Question 1.

The difference between professional counselling and customary counselling

Professional counseling is a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals,

families, and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals.
Counselors work with clients on strategies to overcome obstacles and personal challenges that
they are facing. On the other hand the concept of customary counseling is rooted in traditional
systems of knowledge and sociocultural values, customs and practices, and it promotes a
collective approach to problem identification, resolution, and management (Alloy, 2005).

The difference between customary counselling and professional counselling is that customary
counselling is also referred to as traditional counselling while professional counselling is called
modern counselling. Another difference is that in professional counselling counselors go for
training in order to obtain the qualification and certificates for being counselors while in
customary counselling counselors do not obtain any formal qualification. Counselors in
customary counseling are elders who know the tradition and customs of a certain culture of a
certain group of people. Neukrug (2015) says, customary counseling is beset by cultural nuances:
it reflects a mirror of the society in which it is offered, and it has always been part of the human
experience since ancient times. Most people globally practice some forms of customary
counseling, based on their sociocultural context, and the nature of presenting problems. It is in
the context of this understanding that it becomes imperative to promote and strengthen
indigenous approaches of traditional counseling that are responsive to the social life and
expectations of the local people. While in professional counselling certain codes of ethics guide
counselors on how to carry out their job as counselors.

Customary counseling applies indigenous forms of helping people experiencing various problem
situations, and those that wish to make a transitional commitment, such as initiation at puberty,
or marriage, or are aggrieved through loss of a beloved one, due to physical illness,
psychosomatic dysfunction, or cardiac failure, injury, or accident. Forms of traditional
counseling refer to the various methods or approaches used by traditional counselors during the
process of their interaction with clients in a culturally acceptable environment, using appropriate
interventions that are tailored to meet their needs, expectations, and aspirations. The commonly
practiced traditional counseling approaches or methods are: marriage counseling, pastoral
counseling, adherence counseling, initiation counseling, family counseling, community
counseling, and bereavement counseling. While professional counselling on the other hand does
not use indigenous forms.

Question 2. Issues that would be considered psychosocial concerns in customary counselling.

Major psychosocial issues in traditional counselling includes family problems, depression,

anxiety, substance abuse, sexual abuse, and violence. Women were more likely to have suffered
violence while many of the men had problems dealing with their own aggression toward others.
Women with depressive symptoms were more likely than other women to report substance
abuse, financial problems, sexual abuse, anxiety, and physical problems. Implications for
training and practice are discussed. marital disputes, physical illness, relationships, financial
related, witchcraft (Bailey, 1993).

Question 3. Definition of psychosocial counselling.

According to Bailey (1993) Psychosocial counseling is a service provided by a skilled

professional counselor to an individual, family, or group for the purpose of improving well-
being, alleviating distress, and enhancing coping skills.

Question 4. The theory adopted by professional counselling and why.

Weston (2008) says, Psychodynamic counseling is probably the most well-known counseling
theory. Rooted in Freudian theory, this type of counseling involves building strong therapist-
patient alliances. The goal is to aid clients in developing the psychological tools needed to deal
with complicated feelings and situations (Weston, 2008).

Psychodynamic theory has several strengths that account for its continued relevance in modern
psychological thinking. First, it accounts for the impact of childhood on adult personality and
mental health. Second, it explores the innate drives that motivate our behavior. It’s in this way
that psychodynamic theory accounts for both sides of the nature/nurture debate. On the one hand,
it points to the way the unconscious mental processes people are born with influence their
thoughts, feelings, and behavior. On the other, it emphasizes the influence of childhood
relationships and experiences on later development.
References

Alloy, B. (2005). Abnormal Psychology: Current Perspectives. New York: McGraw Hill.

Bailey, R. (1993). Practical Counselling Skills. Oxford: Winslow.

Neukrug, E. S. (Ed.). (2015). The SAGE Encyclopedia of Theory in Counseling and

Psychotherapy. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.

Weston. D. (2008). The scientific Legacy of Sigmund Freud. The Guiford Press.