Nursing Component Task
Nursing procedures & clinical learning

Community Mental Health Nursing (RCMN)

FACILITATING A COUNSELLING SESSION

This is when the RCPN helps a client with physical, emotional and mental issues make an informed decision to improve their sense of wellbeing, alleviate feelings of stress or distress and resolve life crises.

Purpose

  • Relieve stress from client and family
  • Improve client and family's wellbeing
  • Prevent complications/relapse
  • Build confidence and boost client's self-esteem
  • Improve client's coping mechanism
  • Provide social and legal support where necessary

Indications

  • Facilitating a counselling session for a client with physical, emotional or mental issues.
  • Helping the client make an informed decision to improve their sense of wellbeing.
  • Alleviating feelings of stress or distress and resolving life crises.

Equipment

  • Pen and paper
  • Table and chair
  • Topic for the session

Preparation

  • Inform the client about the counselling session, time, venue and goals.
  • Arrange the place and ensure good lighting and ventilation.
  • Arrange chairs and the table in an appropriate manner.

Procedure steps

  • Establish rapport (refer to procedure) and explain procedure to client
  • Inform client about the counselling session, time, venue and goals
  • Arrange the place and ensure good lighting and ventilation
  • Arrange chairs and table in an appropriate manner
  • Welcome client and or family with a smile to the venue
  • Allow client to sit first while observing his gestures, mannerism and posture
  • Initiate the conversation with brief introduction of what is to be expected
  • Reassure client of confidentiality and effectiveness of the counselling
  • Encourage client to express challenges, fears and conflicts
  • Identify client thoughts and feelings as he/she expresses himself/herself
  • Identify with client his/her perceived difficulties and possible contributing factors to the challenge
  • Speak in calm, soft voice during discussions without being judgmental
  • Avoid advising client but rather educate on coping strategies
  • Allow client to come out with coping strategies
  • Support client to implement the strategies if possible
  • Inform the client that the identified strategies will be reviewed periodically to assess the progress
  • Communicate areas of progress and where client needs improvement
  • Allow client to express likes and or dislikes of the session and therapist
  • Document the procedure and inform the client, date and time of the next session

Precautions

  • Establish rapport and explain the procedure to the client.
  • Reassure the client of confidentiality and the effectiveness of counselling.
  • Speak in a calm, soft voice during discussions without being judgemental.
  • Avoid advising the client but rather educate on coping strategies.

Aftercare

  • Document the procedure and inform the client of the date and time of the next session.

Nursing considerations

  • Allow the client to sit first while observing gestures, mannerism and posture.
  • Identify the client's thoughts and feelings as he or she expresses himself or herself.
  • Inform the client that the identified strategies will be reviewed periodically to assess progress.

Patient education

  • Encourage the client to express challenges, fears and conflicts.
  • Support the client to identify and implement coping strategies.

Documentation

  • Document the procedure and inform the client of the date and time of the next session.

References and further reading

Educational resource only. Follow current Nursing and Midwifery Council guidance, local institutional protocols, scope of practice, and clinical supervision.

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