“When most people learn that I’m a counsellor, they get nervous and uncomfortable, thinking that I’m going to make them tell me their darkest secrets somehow,” laughs Rosemary Fromson, recently elected the National President of the Canadian Professional Counselling Association (CPCA). “In fact, more than anything else, I just listen to my clients.”
To counsel is to listen
The simple act of listening to another person’s problems can profoundly affect their life. Whether it’s a demanding job, a stressful relationship, or simply a bad day, counsellors help lessen the pressures of life by providing a safe space for their clients to release.
Counsellors know and respect that no two people – no matter how similar – are ever the same. Everyone copes with experiences in their own way, and while one person may block unpleasant memories from childhood, another may turn to narcotics for solace. Another may have witnessed pain that came to define their personality, which in turn dictates adult relationships or work life.
Renowned therapist and author, Dr. Faizal Sahukhan explains: “I had a client who knew from an early age that he was a homosexual, but he got married to a woman due to cultural and familial influences. When he came to me, he was depressed and had suicidal tendencies. This is a mature adult who sensed who he was, what he was, but he wouldn’t admit it, not even to himself. So, after several sessions, when I felt that he was finally ready to accept himself, I placed a mirror in front of him and asked him to share with me who he saw, to which he burst out into tears of joy and said, ‘I am a homosexual male.’”
Counsellors acknowledge their clients’ pain and treat them with respect and compassion. They refrain from judgment and offer validation. Whatever their clients have experienced, for them the pain is real – that is why they are seeking counselling. So, a counsellor’s goal is to help their clients feel better and move forward in life.
You can change someone’s life
Stenberg College’s Counselling Therapist Diploma program is thorough and gives students the skills they need to start working immediately. “Stenberg College has courses that are up-to-date with the ever-changing counselling modalities. With such a comprehensive course, the Canadian Professional Counselling Association will be proud to have these graduates become members of our Association,” Fromson says.
After successfully completing the program, graduates enter the workforce with an open mind, an open heart, and the ability to change lives. Click here to continue reading the article and learn about therapy for therapists, practicing counselling and more.
