COUNSELLING

Direct and Non-Direct Counselling: No Clear Solution for Counselling

[Writer's Institution]

Direct and Non-Direct Counselling: No Clear Solution for Counselling

Introduction

Counselling is considered to be a professional activity that uses the relationship between two individuals to help develop and make changes in an individual's life. Professional counsellors work within a set of guidelines which enables them to assist others in exploring and resolving problems of a personal, interpersonal, and intrapsychic level (Psychotherapy & Counseling Federation of Austrialia, 2013, p. nd). Counselling is a skill that can be obtained through knowledge and practise of ideas and theories. The method that a counsellor uses can be either direct (counsellor-centred) or non-direct (counselee-centred), however, a combination of both is most appropriate (United States Air Force Auxiliary, 2000, p. nd).

Body

Direct Approach

In the direct approach, the counsellor takes the initiative and carries most of the responsibility of identifying and resolving the problem. This approach has been used for an extensive amount of time and occurs when individuals who are facing the problem or personal crisis turn for guidance to those they consider to be more experienced or wiser. Also known as the problem solving approach, the counsellor spends extensive amount of time gathering important information aimed at discovering the problem and its root cause. This, at times, happens before the counselling session even begins. During the session, the problem is discussed with the counselee and they are rarely able to make suggestions or recommendations. However, this type of approach can at times, be tricky because it can interrupt the counselee's input (United States Air Force Auxiliary, 2000, p. nd)

Non-Direct Approach

The non-direct approach, which was developed by Dr. Carl Rogers, is counselee centred. In this approach, the counsellor's input is minimal, and techniques of acceptance and reflection are used to encourage the counselee to speak freely. During the session, the counsellor pays close attention to the attitudes and emotions associated with the problem, encouraging the counselees to make decisions, choose goals, and assume responsibilities for their decisions. In this type of approach, the counsellor must have confidence in the counselee's ability to work out the problem and thus is limited to the counselee's intelligence and ability. This approach can also be hindered by the willingness of the counselee to make a change in their lives (United States Air Force Auxiliary, 2000, p. nd).

Limitations

Both counselling methods have their shortcomings, and thus, during counselling, a counsellor should use a variety of techniques to approach the problem. The counsellor should ask a series of questions to assess how to best help the individual with their problem. Both direct and non-directive approaches take a simplistic route to resolving the problem. Through the direct approach, the counsellor asserts themselves to the extent that the counselee might not get an opportunity to express their opinions and may shut down. In the non-directive approach, the session is so counselee based that if the individual wishes not to help themselves, the counsellor's hands are tied and is only limited to that which the counselee wants to ...