Process

        For lots of people counseling is a mysterious process.  In many Asian cultures, there is lots of stigma and shame associated with counseling.  Most of the problems that people face in these cultures are dealt with within their families, friends, community   and religion. So counseling is a new concept and there are a lot of misconceptions about counseling. First of all,

• counselors are not a magic fix to all problems. 

• Counselors do not advice or force clients to do anything that the clients do not favor to do.  

• Counselors do not judge their clients and counseling process is not a punishment for wrong choices or actions in life. 

     

       Counselor’s help clients get what they want in a collaborative process. There is no secret recipe.  You can call them as partners until you have learnt to apply the skill learnt in the therapy room independently to other situations in your life.   Sixty Percent of the work is done by the clients. Actual therapy happens outside the therapy room.  Counselors make you aware of your beliefs, thoughts, choices and behaviors and provide feedback from what you have told them and help you evaluate your choices and help you see alternative solutions. 

         Big changes usually do not happen after the first session as the skills learnt have to be practiced outside the session to see the benefit. Clients should be a willing participant and should be able to share their thoughts, feelings and behavior.  Only clients knows what they want and determine what is right or wrong, good or bad within the context of their lives. They brings with them their socio-economic status, culture, family, career, religion and relationships.  Counselors are facilitators to help people understand themselves and is an empowering and positive experience.