We have stressed throughout this book that counselling is about change. However, it’s important to recognise that some things cannot be changed. Just as we cannot alter the colour of our eyes or our height, we cannot reverse incurable illness or a physical disability. We cannot give a one-legged man two limbs, or a blind person sight. What counsellors can do in these circumstances is to offer help and support in coming to terms with what cannot be changed, and encouragement to explore strategies for coping with the situation.

Up until now, emphasis has been placed on the value of good communication in the counselling relationship. Yet there comes a time when talking may not be enough and the client needs to take the bull by the horns and do something. Put another way, he or she needs to take action to resolve the problem. To this end, the counsellor can play an important role by teaching the client to use a problem-solving and goalsetting approach to their difficulties.

This method, which is essentially a self-help technique, can be highly effective, especially if the counsellor stays alongside the client as he works through the stages. It enables the client to explore choices perhaps not previously considered, helps him to replace stumbling blocks with stepping stones, and provides the confidence and courage to take risks and implement decisions. And, as an added bonus, once learned, the client has a very useful self-help tool for solving problems that might arise after the counselling relationship ends.

After explaining the process and presenting some examples of goal setting in action, we have provided an exercise for you to practise the techniques for yourself, so make sure you have your pen and notepad at the ready.

What Is Problem-Solving?

Problem-solving resolves a discrepancy. It changes something that is actual, nearer to what is desired. A goal is a result that will reduce that discrepancy. Problem-solving is, in many ways, simply a process of managing information. Indeed, it is probably true to say that in the majority of instances, the only reason we fail to solve problems is that we fail to recognise that we already have sufficient information to do so. Problem-solving has two parts:

Identifying The Premises Of Problem-Solving

The premises of problem-solving are:

1. To become thoroughly aware of the problem.
2. Problems with one root cause are as rare as two moons in the sky.
3. Effective problem-solving means balancing disturbed forces.
4. Valid decisions depend on accurate, clear and complete information.
5. Working with other people can shorten the process time.
6. People given the responsibility of action must be committed to it.
7. There must be a supportive climate.

Not all counselling is concerned with problem-solving but a great deal of it is. Some people want to increase their self-awareness, to understand a bit better how they interact with others, or to develop more insight of the helping relationship by first-hand experience. Very often the client presents the ’problem’ to the counsellor in a jumbled and unclear way.

 

In the early stages, therefore, it is useful to have a plan which counsellor and client can work on together to bring order out of chaos. The model presented here may help. As client and counsellor work through this together, step by step, it will let the client see that there is a logical way of tackling the problem. It will also help the counsellor by relieving some of the anxiety of not knowing where to start.

Identifying The Problem

Summary

The four stages of problem-solving counselling involve:

Goal Setting

One important part of problem-solving that can sometimes be difficult is goal setting – working out a satisfactory solution. Goal setting is a highly cognitive approach which many people have difficulty working with. Goal setting must take into account the affective and behavioural factors as well as the creative potential of the client.

Figure 19 highlights eight important tasks involved in the process of problem-solving and goal setting.