Three Major General Characteristics of Counseling

People enter into counseling for a variety of reasons. Major life changes, social behavior or mental health problems are all issues that counseling may help alleviate. Counseling may focus on real life, practical solutions or may give the individual a place to express herself and talk through her problems. Although types of counseling vary, all share some basic, general characteristics in their efforts to help.

Increasing Insight

• Increasing insight and self-knowledge are major characteristics of the counseling process. Counselors work to help clients increase insight into their problems. When people know why they have specific problems or why they react certain ways in certain situations, they are better able to function. A client who is aware of her problems is better able to get help. For example, someone who has an undiagnosed mental illness, such as depression, is unlikely to take proactive steps, such as diet, exercise or medication, to combat the depression. However, under the guidance of a trained counselor, a client is able to understand how his life affects his moods and can get the help that he needs.

Life Changes

• Counseling is meant as a way to guide a client through various types of changes. This could be as extreme as coping with a major mental disorder or more mundane, such as a married couple who are having problems communicating. Counseling helps give individuals the skills they need to cope with these changes. Some counselors are more process-based and believe that talking about problems with little structure leads to healing and change. In contrast, counselors, such as behavioral therapists, believe that change must be made in practical terms and may include role-play techniques as well as homework assignments.

Relationship-Based

• The client-counselor relationship is highly important to success in counseling. Good counselors understand this and work to build a relationship based on trust, openness and honesty with their clients. However, the client-counselor relationship differs from relationships with friends, in that counselors instill professional boundaries. Boundaries allow the client to disclose personal information with the understanding that the counselor will act professionally and won't judge the client for what she does or feels. The therapist acts as a guide and collaborator helping the client work through her issues, heal past wounds and find viable solutions.

Considerations

• An important element to any personal change is having the motivation. Even the best counselors cannot help a person who is not ready to make changes in his life. Skilled counselors may use their relationship with the client to try to inspire motivation, however, ultimately, the client must be willing to make the effort to change to truly get anything out of counseling. For an individual who is motivated to change, many types of counselors are available to help.