Counselling in family planning
Welman, C.
Nursing Rsa 1(7): 27-28
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0258-1647 PMID: 3642285 Document Number: 233783
The technique of counseling in a family planning setting is presented here with 4 client statements, and 5 counselor responses for each. Each response represents one of the following modes: advising and evaluating; analyzing and interpreting; reassuring and supporting; questioning and probing; and reflecting and understanding. The last type of response, conveying acceptance, respect, and genuine interest, is usually the most effective and appropriate for a family planning counselor. The advising response, most commonly used, may threaten the client because of its authoritative, corrective or moralizing intent. The analyzing response, intended to inform and teach, also frequently makes the listener defensive, and discourages further revelations. The reassuring response such as "Don't worry, things could be worse," are sometimes valuable, but sometimes discounting of the person's reactions and feelings, suggesting "You should not feel as you do." Questioning and probing for more information may not encourage more discussion as well as reflective clarification, because they may not communicate that the counselor understands.