There are general rules and guidelines for counseling that a psychologist must follow. These principles make the work of the consultant and the client more structured and efficient.
- Each client is unique. Two identical situations cannot exist in principle. Therefore, in psychological counseling, a person-centered approach is important.
- Attitudes, attitudes and attitudes of the client may change during the course of the consultation. New problems must be foreseen.
- First of all, the client should be aware of the client's problems. People who come for a consultation without motivation, more often than not, cannot accept responsibility for the existence of problems and their subsequent solution.
- The comfort and safety of the client are the main components of the consultation. If, in the course of solving his problems, a person experiences moral or physical discomfort, then the psychologist should stop working or transfer it to another channel.
- The psychologist must use all his best qualities, both professional and personal, in the course of counseling. Despite this, he must remember that the main role in solving the client's problems lies with the client himself. If the problem is not solved, then there is no need to impose existential blame on yourself because of this.
- The result of counseling may be either not immediately visible or delayed in time.
- The consultant is obliged to comply with the rules of professional ethics at all times.
- Counseling should be based on theoretical knowledge. However, the overwhelming confidence in the educational literature and the complete exclusion of personal human qualities can give a destructive result of counseling.
- The counselor should differentiate problems from dilemmas and rhetorical questions.
- The consultation process should be a two-way interaction.
