Responsible

Parenthood
Responsible parenthood
 acceptance of the responsibility to
provide for their children’s mental,
physical, and spiritual growth, as well as
consideration of the possible effect on
quality of life for family and society
efforts should be made by parents and
the community to ensure that each child
enters the world with a healthy body and is
born into an environment conducive to the
realization of his or her full potential.
Counseling is a key component of family
planning services

What does every user of family planning

services have the right to expect?
Information: to understand the advantages and

availability of family planning

Access: to be able to obtain services, regardless
of race, creed, social status or lifestyle
Choice: to make decisions freely regarding
family planning and contraceptive
methods
Safety: to practice safe and effective family
planning
Privacy: access to a private space for receiving
counseling and services
Confidentiality: to be certain that any personal
information will be kept confidential
Dignity: to be treated with courtesy,
consideration and complete attention
Comfort: to feel comfortable when receiving
services
Continuity: to receive family planning services
and supplies at the times when they are
necessary
Opinion: to express points of view regarding the
services being offered
Family planning counseling
is defined as a continuous process that
you as the counselor provide to help
clients and people in your village make
and arrive at informed choices about the
size of their family
• knowledge of all available information
relevant to the choice or decision
• understanding possible side-effects
• advantages and disadvantages of each
method
• how to use the chosen method safely and
effectively

•.
What should family planning counselors be
able to do?
Create a comfortable atmosphere for family

planning users
Have respect for the values and attitudes of
users
Present information clearly
 Encourage the formulation of questions
Listen and observe attentively

Be impartial or neutral

Ask questions in a manner that encourages

clients to share information and feelings

Facilitate effective counselor-user interaction

Speak the language of the client

Special nature of counseling for family
planning
 You need to be respectful and welcoming
when sharing ideas, and demonstrate
commitment to the necessary values and
principles of family planning.
 encourage them to talk
 Do not ask them direct and judgmental
questions
 Always try to understand, and be sensitive
to, cultural and psychological factors
Steps in family planning counseling:
G  Greet the client respectfully.
A  Ask them about their family planning needs.
T  Tell them about different contraceptive
options and methods.
H  Help them to make decisions about choices
of methods.
E  Explain and demonstrate how to use the
methods.
R  Return/refer; schedule and carry out a return
visit and follow up
 The counselor may
• Ask questions
• Summarise
• Ask the client to try new
So that the client can
• Develop her/his own
thinking
• Hear her/his thoughts and
Know if she/he understood
• Release blocking emotion
such as unexpressed anger
or sadness.
 Counselors should not This will make the client

• Argue • Defensive
• Dwell on their own • Withdraw
difficulties
• Solve the problem for the • Dependant
client
• Avoid painful areas • Be frustrated
.
PRINCIPLES OF EFFECTIVE COUNSELLING
Principles to help assure effective counseling
_ Avoid giving advice only and do not impose your
personal values.
_ Listen to the a person
_ Help her to evaluate her own situation and behaviour
_ Work with her to identify possible solutions to the
problem(s)
_ Be client centered
_ Respect the person and encourage her ability to help
herself,
- trust in herself, and take responsibility for her actions
and decisions.
_ Emphasize their good qualities and potential.
_ Respect their rights as people.
_ Promote the exercise of their capacity to think and
make decisions.
_ Involve husband wherever the opportunity arises.
_ Maintain confidentiality and privacy, talk where no
one can see or hear you.
_ Ensure counseling on other referral services that is
available
Be a good counselor………