People choose to become councilors for a huge variety of reasons. Many it is just part of the personal journey and they have no intention of ever becoming a professional counselor. Anxiety councelling is a specialization that only a few choices. It requires a depth of knowledge and understanding that is more than a typical counselor is willing or able to learn. For example, Counsellors are not qualified to deal with bereavement. These are issues that most adults will deal with in their own way.
Counselors have the added responsibility of working with those that have psychological problems that are beyond their immediate control. They can advise a person on the best course of action when they realize that they have made a mistake, but they cannot force them to change. Counselors must be ready to offer encouragement and support, but they must also be realistic about the fact that they cannot make a person act or act differently.
If someone has a psychological problem that is psychological in nature then that may also require specific training to deal with that problem. If an anxiety problem is beyond a counselor’s immediate control then they should consider applying their training to the problem.
Counselors need to be able to communicate in a manner that is clear and straightforward to those they are dealing with. They need to know how to remain calm when faced with difficult and uncomfortable situations.
Anxiety counselors must be able to convey an overall sense of optimism and believe that they are making a difference and can help to save lives. Many counselors do not have the background knowledge and need to learn that to help them to understand how to handle a situation.
What counselors should know :
The background knowledge and training that counsellors need to be able to help their clients are wide-ranging. Most counselors that are working as professional counselors should be following up with individuals that have contacted them regarding suicide attempts, depression, or even a drug or alcohol problem. There is a wide range of counseling techniques that can be applied to many problems.
These techniques can include interpersonal, relationship, crisis intervention, group, individual, marriage or family therapy, sex therapy, relationship enhancement, grief and loss, anger management, trauma therapy, adjustment therapy, family therapy, psychodrama, relational dynamics, trauma facilitation, relationship facilitation, sex facilitation, and family facilitation.
Even when counseling is done individually it can be helpful to apply some of the techniques that are applied in group sessions. Also, there are many different roles that can be performed by people that are helping others to live a healthier and more fulfilled life.
Counselors need to keep in mind that if they give someone medication to help them to be able to live a more healthy lifestyle then that does not mean that they will automatically be able to avoid suffering from some of the effects of the medication. However, it does mean that they will have been able to be responsible in how they have been handling a situation.
Counselors need to be careful not to take the attitude of “You’re weak if you cannot handle what you’re feeling”. That would be a disservice to the person who is having difficulties in coping or would be an insult to their struggles.
It’s great to get support from another individual who understands the challenges that they are facing, but at the same time it’s important to understand how you are being affected as well.
* Be careful about judgment if you choose not to apply any of the techniques when the person is struggling with a difficult situation. There are no guarantees in life, but many times there is a chance that you will be helping someone that is already having difficulty.
* It is also important to avoid saying “It’s your fault, or I could not help that you are struggling with what you’re struggling with.” That would be a disarranger to what they are experiencing.
Counselors need to be careful not to “push” people to continue suffering with what they’re experiencing. It’s also important for counselors to be aware of their own responses and reactions. They should check their own attitudes and reactions when they’re with someone struggling with an issue.
Often, it is better to be realistic and accept the challenges of a situation rather than try to “fix” the situation. Counselors also need to be aware of how they’re being portrayed when they talk to family members or community members.
* Remember that you’re not responsible for what the person is feeling, but you are responsible for what you’re doing.
It is important to be aware of the tendency of some people to blame others, that is, others for a problem they are having. Always keep in mind that a counselor is not responsible for the actions of others.
Always remember that a counselor is not responsible for the behavior of a person that they’re working with.
Finally, it’s important to think about what you’re going to say when you meet with someone who is feeling down or struggling. Think about what you want to communicate to them and consider how you’re going to express that. For instance, you may wish to offer a sympathetic ear and hope.
* We have decided to accept the fact that we are not going to live up to the standard that we set for ourselves.
