1. What is the helping relationship in counselling?
The helping relationship is described as a collaborative effort between a counsellor and
a client to solve a client's problem by using client assets, improving client skills, and
utilizing environmental resources to reduce client problems and improve client coping
skills. When the helping relationship is viewed as a constant throughout the assisting
process, it becomes easier to visualize the process from a developmental standpoint.
This progression is best understood as a restricted road whose boundaries are set by
the client’s resistance, fear and anxiety.
2. Why is counselling different to other relationships?
Counselling is primarily concerned with the growth, progress, and well-being of clients.
They strive to cultivate skills and competencies that will assist clients in developing and
maintaining a mental health regimen. The most significant difference between
counselling and other methods of counselling is the manner in which the counsellor
listens. This is due to the distinct mode of communication that occurs between the client
and the counsellor. Through listening carefully and respectfully, the counsellor has a
better understanding of the client's problems and can assist them in seeing things more
objectively or from a different viewpoint.
3. What is cultural empathy?
Cultural empathy is a person’s ability to connect with emotions, behaviors and thoughts
of people from various cultural backgrounds. This term refers to a counsellor’s
willingness to put themselves in the shoes of the client from a different culture in order
to consider their viewpoint. It is recognizing and appreciating the similarities and
differences of other cultures in relation to one’s own.
4. What is meant by ‘self-reference criterion’?
Self-reference criterion is defined as an unconscious reference to an individual’s
experiences, cultural values and knowledge as a basis for decision-making. Identifying
the appropriate course of action based on what an individual would usually say, do, or
feel under similar circumstances. This is characterized by failure to empathize with other
The helping relationship is described as a collaborative effort between a counsellor and
a client to solve a client's problem by using client assets, improving client skills, and
utilizing environmental resources to reduce client problems and improve client coping
skills. When the helping relationship is viewed as a constant throughout the assisting
process, it becomes easier to visualize the process from a developmental standpoint.
This progression is best understood as a restricted road whose boundaries are set by
the client’s resistance, fear and anxiety.
2. Why is counselling different to other relationships?
Counselling is primarily concerned with the growth, progress, and well-being of clients.
They strive to cultivate skills and competencies that will assist clients in developing and
maintaining a mental health regimen. The most significant difference between
counselling and other methods of counselling is the manner in which the counsellor
listens. This is due to the distinct mode of communication that occurs between the client
and the counsellor. Through listening carefully and respectfully, the counsellor has a
better understanding of the client's problems and can assist them in seeing things more
objectively or from a different viewpoint.
3. What is cultural empathy?
Cultural empathy is a person’s ability to connect with emotions, behaviors and thoughts
of people from various cultural backgrounds. This term refers to a counsellor’s
willingness to put themselves in the shoes of the client from a different culture in order
to consider their viewpoint. It is recognizing and appreciating the similarities and
differences of other cultures in relation to one’s own.
4. What is meant by ‘self-reference criterion’?
Self-reference criterion is defined as an unconscious reference to an individual’s
experiences, cultural values and knowledge as a basis for decision-making. Identifying
the appropriate course of action based on what an individual would usually say, do, or
feel under similar circumstances. This is characterized by failure to empathize with other
