The Role of the Counsellor

It is often thought that you go to a counsellor so they can "fix" your problems, but this is a common misinterpretation of what a counsellor does.  The counsellor is there to help you to become more self aware and to take control of yourself and your life.  It is a role that is empowering, challenging and at times, for the client, frustrating, as they experience the process of releasing negative behavioural and mental thought processes.   All illness - mental or physical comes from unconscious or negative thought processes.  To make changes in your life is hard, and the counsellor can support and enable healthy resolution and outcomes to any challenge the client maybe struggling with.  Those challenges can be the treatment of a mental illness, a physical illness, weight loss, relationship healing or enhancement, individual goal setting, dietary changes and many other life challenges that come our way.  The counsellor helps you to resolve any ambivalence (mixed feelings) that you may have regarding a behaviour change.   This is why many people say they want to lose weight, but never do, or they want a better relationship with their partner, or meet a new better partner, but are never able to make it happen because they are unaware of the unconscious agenda that goes on underneath the surface all of the time.  The counsellor brings awareness to the client what those unconscious agendas are that create illness and disorder, and is able to provide a way to enable the client to heal.     The counsellors role is to challenge and help resolve any discrepancies with behaviour change and increase self-efficacy in achieving goals.   

One of the ways the counsellor can assist the client in achieving this is through a technique called Motivational Interviewing.  This video demonstrates this technique.  In the video, the client has a danger of developing diabetes.  She needs to lose weight, eat healthier and introduce more exercise into her life.  The counsellor enables the client to make this behaviour change by developing the discrepancies.   You can watch it here. 

Counsellors are also not your friends.  Their role is to ensure that you receive the self awareness and insights to enable behaviour change.  This is why a counsellor cannot work with friends or family as that relationship is supportive and close.  The counsellor's role is to empower and increase self awareness to enable behaviour change and healing.

If you are interested in learning more about how counselling can help you, simply call Nikki on 0400 497 024 or go to www.staleyhealth.com.  Heal yourself today!