According to Nelson-Jones (2012), counselling is defined as a process where the counsellor or helper’s aim is to assist the client in helping themselves by the choices they make in their life. Through their skills and understanding of the clients, the counsellor uses interventions that are specific to the client to help them changes negative thinking, feelings and behaviour. This can lead to a more positive and less stressful life for the client, if the counselling relationship is successful. The success of this is based on the different stages of counselling, where both counsellor and client play and active role. The stages in the counselling process are Establishing a working relationship, Identifying Clients Problem, Helping The Client Create Goals, Encouraging Client Exploration and Taking Action and Termination (Corey & Corey, 2011; Hackeny & Cormie, 2005).
Establishing a Working Relationship is the first stage in the counselling processes according to Corey and Corey. From my point of view, this stage is concerned with building the therapeutic relationship. It is at this stage the counsellor prepares the client for the process and clarifying any concerns the client might have. Patterson and Welfel (2005) emphasised that at this stage, there must be open communication, and trust to remote client self-exploration. This will encourage the client to open up more, and be more willing to actively engage in the counselling process. As the client begins to relay their story, it is important to be respectful and genuine. You show respect for your client by when you are concerned about their best interest and you are able see them without a bias or without stereotyping them. As a counsellor show your geniuses by not merely acting on impulse or say whatever come to your mind but rather when you use your experience to put all you have into helping the client. Once this is establish, both client and counsellor can go into the second stage,
Corey and Corey affirm that the second stage in the counselling process is “Identifying Clients Problem” (p. 123). It is my view, that this stage is concerned with gathering information and conducting assessment along with assisting the client to identifying their problem. Some clients need assistance in identifying whatever it is preventing them from enjoying life. It is important for the counsellor to help the client in identifying their problem, rather than telling the client what their problem is. Nelson-Jones argues that at this stage, it is important to build the client up so they can identify their problem, and applaud them for doing so. This will relax them, and motivate them into moving on into the next stage, where the will be evermore willing to continue and engage in the process.
The next stage of counselling posited by Corey and Corey is “Helping The Client Create Goals” (Hackeny & Cormie, 2005, p. 25). At this stage, the counsellor and client, collaboratively create and establish goals by determining the specific changes the client needs. Goals refer to a desired outcome in the counselling process, which are agreed upon and created by both counsellor and client (Murphy & Dillon, 2003). The counsellor must assist the client in the creation of meaningful goals. Based on these goals an action plan(s) can be created, implemented and evaluated. If the client wants to make real changes, they will be willing to engage in the creation and setting of goals. Goals refer to a desired outcome in the counselling process, which are agreed upon and created by both counsellor and client.
Encouraging Client Exploration and Taking Action is the fourth stage in counselling process. Once the goals have been identified, it is important that for the counsellor and client decide on the different routes by which the goals can be achieved. Counsellors assist clients in developing strategies to make their desired outcome a reality. This stage may be the longest but it is important to encourage the client to explore themselves and help them understand that have the solution to their problem. Self-exploration can lead to new insights for the client and encourage them to take action by doing what is needed to achieve goals. The counsellor and client must also collaborate on a plan of action. Egan (2002) argues that once the plan of action is realized and the necessary steps out, the plan must be evaluated. Evaluation can be explained in its simplest form as the following: If the plan of action works and causes a positive change in the life of the client, there is no great need to change it. If the posited happens, then the counsellor and client must sit and re-evaluate the plan of action, make changes or create a brand new action plan.
Based on the plan of action and how much the client has grown since the first stage of counselling, counsellor and client can therefore move into the final stage of counselling, is called Termination. It is my view that, just as the session set the tone for the counselling relationship, the ending of the counsellor-client relationship is important. Termination enables the client to acquire the maximum benefits of the entire process. The counsellor’s goal is to work with the client in such a way that they can terminate the professional relationship as earliest as possible. This is to encore the client to further make decisions on their own (Ingrams, 2012). The counsellor will determine if the client is ready to leave the counselling relationship, or if there is more work can be done. It is important for the counsellor to encourage the client to keep making decisions on their own and let them know that they have to power and tools to move on in their life without depending on the professional counselling relationship.
Establishing a working relationship, Identifying client’s problem, Helping the client create goals, Encouraging client exploration and taking action and Termination are all important to have a successful counselling relationship for both counsellor and client. Each stage has a unique function that ultimately seeks to help the client realize their through potential and help them make their lives a more positive and dynamic one

Bibliography

Corey, G., & Corey M., S. (2011). Becoming a Helper (6th ed.). USA: Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning.
Egan, G. (2002). The Skilled Helper: A problem management approach to helping. (7th ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.
Hackeny, H., & Cormie, H. (2005). The Professional Counsellor. Boston: Pearson.
Ingrams, J. (2012). Thinking of Becoming a Counsellor?. London, Great Britain: Karnac Books Ltd.
Murphy, B., C., & Dillon, C. (2003). Interviewing in Action: Process and practice. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.
Nelson-Jones, R. (2012). Theory and Practice of Counselling and Therapy (3rd ed.). Washington, DC: SAGE Publications Ltd.
Patterson, L., E., & Welfel, E., R. (2005). The counselling process (6th ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.