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Table 3 Counselling focus and associated counselling approach

From: Counselling in humanitarian settings: a retrospective analysis of 18 individual-focused non-specialised counselling programmes

Counselling focus

Examples of reasons for choosing particular counselling focus

Details of the counselling approach

Practical problems

Lack of information, lack of food and non-food items, tensions or conflicts with other people (such as neighbours and family members)

Help to look at things from a different prospective

Analysing a recent experience with another person

Information provision

Challenging the client

Clarifying a difficult decision

Lack of skills

Lack of social skills needed to make new friends after separation from family members

Role play to develop social skills

Provide suggestions to help develop skills

Trauma focused

Physical complaints for which a doctor cannot find causes, or symptoms such as nightmares, anxiety attacks or sudden unexpected outbursts of anger

Choosing target symptoms to focus on

Assess coping strategies

Identification and avoidance of triggers

Psychoeducation to understand origin of symptoms

Talking about painful past experiences

Talking about content of dreams

Overwhelming feelings

Overpowering feelings of sadness, anger, etc.

Assist in expression of feelings

(Drawing/writing)

Containment of emotions (experiencing and expressing emotions in a controlled way)

Psychiatric

Clients with diagnosed major psychiatric disorder on medication and under care of physician

Counsellor support for taking medication, checking side-effects, education for family

Inner problems

Persistent negative self-view or inner conflict (wanting intimacy yet being afraid to become close due to fear of loss)

Helping clients to recognise and clarify the conflict

Exploring client’s wishes and the feelings connected to these wishes

  

Point out contradictions between what the client is saying, the feelings they have been expressing and their actions

  1. Adapted from: Van der Veer G: Training counsellors in areas of armed conflict within a community approach. Utrecht: Pharos Foundation; 2001.