Authentic psychological counseling is about the visitor's self-growth. How so?

I hope that my response will prove to be of some assistance to you.

What is the nature of psychological counseling?

The fundamental objective of psychological counseling is to assist individuals in disassociating themselves from the circumstances that cause distress, recognizing their intrinsic value, articulating the underlying issues in a failed relationship, developing greater self-acceptance, and enhancing their capacity to confront challenges and resolve them independently. It is not the role of the counselor to assume responsibility for all aspects of the client's life.

This is a significant indicator of the standardization and professionalism of an institution or counselor.

Psychological counseling is a process that employs psychological principles and methods to address the psychological issues of the client. It is not merely a matter of treating the symptoms; rather, it entails investigating the underlying causes of these symptoms, thereby facilitating a comprehensive understanding of the problem and enabling the client to undergo a process of change and growth.

Furthermore, the objective of psychological counseling is to assist individuals who are functioning within the typical range of intelligence and brain function.

In the event that mental health issues are attributed to inadequate cognitive abilities or neurological impairment (such as schizophrenia), it is advisable to seek consultation at a medical facility specializing in neurological disorders. These cases often necessitate pharmacological intervention and comprehensive medical care. However, for instances of severe depression and other forms of psychological distress, a combination of pharmacological and psychological interventions may prove more efficacious, given the potential for emotional distress to adversely impact brain function.

The operational mode of psychological counseling

1. The modus operandi of psychological counseling is that the individual seeking counsel assumes the initiative.

The definition of psychological counseling explicitly states that the objective of such counseling is to assist individuals in addressing their psychological concerns. However, in practice, there are numerous individuals who experience psychological difficulties but do not seek help.

In such cases, it is essential for counselors to recognize their limitations and the constraints of their role. Counseling can only be effective for those who are actively seeking assistance. For individuals with psychological issues who are uncooperative or explicitly refuse help, it becomes challenging for counselors to be effective.

2. The objective of psychological counseling is to inspire and guide the client, enhance their psychological capabilities, facilitate their psychological growth, and assist them in resolving their own psychological issues.

Psychological counseling does not provide direct answers to the client's questions; rather, it offers guidance and inspiration through conversation. The client is encouraged to reflect on their own experiences and gradually identify the underlying issues. This process differs from traditional forms of education or preaching, as it does not attempt to solve the client's problems for them. Instead, it aims to facilitate the client's own understanding and resolution of their psychological challenges.

3. Psychological counseling is not social conversation.

Psychological counseling does assist clients in resolving psychological issues through discourse. Indeed, conversation represents a primary mode of communication. However, the interaction between the counselor and the client is a professional encounter that must occur within the confines of a formal counseling setting. Counseling conversations are characterized by a distinct purpose. Guided by the counseling objectives, they adhere to a set of principles and utilize a range of techniques with the ultimate aim of assisting clients in addressing their psychological concerns.

A counseling session is a blend of verbal and nonverbal communication, whereas a social conversation between friends is more casual, aimless, and not bound by any rules.

4. Psychological counseling is not logical analysis.

It is possible that an individual may seek the assistance of a counselor in order to gain insight into their own or others' psychological states. Some clients may explicitly request that the counselor assist them in analyzing their own or others' mental processes.

Some female clients will request that the counselor assist them in analyzing their own thoughts and emotions, as well as those of their spouse.

At this juncture, the counselor will facilitate the client's psychological growth through the provision of psychological counseling, enabling the client to address their own psychological issues independently, rather than relying solely on the counselor's logical analysis for resolution.

5. The objective of psychological counseling is not to solve the client's problems.

Some clients may assume that, having paid a consultation fee, the counselor is obliged to assist them in solving their problems. In fact, the objective of psychological counseling is to enable clients to help themselves. This involves "teaching someone to fish," thereby facilitating client growth, enhancing their ability to recognize and address problems, regulate emotions, develop a robust personality, improve psychological well-being, and ultimately empower clients to resolve psychological and specific problems and lead a healthy and fulfilling life.

Psychological counseling is not about providing direct solutions to problems; rather, it is about facilitating growth and change through a process of exploration and self-discovery. It is not about avoiding difficulties or reducing problems, but rather about addressing them in a constructive manner.

6. Psychological counseling is distinct from education.

It is possible that an individual may seek counseling with the intention of receiving education, as though it were a form of training. This is akin to the desire to attend skills training courses or to engage in learning activities.

It is important to note that counselors can provide some psychological knowledge that help-seekers may lack. However, it is essential to recognize that counseling is not education. A counselor does not counsel in the same manner as a teacher educates students or a coach trains athletes. Instead, in an equal counseling relationship, the counselor encourages the help-seeker to explore themselves, solve problems independently, or motivate the help-seeker to engage in self-education.

The primary responsibilities of a counselor (what can counseling address?)

The objective is to assist the client in developing positive interpersonal relationships.

The objective is to assist the client in developing a more profound understanding of themselves.

The counselor should assist the client in identifying and correcting any misconceptions that may be impeding their understanding of the situation.

The objective is to assist the client in learning to accept reality.

The objective is to assist the client in attaining psychological freedom, which entails striving to coexist with some of their flaws and shortcomings.

The objective is to assist the client in recognizing and resolving internal conflicts.

The objective is to assist the client in developing new behaviors and patterns of behavior.

The objective is to assist the visitor in developing a positive personality.

The objective is to assist the visitor in developing an awareness of the importance of maintaining psychological health and in acquiring the knowledge and skills required to do so.

This is conducted via professional chat. It is therefore imperative that clients place their trust in their counselors, confide in them any confusion or doubts they may have, and allow them to guide and inspire them step by step, enabling them to understand themselves, learn to solve their own problems, and ultimately achieve a healthy state of mind and become a better version of themselves.

How is the efficacy of the counseling process assessed?

The typical duration of a consultation is 50 to 60 minutes, with a basic frequency of one to two sessions per week. However, specific arrangements can be made for more frequent or extended intervals, based on the needs and preferences of the client and the counselor.

At the conclusion of the consultation, the client and counselor will assess the efficacy of the session in relation to the established objectives.

The overarching objective of psychological counseling is to "help people help themselves," which entails fostering a person's self-reliance and self-improvement. Consequently, counselors endeavor to accomplish the following in counseling:

The objective is to assist the client in learning to help themselves. This entails providing constant inspiration for independent thinking, enabling the client to identify and utilise their own potential, and facilitating their ability to provide assistance independently.

The objective is to assist the client in becoming self-reliant, which entails consistently encouraging them to take action and to cease relying on external sources for motivation and direction.

Internalizing the value of the counselor signifies the transformation of admiration for the counselor into a value recognition, as well as the cultivation of the same qualities within oneself.

In conclusion, it is essential for clients to recognize that autonomous problem-solving is a prerequisite for genuine self-growth. Similarly, the transformation of idols into role models is a crucial aspect of self-realization. When counseling effectively achieves these outcomes, clients can gain genuine self-confidence and self-empowerment.

The aforementioned information is provided for your reference. Best wishes.