COUNSELING FOR GROWING MINDS

 

A five year old child was abandoned by her parents and placed in a residential facility

for neglected and abused children. On one occasion, the caretaker of the institution became concerned when the child stayed up all night crying and vomiting. They brought her to the hospital the next morning. A pediatrician found nothing physically wrong with the child and referred her to me for mental health services. After introducing myself to the child, I asked her how she was feeling. She sat down put her head between her legs, and began to cry. It was most deep sorrowful sobbing I had ever heard. I leaned forward and gently touched her head, trying to comfort her. I could feel her pain. She looked up at me and appeared frightened and alone. I reached over and held her hand and told her I wanted to help her feel better. My heart reached out to her every day. She nodded in agreement. I worked with her in play therapy for several weeks. During that time, her depression gradually lifted.

Counseling is professional services provided to any individual who is facing a problem and needs help to overcome a problem, like the girl child mentioned above. This process of counseling helps individuals to find solutions to a problem and also helps in overall development of an individual.  Counseling is a process that involves two people – one is the counselor and other is a person wanting help. It enables a person to gain self understanding and develop self acceptance.

 Counseling is conducted with persons who are considered to be functioning well and those who are having more serious problems. It deals with wellness, personal growth, career and pathological concerns and meets the needs of a wide spectrum of people. They work in the areas that involve relationships. These areas include intra and interpersonal concerns related finding meaning and adjustment in such settings as schools, families and careers. Clients seem by counselors have developmental or situational concerns that require helped in regard to adjustment and remediation. Counselors focus on their client goals.

 Thus it involves both choice and change. In some cases ‘counseling is rehearsal for action’