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by Talia Jayasekera

Counselling by definition means the act or process of assisting and guiding people by a trained person on a professional basis to resolve personal, social or psychological problems or difficulties. Does a counselling profession exist in Sri Lanka? Our nation seems to be afflicted by various forms of depression and some people seem to be more keen to commit suicide than seek help. Is it because they are unaware that there are trained professionals available to them?

"To be a proper and successful counsellor, we need to understand human existence. Understand the person's culture and the history of his country. Knowledge is important. As counsellors, we should not alienate the people. We should be able to relate to the person and his problems".

"In foreign countries like America and Australia, the people are very much aware that they can seek help if they cannot cope with personal distress", says President of the National Institute of Professional Counsellors Professor Ranawaka. "Even school-going children have the privilege of knowing that there are school counsellors whom they can speak to. Awareness on counselling is thorough because they are given booklets, hand-outs and even have 24 hour toll-free numbers that they can call to speak with a trained counsellor".

"But in Sri Lanka, we are lacking in these departments. Not many people are aware that there are professionally trained counsellors available to them. There are a few NGO organisations but they are in mostly urban areas and not rural areas, where counselling is most needed", said Professor Ranawaka.

Counsellors

The National Institute of Professional Counsellors has been in existence for almost 20 years. Professor Ranawaka, who has been president of the Institute since its inception in 1981, says the main function of the Institute is to make sure that practising counsellors are properly qualified and registered. The Institute also seeks to enhance the knowledge and skills of these counsellors. This is done by giving them further training and higher professional exams.

"At present we have over 2,000 registered counsellors practising in various public and private institutions. Most of them are in the education sector while others are in industries and factories", said Professor Ranawaka. "Though our standards of counselling and training are good, it is the legislation that is lacking. It is necessary for the Government to implement laws for this field".

"The National Institute conducts training for university graduates with several courses including a one year diploma course at the end of which there is a professional exam. The individuals who pass this exam then need one year experience under a senior counsellor in an established organisation", said Professor Ranawaka. "We have 12 lecturers from various universities and as a rule they should be practitioners as well".

"The Institute's courses come in sections, that is Part One to Five. Part One is a beginners course known as the preliminary in psychology. After which there is a Diploma in Psychology which is the basic foundation in counselling. There is also a Higher Certificate in Guidance and Counselling. Part Five is equivalent to a post-graduate degree. The graduating counsellors are then given a associate membership to the association. They may apply for full membership later on with adequate experience", he said.

"The Colombo University and Peradeniya University offer a one year course and first degree in phycology respectively".

"If there should be any misconduct by the counsellor in relation to the patient or professional misbehaviour, the Professional's Association Disciplinary Committee has the powers to advise the individual or suggest some correctional methods and in some cases even retraining. It is also the right of the Committee to suspend the membership of the person. In the last 20 years, we have had no complaints from any patients", said Professor Ranawaka.

"Though we have a good many professionally qualified counsellors, the country is seriously lacking in the necessary legislation. We have an excellent standard and use all the latest American textbooks, plus we have direct links with certain phycological institutions in England, Australia and America. But the country, on the whole, has no proper laws in this field and as a result, certain private institutions, intent on making money, are offering their own counselling, which is not professional by any standards. This is a major problem", he said. qualified personnel

"Counselling is a field that is slowly gaining popularity. Certain people are trying to cash in on this popularity. Private and even religious institutions can be dangerous to the people because the type of counselling offered is not by qualified personnel. As a result, if wrong advice is given to the patient, it could lead to disastrous results. We need a law that states private institutions need the consent of the Counsellors Association to open private counselling centres. The best example would be the Medical Council. No hospital or clinic can open without the approval and consent of the Medical Council. In the same way, the counselling field needs this sort of law".

"The other problems faced is the lack of counselling centres in places like hospitals, working environments and prisons. Unlike in foreign countries, where psychology departments are active even in prisons, this country has not even thought of such measures. Abroad, young children are sent to correctional centres, whereas we put them in normal prisons with hardened criminals where they are trained to do even worse crimes", explained Professor Ranawaka.

"Counselling centres in hospitals is a must! I feel very strongly about this as patients need some sort of counselling when leaving the hospital. Young mothers to victims of rape and other violence need advice. This is a forgotten fact in Sri Lanka", he said. "But the `Women in Need' organisation has opened counselling desks in a few hospitals. This is definitely a good start".

"Also centres in police stations might help to reduce the rush in courts. If a police officer is trained properly he can settle a dispute at the complaints desk itself without having the case being called to courts", he said.

"The Professional Association has put forward a Bill to Parliament to change archaic laws and implement new ones. The Bill known as the `The National Counselling Services Council Act', pertains to areas such as the necessity to register counsellors, maintaining, training and teaching standards and the conduct of the counsellors among other issues".

Standards

"The Government should set up an authoritative Board which will have the power to investigate new counselling centres, the standards of conduct, implement a set of regulations to be followed, look into professional discipline and raise standards", he said. The President of the National Institute of Professional Counsellors sees a very bright future for the counselling profession, if the necessary legislation is passed in Parliament. The Institute is working hard to expand its services to the public with awareness programs and free counselling to school children as well as university students.

The Institute conducts mass awareness programs in factories, technological institutes, schools on topics like, 'How to be a happy family', 'How to cope with exam pressures', 'How to combat stress', 'How to understand your children better'. The Sith Saviya John Guire Memorial Counselling Centre offers free counselling to schools and children on Saturday. And also private counselling to adults during the week.

Professor Ranawaka is also a consultant and advisory figure for the Education Ministry and the Ministry of Youth Affairs. A Post Graduate Diploma in Education and Career Counselling for teachers is conducted with the aim of strengthening education counselling. Also it helps teachers to advise the youth on job hunting and developing their skills. Psychology and counselling are newly emerging fields in this country that may attract those who see only the profit in the practice.

This field needs more awareness and publicity for our country could do with the benefits of counselling the depressed and downtrodden. Suicide rates are sky high and people need an outlet to release their frustrations. The Government should seriously seek to protect this field from those with profit in mind and applaud those who really want to make the difference.

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