are an extremely heterogeneous group of diverse learners,
each with unique learning strengths and needs, many of the
graduate counselor education programs have not provided
prospective counselors with adequate training for the
development and provision of services or how to
• professionally interact with person who have special
need, which includes physical, behavioral, emotional
and mental disabilities. In addition, limited
preparation is provided in the area of cooperation
and collaborative efforts in working with other
specialists and professionals to provide person
withspecial need a more comprehensive
developmental holistic approach to services. Most
counselors, however, do have many of the skills
needed to work with these people and their families,
such as communication strategies, a background in
human, and experience with an array of therapeutic
techniques. Recent data shows counselor who work
with people with special need are becoming more
 Person with special needs
• Special needs are defined by any of various
difficulties such as physical, emotional,behavioural
or learning disabilities or impairment that causes an
individual to seek additional or specialised service
or accommodation. It is a term used in clinical
diagnostic and functional development to describe
individuals who require assistance for various
disabilities. More narrowly, it is a legal term
applying in foster care in the United States, derived
from the language in the Adoption and Safe Families
Act of 1997. It is a diagnosis used to classify person
What is counselling of person
with special needs?
• Counselling is a profession by which a troubled
person is helped to feel and behave in a more
satisfying manner through interaction with a
counsellor who provides services which stimulates
the client to develop behaviours which enable him
to deal more effectively with himself and his
environment. Counselling of person with special
needs is the involvement of counselling with special
population therefore is to improve and possibly
remedy the challenges, facing people with special
needs. It concerned with assisting person with
 The need for counselling
person with special needs
• Most of the time people with special needs find it
difficult to accept themselves due to ignorance,
taboo misconceptions and misunderstanding. Hence
counselling is very needed for people with special
needs to help them know their worth. It helps them
to realise their potential and grow in best way they
can. In other hand families of children with special
needs also need counselling so as to bring about
behavioural change, positive mental health, problem
resolution, personal effectiveness and decision
making. Counselling therefore helps these families
 Types of counselling for person
with special needs
1, Individual psychotherapy
• Individual psychotherapy is a therapy that utilise a
relationship based approach along with cognitive
behavioural therapy to assist in clients tuning in to their
experience, connect and have quality help in making
changes to their thoughts and actions. People with special
need pass through difficulties because of their condition in
different aspects of their life so they need to be assisted
and counselled.
 2, Family Therapy
• Family therapy is a type of psychotherapy that can
help familiy members to improve communication
and resolve conflicts. In case of familiy with special
needs person it helps to increase understanding of
the condition. This type of counselling helps the
familiy members to discover the extent of the
problem and assess their developmental prospects.
Also during the session the familiy members learn
how to deal and communicate with the member
with special needs. It enhance communication
between family members.
 3 , Art therapy
• Art therapy is also a form of psychotherapy involving
the encouragement of free self expression through
creative methods like drawing, painting of
modelling. In art therapy the therapist's client goes
on the journey to delve into their iner thoughts and
emotions by use of paint, paper, pen, clay, sand,
fabric, or other media. It can be used to help people
with special needs to improve their cognitive and
sensory motor function, self esteem, self awareness
and emotional resilience
 4, Support groups therapy
• Support groups therapy is a type of therapy in which
people facing the same problems is gathered
together to share what is troubling them. They are
able to offer support, encouragement and comfort
to the other group members and receive the same in
return. For people with special needs participating
in those support groups help them meet up with
different people with the same problem but different
experiences which in turn help them to embrace
themselves and know how to deal with their
situation.