Counselling Psychologist

Overview

Who is Counselling Psychologist?

Counselling Psychologists help people to cope with mental health issues, emotional problems and challenging situations. They address a range of mental health concerns related to the emotional, social, as well as vocational and work-related functioning of the individual. These can include marital and family problems, job-related issues, stress management, adjustment problems to name a few. Counselling psychologists are equipped with the knowledge of psychological concepts and techniques to assist their clients to improve their sense of well-being and deal with distress in an adaptive manner. The efforts of a counselling psychologist are geared towards promoting positive growth through remediation as well as prevention and psycho-education methods. As with all other branches of psychology, counselling psychologists also have to continually work towards updating and upgrading themselves through continued professional development and keeping abreast of emerging research. 

Typical day at work

What does Counselling Psychologist do?

Do you want to help individuals deal with their mental health and life issues? You might wish to think about a career as a counselling psychologist. A counselling psychologist works in the field of behavioural health, assisting patients with emotional and mental health concerns to improve and reduce their distress. Counseling psychologists bring humanity to the field of psychology. All of the world's neuropsychological research would be useless without the efforts of these dedicated individuals. Counseling psychologists do a variety of additional things besides counselling, such as teaching and consulting for professional organisations. They may also help with career growth and research. In addition, vocational development is covered by counselling psychology.

Among the many responsibilities of a counselling psychologist, the following are the typical obligations:

• Establish rapport with the client and form a connection to ensure a collaborative working relationship.
• Build and strengthen the therapeutic alliance with the client.
• Collaborate with the client to establish the goals of the counselling process and discuss their expectations.
• Encourage clients to open up about their experiences and feelings by using various counselling techniques.
• Develop a plan for the counselling sessions to achieve the defined educational, personal, or social development goals.
• Undertake psychoeducation sessions with the client and/or their caregivers when necessary.
• Maintain documentation of each case using session notes, progress notes, assessment data.
• Monitor the client progress through the sessions.
• Receive regular supervision for professional development.

Abilities & aptitude needed

What are the skills, abilities & aptitude needed to become Counselling Psychologist?

For one to excel as a counselling psychologist, one must have a strong sense of compassion and the willingness to work for the betterment of others. Additionally, active listening skills and sharp observation skills are necessary to function effectively as a counselling psychologist. Excellent communication skills are of utmost importance for a counselling psychologist to be able to establish a strong therapeutic alliance with the client and assist them in dealing with their issues. Owing to the nature of the job, one must possess the necessary mental stamina to handle the psychological demands of this job and deal with the resulting emotional exhaustion and burnout that frequently occurs as a result. Extensive knowledge of various theoretical frameworks is essential for one to function effectively as a counsellor. Being aware of the ethical guidelines for practise as well as knowledge of relevant state and national laws is a must for all counsellors. 

Courses

Which course I can pursue?