Counseling & Education
Objectives
• At the end of the module, you will be able to:
• Describe counseling
• Distinguish the stage of behavior change the mother/caregiver is in
• Perform the different skills necessary for counseling to be
successful
• Demonstrate the steps in counseling in different situations
Counseling
• Defined as giving advice and support to the caregiver and
other people concerned, to help them deal with problems and
make important decisions regarding nutritional conditions of
children less than five years old.
• Does not refer to counseling as professional guidance of the
individual by utilizing psychological methods especially in
collecting case history data, using various techniques of the
personal interview, and testing interests and aptitudes.
Key Concepts
• The mother/caregiver is a vital part of the recognition,
monitoring and treatment of a child with MAM and SAM.
• The healthcare worker should be well-equipped in counseling to
ensure that the messages are delivered across and the
procedures are properly done.
Session 1.
Stages of Behavior Change
Objective:
At the end of the session, you will be able to describe and distinguish the stages of
behavior change the mother and/or caregiver is/are in regarding the care of the child
with severe acute malnutrition.
Stages of Behavior
Change
Session 2.
Counseling Skills
Objectives:
At the end of the session, you will be able to describe the different skills
necessary for counseling to be successful:
• Establishing rapport
• Active listening
• Asking the right questions
• Giving advice
• Ensuring understanding
• Helping the mother formulate a plan and/or solution
• Breaking the bad news
Skills for Establishing Rapport
• Be friendly and respectful
• Speak in a gentle voice
• Talk to the mother/caregiver and the whole family, if necessary
• Explain the reason for talking to her (e.g. why you are doing a home visit)
Skills for Asking and Listening
• Ask open-ended questions rather than closed-ended questions
• Show that you are listening
▪Body language
▪Eye contact
▪Reflect back
▪Empathize
▪Do not use judgmental words
Skills for Giving Relevant Information
• Accept or acknowledge what the woman thinks or feels
• Give a little, relevant information at a time based on the present
situation
oTell a story
oMake suggestions instead of commands
oGive information in short sentences and use simple language
Skills for Checking Understanding
• Check understanding using open-ended questions
• Praise when appropriate
Skills for Helping Mother Formulate
Solutions to the Problem
• Discuss what the mother, caregiver and the family plan
to do
• Together, try to solve any problems the mother, the
caregiver or the family have in adopting a behavior
Breaking the Bad News
• Sometimes it is necessary to relay bad news (e.g. worsening
condition that needs referral, death)
• How you give the news will affect their acceptance
• Use non-verbal communication
o Be kind and gentle
o Allow the mother to react in her own way
o If the mother is sitting down, sit down with her
o Touch her appropriately
o Do not leave the mother alone
Breaking the Bad News
• Use verbal skills
o Use simple non-technical terms
o Give her time to ask questions
o Speak softly
o Respect her cultural beliefs and customs
o Ask if there is anyone near the hospital/clinic who can be with
her
o Express regret
Summary
• Definition of counseling
• Stages of behavior change in the caregiver
• Different skills necessary for counseling to be successful
• Steps in counseling in different situations
