By Ravi Singh Negi
Human beings are progressive creatures by nature. Their complex journey of life is filled with multiple challenges, setbacks, and periods of stress that can leave an individual feeling lost, overwhelmed, or directionless. To overcome such situations, an individual has mainly two options – First, the individual would try to resolve the problem with hit and trial method with his/her own efforts and talent. Secondly, by taking advice from experienced people, relatives, friends and counsellors.
When individuals adopt the path of hit and trial method to solve their problems, they divert their concentration, valuable energy and resources to explore solutions which are already available. By the time one succeeds in one’s effort to find a preliminary track to solving the problem, one would have wasted precious time, energy and the peak of one’s enthusiasm. Also, many times, have made changes in one’s aim after writing the script of one’s own demoralisation. On the other hand, when an individual takes advice from experienced people, relatives and counsellors, they provide the foundation for career building and a ready-made track for the problem, saving energy and time to be used in an effective and constructive way to achieve the objective.
One should never hesitate in taking advice or counselling from others who are experienced in the field. While a strong support system of friends and family is invaluable, they may not possess the professional skills or objectivity required to help navigate deep-seated psychological and emotional issues. This is where counselling becomes a necessary and critical resource for an individual’s personal growth, healing, and long-term mental well-being. Hence, it is always better to choose a qualified, experienced and professional counsellor for the purpose. It may cost you initially but in the long run its benefits will be multiple.
Counsellors helps an individual to navigate complex life challenges, develop self-awareness and personal growth, manage mental health issues like stress and depression, improve relationships, and build resilience to achieve one’s goals. It provides a safe, non-judgmental space to explore feelings, make decisions, and develop strategies for personal and professional advancement, problem solving techniques or developmental processes, ultimately fostering self-direction and a positive outlook. The important thing with the professional counsellors is that they keep all your information confidential.
Counselling is a learning oriented process carried in a simple one to one social environment in which the counsellor, professionally competent in relevant psychological skills and knowledge, seeks to assist the client by methods appropriate to the latter’s needs and within the context of the total personnel programme, to learn how to put such understanding into effect in relation to more clearly perceived, realistically defined goals to the end that the client may become a happier and more productive member of society. Counselling is a journey of self-discovery that enables individuals to gain deeper insight into their own personalities, values, beliefs, and potential. A counsellor offers an objective perspective, helping individuals clarify confusion and gain a new understanding of themselves and their situations. Through this process, individuals learn to identify self-defeating habits and thought patterns. This awareness is the first step towards making positive, lasting changes. Ultimately, counselling empowers people to accept their flaws and build upon their strengths, which leads to greater self-esteem and self-acceptance and can lead you seek a better future.
Remember counselling is only for normal people and whoever, at any age or profession, when surrounded with negative thoughts or unable to solve personal problems concerning any field like academic, career, professional, adjustment with friends or peer group, marital, pre-marital, family relationship, old age, or trauma after some natural calamity or some accident should approach a professional counsellor without delay to find the right direction and to save time and energy.
(Ravi Singh Negi is an Advocate, Social Worker and Marriage/Academic Counsellor.)
