Counselling and social challenges

L H Thilakarathne

Counselling plays an important role in minimizing and preventing the social problems and issues seen in Sri Lanka at present, and also in personality development and re-establishment of mental conditions of the community. Increasing crime rate, alcohol and drug addiction, increasing family problems and breakdown of family relationships, increasing suicidal attempts, neglecting elders and increasing child abuse are few of the prominent social problems seen in society today.

Counselling

Counselling is a psychological process of empowering an individual. It concentrates on bringing out the potential power within the individual to deal with the mental difficulties he faces during expected and unexpected incidents of his daily life and on personality development, preventing psychological imbalances and using scientific processes in giving psychological treatment when necessary. At any time of one's life, the self-awareness needed to take more productive decisions, esteem and confidence of any person can be gained by counselling.

Introduction of a developmental approach for an individual or a group, to move from negativity to positivity is also done by this. A professional counsellor possesses the capability to eliminate the obstacles with the help of psychological techniques.

Benefits of Counselling

Counselling can be used to minimize and prevent mental, emotional or behavioural problems, not only of an individual but also of the family or other groups. Its benefits can be listed as follows:

* Treatment
* Prevention
* Personal development
* Rehabilitation
* Promotion of well being

Fields of Counselling

As counselling is a psychosocial intervention and is effective during any individual or social problem, the field of counselling is extended as to gain the above-mentioned benefits. Counselling field is also divided as psychological counselling, family counselling, education counselling, career counselling and also as spiritual or therapeutic or treatment etc.

Counselling profession

The basic education must be developed on a psychological basis. And as much as the theoretical knowledge and counselling skills training, it is essential for a professional counsellor to develop supportive human qualities. The skills used in counselling consist of special skills which go beyond basic communication skills and therapeutic counselling skills. The formal discussions are not only of a scientific basis but also built up with the contribution of artistic and creative approaches. These are self-help processes which are organized for the client, building up the external environment to deal with their problem or to release their emotions. Often these discussions alone become a treatment approach. This is not about giving a solution to the problem or about giving advice, not about telling the client what to do. This is helping the client to reach something beyond that by establishing a human relationship.

Counselling and code of ethics

Apart from the humane qualities such as self-awareness, human respect, integrity, honesty and modesty, concreteness and gentleness, a code of ethics ensures a responsible professionalism and the security of the client.

Respecting the client's privacy, protecting the confidentiality, making the client-counselor relationship a professional relationship and not a personal one, not compelling the client in selection and decision-making, not giving hopes and not taking the responsibilities of the client should be followed by the counsellors. It is the counsellor's responsibility to engage in personal habits without jeopardizing his profession, not to have conflicts with his colleagues, to respect seniority and also to develop his skills, knowledge, gather information to be used when necessary and to be modest about his work.

Government institution for Counselling

The Counseling services are provided free of charge by the following institutions:

*Counselling Service centres in Divisional Secretariats where counselling officers and Social Services officers who have completed Counselling Diploma TP: No. 0112877375/380

* Counselling centres by Sri Lanka Women's Bureau: 0112827068

* Yowun Mithuro Counselling Centre of National Youth Centre: 0112850990

* Students Counselling Centres conducted in schools by Education Ministry: 0112785150

* Counselling Centres at family judicial in Judicial Service Commission: 0112433119

Non Government institution for counselling

* Alokaya Counselling Centres of Family Association: 0112584203

* Women in need Counselling Service: 0114718585

* Sahanaya - National Mental Health Council: 0112685960

* Sith Sawiya Psychological Institute: 0115367489

* Sahana Sevana Counselling Service, Hekiththa, Wattala: 0112942655

* Sahana Medura Counselling Services, Colombo/ Kandy: 0112235359/0812201586

In addition to these, Social Services Ministry has started a 24 hour mobile counselling service. To connect with this service insert your district code after 0715380.

Eg:

Colombo District: 0715380011

Ratnapura District: 0715380045

Some of the main Government and Non Government Counselling institutions are mentioned above and in addition to that be aware of the institutions and the organizations that provide counseling services in your area and get the service of a professional counselor succeed in your life's challenges.

The writer is National Counselling Centre Director, Social Services Ministry