When we hear word “counselling” what come to your mind? Possible emotional issues or abnormality or mental issues. We all consider the physical health issues as a problem but avoid mental/emotional health.
Counselling is done in any of the scenario. However, it is not limited. It could be in many forms. For example, educational counselling, counselling to overcome challenges, counselling for professional career building and many more…
Life today is fast and impacted by social media. It is challenging for many parents to guide their children. On the other side young people having access to internet and information. This help them figure out many things on their own. If this is the case what is the problem? I would like to highlight few points where parents might be doing unknowingly.
- Expectations from kids based on the society pressure
- Fear of Competition and how the kid will do in future
- Unnecessary comparison between siblings or cousins or other children of extended family members
- Putting your own dreams and desires that you haven’t achieve on the children
- Judgement of own child based on other family members or members of society
The list can go on as it varies people to people. By stating these things, neither I am judging parent nor any youngster. Because I always feel the intention of the most of the parents are good. Parent want better life for their kids than theirs. But while trying to do so they end up in making the child suffer without even knowing.
From Children or young people’s perspective, they take this as part of life as they themselves don’t understand their own feelings and emotions due to their young age.
So in nutshell, no one is at the fault but in such cases an career advisor or counsellor who is willing to give time to your child and understand and help them will ease up things.
In the name of career counsellors, there are many people who try to earn money. M experience says if a person do not spend time with young person or a parent it will be hard to advise them rightly.
Generally the advice has two types.
- What knowledge you have and you advise based on that.
- Listen to the person understand and advice that help the person
This is what in my view is professional counselling and that will help a person. Plus the aim of the counselling should be empowering the child and the person who is receiving counselling not making them dependent on the counsellor. So young and new parents if you need help for your child do not hesitate just try to help your child. All you should know is where to go and whom to contact.
Having said that lets not avoid issues lets talk and understand and overcome the challanges and give opportunity to our youngsters to flourish.
I am encouraged to write this article based on the news I read on MSN with title ” Why this honest social media post by a CEO on Indian parenting made so many people say ‘this is my story’”
Hiren Thaker
Independent Career Advisor & Counsellor