Counseling can contribute to personal development.
Counseling is a term that has different uses depending on the context and region. The notion comes from the word “consejo ,” another word with several meanings.
A council , from the Latin consilium , can be a suggestion or recommendation . The concept can also refer to a collegiate body that is in charge of the management of an entity or that provides advice.
With this in mind, we can list different meanings of counselling. It can be a training or support process that aims to promote a change in behaviour or personal growth ; of the set of offices or areas of a council (as a body); or of the position or role of counsellor. In Spain , on the other hand, counselling is the division, portfolio or department of the autonomous governments.
Types of counseling
If we think of counseling as an action aimed at an enriching interaction in a symbolic sense through guidance or advice , we can recognize different types of counseling.
Counselling can be said to be an exchange between the counsellor and the person seeking counselling . In an environment of trust, empathy and confidentiality , the counsellor listens actively and provides information and support to the person who requires help. Sometimes, counselling is provided through an organisation or entity that is also known as a counsellor.
Mental health counseling , for example, is a modality that seeks to contribute to emotional well-being. It can be understood as psychological advice, although it is not considered psychotherapy.
This type of counseling can help address psychological disorders, anxiety, and other issues when they are not serious. While counseling is geared toward a specific, current problem, psychotherapy (whether individual therapy or group therapy) focuses on persistent, serious problems.
There are other types of counselling in the health field as well. Sexual and reproductive health counselling , to mention one example, offers advice so that people can make informed and autonomous decisions about their sexuality and reproduction.
An educational counseling or career counseling , meanwhile, provides educational advice or vocational guidance. In the religious context, pastoral counseling is the spiritual help that the pastor provides to the faithful of his community.
There are counseling services to prevent substance abuse.
Telephone assistance
Counselling is sometimes provided by telephone . This is a free service provided by the State and certain non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to provide an immediate response in emergency situations.
This telephone counseling is usually aimed at psychological support . It is usually attended by operators trained to assist in stress management and conflict resolution. In this way, they can help people suffering from depression and provide support in crisis.
There are counseling agencies that promote behavioral interventions.
Importance of counseling
As you can see, counseling is very important in many areas and situations. Mental health counseling can help prevent addictions and improve self-esteem.
Marital counseling , meanwhile, can be helpful in overcoming family problems in combination with couples therapy. Online or telephone counseling, meanwhile, is key for crisis intervention .
Many counseling services also contribute to self-care . Various counseling techniques can help people become more aware and instill healthy and responsible habits.
We can appreciate the relevance of counseling through real examples. The Pan American Health Organization ( PAHO ) is an entity that maintains that brief counseling should be established as a care strategy since, applied systematically, it generates a positive impact on the behaviors and attitudes of people with problematic alcohol consumption. That is why PAHO offers courses so that health professionals can specialize in this type of counseling.
In Argentina , the Municipality of Salta offers counseling to pregnant women in its network of Community Integration Centers. In this way, future mothers are explained various issues related to breastfeeding, feeding babies and other topics of interest.
The concept in Spain
In Spain , the ministries are the areas into which the governments of each autonomous community can be divided . A ministries, therefore, is equivalent to a secretariat, a department or a ministry in other state administrations.
If we focus on the Community of Andalusia , we will find the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development ; the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport ; the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mines ; and the Ministry of Educational Development and Vocational Training , among others. The Community of Madrid has the Ministry of Health ; the Ministry of Digitalization ; and the Ministry of the Presidency, Justice and Local Administration , to name a few offices, while La Rioja has divisions such as the Ministry of Social Services and Public Governance and the Ministry of Health and Social Policies .
It is important to note that the specific name depends on the region, even though the areas fulfil similar functions and responsibilities. In Catalonia , within this framework, the Generalitat is divided into departments and not into ministries. Thus, there are the Department of Health and the Department of Justice, Rights and Memory , for example.