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Basic counseling

HAIVNHavard Medical School AIDS

Initiative in Vietnam

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By the end of this session, participants should be able to:Present concept, objectives and general principles of counselingDistinguish counseling and health communication / health educationList the 6 steps of the counseling process

Learning objectives

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An interactive process between counselor and counselee

A way to assist and provide information to counselees so they can:• Develop self-sufficiency• Find solutions and resolve problems

independently• Feel more confident when acting on

decisions they have made

What is counseling?

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Teaching or

commanding

Giving

recommendations

A conversation

An interview

A confession

A request / plea

Counseling is not:

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Focus on counselees in order to: meet counselees’ needs

solve specific problem according to each counselee’s situation

Goals of counseling

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The process of interaction, collaboration and the impact of counselor on counselee

Primary goal of counseling

Self-reliance and personal responsibility of counselee

The essentials of counseling (1)

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In communications with the counselee, the counselor should consider the counselee’s:• Cultural and social context• Willingness / readiness to change

How a counselor poses questions, supplies information, from that:• consider the alternatives• develop action plans

The essentials of counseling (2)

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Individuals who may be experiencing difficulties:• People living with HIV or their relatives• People with high-risk behaviors• Injection drug users and their relatives • Medical staff with occupational exposure • …

HIV/AIDS counseling should target…

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Help counselees:• understand their situation• look for and choose the appropriate

solutions to problems Change:

• Counselees’ perceptions through providing information

• Counselees’ behaviors

The purpose of the counseling

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Counseling Health Education

Between 1 counselor and 1 counselee

Between 1 group of counselors and 1 person/group of people

Private, confidential, secret

Communicating and encouraging

Orientation to Problems Orientation to content

counselee initiates/ seeks counseling

counselor goes to community

Counseling and Communication(1)

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Counseling Health Education

• Ease counselee’s mind, help 1 person solve 1 particular problem

• Provide information to change attitudes and promote behavior change

• Provide information and raise awareness for many people (generally)

• Improve knowledge to educate

Counseling and Communication (2)

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1. Respect the feelings and values of counselee

2. Do not judge, sermonize, or force counselee to follow the opinion of the counselor

3. Express empathy by learning more about the counselee's specific circumstances

General principles of counseling (1)

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4. Maintain confidentiality:• never disclose counselee’s information

5. Be patient:• do not rush counselee• allow time for counselee to consider his/ her

situation6. Recognize your limitations:

• May not know all information or how to directly assist counselee

• Be able to provide counselee with reliable contact information for resources / referral services

General principles of counseling (2)

Counseling process

Counseling usually has 3 stages

Steps of counseling

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Counseling should focus on the central problem

Counseling is different from health communication or health education

Counselors need to:• Clearly understand the concept of counseling • Follow the general principles of the 6 step

counseling process• Pay attention to their own emotions which

could interfere with objectivity / ability to counsel

Key points

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Thank you!Question ?