Counsellor education

Even though counselling is as old as Psychology in India, counselling education at postgraduate level and counsellors working in diverse settings are of recent origin. Not much is known about the problems, difficulties and challenges the counsellors face. The current study is done within the qualitative framework, with exploratory study design for which 14 participants who were working in different settings like school, college, employee assistant programme (EAP), family counselling centre, psychiatric rehabilitation centre, de-addiction centre, private practice, multiple settings, counselling centre, Christian religious setting, HIV/Aids centre were chosen through purposive sampling and were interviewed. The audio-recorded interviews were transcribed and analyzed using qualitative content analysis and the emerging themes were noted. The study showed among others, that the counsellors face several problems, difficulties and challenges like, lack of awareness of counselling among people, inadequate pay, job insecurity, absence of a professional body to regulate counselling, lack of network of counsellors and mental health professionals for seeking supervision and consultation, and so on. Implications for counsellor training, professional development are discussed.

Counseling practicum is an integral part of the counselor education curriculum and therefore requires careful planning, implementation, and evaluation. In this article, the researchers present the relevance of counseling practicum in counselor education programmes in Nigeria. The researchers explore the variations in field placement approaches and practicum duration globally. The researchers also further an understanding of the skills, knowledge and competencies expected from and for the trainee-counselors during the practicum exercise; discussing extensively how the practicum may assist trainees to develop professional skills and competencies. The researchers then advance key performance criteria that may be employed in gauging the success of every counseling practicum exercise. The researchers conclude by recommending, inter alia, that counseling practicum programme should be given the primacy it deserves in the counselor education programme and that such importance should reflect in the quality of supervision, stringency in entry requirement and performance evaluation.

In the current world, working with immigrants and refugees presents unique clinical and case management challenges that may go beyond standard training offered in most counsellor education courses on diversity. This applied conceptual article examines some of the barriers to working with immigrants and refugees. It also discusses approaches to including a focus on immigrants and refugees in counsellor education programs and courses as well as suggestions for counsellors working with these members of the community. In addition, an advocacy and social justice mandate to provide exposure to and teaching about clinical work with these often overlooked members of society is presented. résumé Dans le monde actuel, le fait de travailler avec des populations d'immigrants et de réfugiés comporte des difficultés considérables de gestion clinique et de cas qui peu-vent aller bien au-delà de la formation standard offerte aux conseillers dans le cadre de la plupart de leurs cours de sensibilisation à la diversité. Cet article conceptuel appliqué permet d'examiner certains des obstacles que comporte le travail auprès des immigrants et des réfugiés. On y discute aussi différentes approches visant à mettre l'accent sur les populations d'immigrants et de réfugiés dans le cadre des cursus et des cours destinés aux conseillères et conseillers, ainsi que des suggestions à celles et ceux qui oeuvrent auprès de ces groupes. On y présente également un mandat de défense des droits et de justice sociale qui doit prévaloir lorsqu'il s'agit d'exposer et d'enseigner le travail clinique auprès de ces membres de la société trop souvent ignorés.

The following are affirmative declarations required by the College for the practice of counselling. The College has authorized individual qualified counsellors, other Professional Counselling Associations, and organizations to use this Code of Ethics and modified versions as a requirement for their members or professional staff.