1. Understand what is meant by counselling.
1.1 Define what is meant by the term counselling.
BACP definition of counselling and psychotherapy:'Counselling and psychotherapy are umbrella terms that cover a range of talking therapies. They are delivered by trained practitioners who work with people over a short or long term to help them bring about effective change or enhance their wellbeing.’ (BACP [online]). The BACP states that “counselling takes place when a counsellor see a client in a private and confidential setting to explore a difficulty the client is having, distress they may be experiencing or perhaps their dissatisfaction with life or loss of a sense of direction and purpose. It is always at the request of the client as no one
5. Belief that perceptions are a major determinant of personal experience and

behavior and, thus, to understand a person one must attempt to understand them empathically. 6. Belief that the individual person is the basic unit and that the individual should be addressed, (not groups, families, organizations, etc.), in situations intended to foster growth. 7. Belief in the concept of the whole person. 8. Belief that persons are realizing and protecting themselves as best they can at any given time and under the internal and external circumstances that exist at that time. 9. Belief in abdication of the pursuit of control or authority over other persons and, instead, a commitment to strive to share power and control. 10. A commitment to open mindedness and humility in respect to theory and practice. The basic hypothesis the theory of therapy and the additional beliefs stated above describe the person-centred approach. Rogers believed that the principles he developed could be applied in a variety of contexts and not just in the therapy situation. As a result he started to use the term ‘person-centred approach’ later in his life to describe his overall theory. The philosophy of the person-centred approach views the client as their own best authority on their own experience and as being basically good; it views the client as being fully capable of fulfilling their own potential for growth and self-awareness.