LECTURE TWO

COMPONENTS, PRINCIPLES AND QUALITIES OF A GOOD COUNSELLOR

2.1 Introduction
The lecture presents the various components and principles of Guidance and counseling. The
qualities or characteristics of an effective counsellor are also discussed.

2.2 Objectives
At the end of this lecture, the learner should be able to:

1. Identify and describe the various components of Guidance and counseling

2. Explain the various principles of Guidance and Counseling
3. List and describe the various qualities of a good Counsellor

2.3 Components of Guidance and Counseling in schools

G & C addresses several areas referred to as components. These include;

1. Personal and social guidance

- Need guidance on how to interact with others who are different from them and on what is
socially acceptable without hindering personal development
2. Education guidance
- Helps learners make proper adjustments and choices relating to their education
3. Vocational/career guidance
- Makes learners aware of available opportunities, requirements and limitations bearing in
mind individual abilities and aspirations
4. Moral and religious and guidance
- Need to be guided on the acquisition of moral and religious values, attitudes and ethical
codes
5. Guidance on health and personal well being
- Need to be guides on appropriate ways and means of taking care of their personal health
and well being; e.g. etiquette, good eating habits and hygiene
6. Guidance on use of leisure
- Need guidance on how to use leisure in an enjoyable, appropriate, responsible and healthy
manner
- They should be guided into hobbies and co-curricula activities which promote good use
of leisure and development
7. Personal challenges
- As individuals, learners would be facing unique challenges so they need guidance on how
to cope with the same
8. Civic guidance
9. – they need to understand the governance of their country including their rights and
privileges
10. Disaster preparedness, Trauma Management and conflict resolution
- Need to be equipped with skills for responding to disasters such as fire, floods etc
- They also needs skills in conflict resolution which are very frequent in schools

2.4 PRINCIPLES OF GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING

 These are guidelines that should direct G & C in schools

These are:

1. Guidance is a service that should be made available to all pupils

2. The functions of guidance in a school should be clearly defined
3. Guidance should be given by people who have desirable qualities (role models)
4. There should be a well established programme specifying various major areas needing
guidance and giving a time frame
5. Guidance programme needs proper relationship and co-ordination of all personnel to
make it effective.
6. Guidance is a service that needs to be carried out with respect and dignity

2.5 QUALITIES/CHARACTERISTICS OF AN EFFECTIVE COUNSELLOR

For counselling to be effective, the counsellor needs to have the following basic
characteristics;

