Counselors help people choose and take the best course of action in a bad situation, by dealing with their emotions. Counselors usually specialise in an area such as relationships, drug addiction or family problems.
MAIN TASKS
listening to and questioning clients to assess their situation. This includes encouraging clients to talk about themselves, what is happening, and what they would like happen
responding to clients immediately and/or after some research
discussing changes that could be made, how they could be made, and the consequences of those changes
supporting clients in making decisions and taking the necessary steps to actualise these decisions
referring clients to medical specialists where necessary
researching areas of interest
PREFERRED PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES AND SKILLS
Counselors should be skilled in analysing and evaluating
human behaviour. They should be quite intuitive and enjoy
communicating with and helping people. Consellors need to
keep positive and professional when dealing with patients.
Sound research skills are important, as is a good understanding
of human behaviour and development, relationships, and various
cultures and lifestyles. Good Counselors will keep up-to-date
with counselling theories and techniques. They should also
be in the loop on social trends and issues in order to relate
to their clients. Persistence and patience will always come
in handy.
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED
No institution of higher learning in Malaysia offers a degree
or diploma in counselling, though counselling may be offered
as part of broader qualifications such as a degree in psycology.
Most Counselors attend short courses offered by NGOs and
government departments. Previous experience as a social
worker is useful, as is any sort of work that involves helping
or caring for people.