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

 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.

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.

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.

 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

B. GREETINGS:-

A warm and friendly greeting facilitate the helping process.

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.
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

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.

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 then it should be directed toward goal.

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.

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.