Counselling Around the World
Articles from the Winter 2010 issue of the Journal of Counseling and Development
The Trajectory of Counseling in China: Past, Present, and Future Trends (page 4)
The Development of Professional Counseling in Botswana (page 9)
School Counseling in Lebanon: Past, Present and Future (page 13)
Counseling in Malaysia: History, Current Status and Future Trends (page 18)
Professional Counseling in Romania: An Introduction (page 23)
Counseling in Italy (page 28)
Counseling in Mexico: History, Current Identity, and Future Trends (page 33)
Fortid, Nutid, Fremtid (Past, Present, Future): Professional Counseling in Denmark (page 38)
Schools have different ways of guiding the students . They all have their different strategies in helping the students to grow maturely. Many individuals and families are seeking professional help to deal with the trauma of life in a fallen world. If you or someone you love are experiencing a particularly trying time, maybe it’s time to consider seeking help. As you analyze your situation it may be helpful to consider some important points.
People typically enter counseling because they are hurting, frustrated, or feeling overwhelmed by a problem. In most cases, difficult circumstances drive the felt need for counseling. In my experience, most of these circumstances are based in wounded relationships between husbands and wives and parents and children. And, of course, one or more persons in these relationships may be experiencing intrapersonal difficulties, including mood disorders like depression and anxiety, addictions, or situational stressors like work or school.
As we become more informed about integrative care for the body, mind, and spirit, and how each part of us affects our total health, I believe mental health counseling will only increase. The goal of counseling will often vary, and experienced counselors will tailor their approaches to their clients’ needs. But, it’s important for us to understand that different schools of therapy have different end goals.
In a world filled with both challenge and opportunity, counseling can be a logical choice for individuals, couples, and families who wish to grow to the next level of faith and well-being. The Bible speaks of the “safety” that exists among counselors.6 Perhaps it’s time to seek the safe harbor of counseling, and make a few repairs before continuing your life’s journey.
There is always the danger of stereotyping clients and of confusing other influences, especially race and socioeconomic status, with cultural influences. The most obvious danger in counseling is to oversimplify the client's social system by emphasizing the most obvious aspects of their background. Individual clients are influenced by race, ethnicity, national origin, life stage, educational level, social class, and sex roles. Counselors must view the identity and development of culturally diverse people in terms of multiple, interactive factors, rather than a strictly cultural framework. One of the most important differences for multicultural counseling is the difference between race and culture. Differences exist among racial groups as well as within each group.Although it is impossible to change backgrounds, counselors can avoid the problems of stereotyping and false expectations by examining their own values and norms, researching their clients' backgrounds, and finding counseling methods to suit the clients' needs. Counselors cannot adopt their clients' ethnicity or cultural heritage, but they can become more sensitive to these things and to their own and their clients' biases.