Counseling can contribute to personal development.
Counseling is a term that has different uses according to the context and the region. The notion comes from advice , another word with several meanings.
A piece of advice , from the Latin consilium , can be a suggestion or recommendation . Likewise, the concept can refer to a collegiate body that is responsible for the management of an entity or that provides advice.
Taking this into account, we can list different meanings of counseling. It may be a training or accompaniment process that aims to promote a change in behavior or personal growth ; of all the offices or areas of a council (as a body); or the position or role of advisor. In Spain , on the other hand, the ministries are the divisions, portfolios or departments 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 various types of counseling.
It can be said that counseling consists of an exchange between the counselor and the person who consults . In an environment of trust, empathy and confidentiality , the counselor exercises active listening and provides information and support to those who require support. Sometimes, counseling is given through an organization or entity that is also known, precisely, as counseling.
Mental health counseling , for example, is a modality that seeks to contribute to emotional well-being. It can be understood as psychological counseling, although it is not considered psychotherapy.
This counseling can contribute to addressing psychological disorders, anxiety and other problems when they are not serious. While counseling focuses on a specific, current difficulty, psychotherapy (whether individual therapy or group therapy) focuses on persistent and serious problems.
In the health field there are also other types of counseling. Sexual and reproductive health counseling , to mention one case, offers advice so that people can decide with information and autonomy 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 is counseling to prevent substance abuse.
Telephone support
Sometimes, counseling is a service provided through telephone support . This is a free service provided by the State and certain non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to provide an immediate response in emergency situations.
This telephone counseling usually aims at psychological containment . They are usually staffed by trained operators to assist in stress management and conflict resolution. In this way, they can help people suffering from depression and provide support in crises.
There is counseling that favors behavioral interventions.
Importance of counseling
As you can see, counseling is very important in multiple areas and situations. Mental health counseling can help prevent addiction and improve self-esteem.
Marriage counseling , meanwhile, can be useful to overcome family problems in combination with couples therapy. Online or telephone counseling, meanwhile, is key to crisis intervention .
Many counseling services also contribute to self-care . Different counseling techniques can serve to raise people's awareness 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 constituted as a care strategy since, applied systematically, it generates a positive impact on the behaviors and attitudes of people with problematic alcohol consumption. alcohol. That is why PAHO offers courses so that health professionals can specialize in this type of counseling.
In Argentina , the Municipality of Salta provides counseling to pregnant women in its network of Community Integration Centers. In this way, various issues associated with breastfeeding, feeding babies and other topics of interest are explained to future mothers.
The concept in Spain
In Spain , the ministries are the areas into which the governments of each autonomous community can be divided . A department, in this way, is equivalent to a secretariat, a direction 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 Sports ; 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 Department 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 keep in mind that the specific name depends on the region, regardless of whether the areas fulfill similar functions and responsibilities. In Catalonia , in this framework, the Generalitat is divided into departments and not into ministries. This is how the Department of Health and the Department of Justice, Rights and Memory exist, for example.