MODULE TWO: COUNSELLING - FHI 360 Center for Global Health ...

• Stay centred on the client. Remember that the counselling session is
about the client, not about the counsellor. This includes feelings, attitudes,
beliefs and opinions.
• Do not give out the YEF HIV/AIDS Hotline’s address. This rule is
designed to protect counsellors by preventing callers from trying to meet
them in person. It is fine to say that YEF HIV/AIDS Hotline is located in
Lagos, but do not give out the address. If a person wishes to become a
volunteer counsellor, transfer him/her to a YEF HIV/AIDS Hotline staff
member.
INTRODUCTION TO CRISIS COUNSELLING
A crisis is a temporary emotional state of deep distress caused by some kind of
unexpected threat. A crisis can be dangerous when a person’s normal coping
skills fail. A crisis is a subjective experience. What may be a mildly difficult
situation to one person, may be a crisis to another. A crisis therefore is not the
situation itself, but the person’s response to this situation.
Crisis counselling is a short-term intervention to help people experiencing
psychological difficulties after a traumatic event. Crisis counselling is based on
the goals and process of classic counselling, including helping them to
understand their situation, express their feelings, review options for actions and
get referrals to other sources. In crisis counselling, the assistance focuses on
dealing with the immediate situation as opposed to solving underlying causes of
distress.
Following are some examples of events that could cause a crisis situation.
•Attempted or contemplated suicide
•Rape
•Domestic violence
•Unemployment
•Depression
•Alcohol and drug abuse
•Death of a loved one
•Anger
•Natural or manmade disasters (Ex: bombs, fires, floods, earthquakes)
•Imprisonment or disappearance of a loved one
•Child abuse
Following is some crisis situations that could be related to HIV/AIDS:
Session 7- Pg. 6