1. Congruence/Genuineness
According to Carl Rogers, congruence implies that the counsellor is:
a. “real” – meaning transparent
b. Open – meaning sincere i.e. in word and deed. This will be shown through display
of honesty and genuine interest in helping the client
c. Genuine – meaning integrated and authentic
d. At one with himself – meaning he is freely and deeply himself
e. Wary of facades ( pretences or appearances) – he must never hide behind masks or
defences
f. Able to express in words and actions an accurate reflection of inner feelings,
attitudes as well as beliefs. IOW he does not feel one thing and say the other.
When a counsellor accurately expresses inner feelings outwardly we say he has
internal consistency
g. Willing in proper circumstances to disclose his own difficulties
2. Confidentiality
- Whatever transpires in the sessions will be kept confidential
- Effective counsellors as a rule do not discuss clients even academically in public
3. Emotional stability
- Counsellors need to be emotionally stable in their dealings with their clients and always
act maturely
- Counsellors need to weigh their emotions and act appropriately in given situations e.g.
don’t cry just because the client is crying
- Our emotions need to be constantly checked so that our constant concern and endeavour
is for the growth of our clients.
- If we are too emotional, then we might fall victims of some relationships.
- Effective counsellors should not be swayed or governed by their emotions
4. Availability
- Knowing that the counsellor is reachable is good enough for most clients
- Is both physical and psychological (show that they are available and listening to the
clients)
5. Flexibility
- Flexibility helps in dealing with different types of clients
- Flexibility entails scheduling clients or making yourself available when needed and
respond promptly to emergencies e.g. suicide inclinations
6. Commitment
- Need to be ready to commit their personal time and do not consider time spent in
counselling as a waste
7. Trustworthiness
- Should be one who can be trusted by the client. This is critical in bringing about full
disclosure by the client.
8. Non-judgemental/objectivity
- Counsellors need to accept others as unique and able to help themselves.
- They should be able to help those who are different without imposing personal ideas and
values on them
- The counsellor should offer options giving merits and demerits but let the client make a
decision
9. Positive regard for the counselee
Effective counsellors need to communicate to their clients the belief that:
a. They care
b. Another person’s problems, feelings or confusions do not affect his dignity and
worth;
c. The one who seeks advice is the one that matters
- They should also experience and manifest a warm, positive, acceptance attitude toward
the clients.
10. Positive human qualities
- The counsellor would be more successful if he displays attractive personal qualities like
friendliness, tact, fairness and sense of humour.
- These qualities helps the client to relax
11. Unconditional positive Regard
- This means having no reservations in our regard for others
- One is not having conditions for accepting clients
12. Patience/tolerance
- If the counsellor is in a hurry, the client feels rushed
- Effective counsellors are not in a hurry to put words into the mouths of their clients
- Clients at times take long to communicate their problem and the counsellor needs to be
careful not to rush the client or show impatience
13. Observant
- Needs to keenly note a client’s behaviour especially the non-verbal messages which at
times are more reliable than verbal ones
14. Ability to restructure information
- When clients go for counselling, many of them are incoherent or uncoordinated in their
speech.
- The counsellor should be able to restructure the bits of information so that it is understood
by himself and the client
15. Empathy
Means;
a. Being continually selective as to your own feelings, values, beliefs, inner conflicts
and hurts and being able to communicate them in words and gestures
b. Feeling with the client
c. Being able to perceive the world as the client sees it; perceive the client as he sees
himself, lay a side all perceptions from external sources
16. Respectable
- Counsellor should be a role model that the client can emulate
17. Readiness to consult and research
- Should be willing to refer their clients to other clients who are specialized in certain areas
- Referrals would be necessary in the following instances;
a. The topic or problem of concern is beyond the counsellor’s level of competency
b. There is personality clash between client and counsellor and this is interfering with
counselling relationship
c. The client is a friend ( boyfriend, girlfriend, wife, husband or relative)
d. No signs of improvement can be detected after several sessions
e. The client requires medical attention or legal advice rather than counselling
f. The client stirs strong feelings of dislike or sexual arousal in counsellor;
g. The client is a child and the counsellor feels incompetent to deal with his case
18. A good listener
This is one of the most important qualities in a counsellor. The following behaviours
demonstrate attentive listening;

a. Ability to listen and demonstrate both verbally and non-verbally keen interest in
what is being said
b. Ability to interpret what feelings, words and gestures convey
c. Ability to resist interrupting with personal interpretations and attitude
d. Ability to refrain from showing both positive and negative emotions at what is
being said
e. Ability to respond in ways that will encourage the counselee to disclose the
problem completely
19. Firmness and understanding
20. Ability to communicate clearly and effectively
21. Creativity
22. Devotion and diligence
23. Honesty
24. Respect for other people and their views

2.5 Summary
 Components are different areas or issues that are addressed in Guidance and
counseling.
 As a helping services, guidance and counseling is guided by certain fundamental
principles such as clarity of goals, universal access and the counsellors adhering to
ethics and a code of conduct
 The counsellors must have specific qualities to function effectively such as
confidentiality, congruence and empathy

2.5 Learning Activities

1. Give the various components of Guidance and Counseling
2. Explain the various principles that guide Guidance and Counseling
3. Discuss the various qualities of an effective counsellor

2.6 Further Reading

McLeod, J. (1998). An Introduction to Counselling. Philadelphia: Open University Press.
Sutton, J. & Stewart, W. (2002). Learning to Counsel. London: How to Books Ltd.