Discuss stages of counselling process.

Counselling is continuous process. It involves following steps:

1. Getting Started: It is decided as to the frequency with which the counsellor and the client will meet, the times they will interact, when it is anticipated that the relation will end.

2. Introductory Talk: It entails general conversation about their lives, then the counsellor works towards specifies, it is quite likely that many people do not know what is troubling them until they being to talk. Also the client gives personal details.

3. Identifying the Issue: Different types of questions are asked by the counsellor like — How are you feeling at the moment? What did you do then? What happened when you did that?

4. Coping with Feelings: Four emotions commonly suppressed or bottled up are — Anger, Grief, Fear and Embarrassment. These emotions are to be accepted and allowed to be expressed. Catharsis should be allowed.

5. Identifying Possible Solutions: The counsellor helps in dealing and coping with help of 'brainstorming' It helps generate as many solutions and come up with an obvious answer.

6. Agreeing on a Plan: The goal is identified and also the steps which will lead towards it. A practical plan of action is thought of which is reasonable and achievable.

7. Implementing the Plan: The client does it independently, with counsellor's support.

Thus, we see that counselling is just a helping process by which the client comes with a plan of action with the help of a counsellor. The success of counselling depends on certain characteristics of the counsellor.