Counselling is not advice-giving but a structured, ethical process rooted in active listening, empathy and professional training that supports long-term emotional growth, self-awareness and healthy coping.
Are you a student considering a career in counselling psychology? Or you may be wondering whether choosing counselling is really worth investing in for your mental health. What makes it different from just talking through a problem with your best friend?
If you have these questions, you are in the right place. In this blog, we will explore what counselling is, how it is beneficial, what it involves, and how it differs from a friend listening to you and offering insight.
The misunderstanding around counselling
What is the first thing most of us do when we face a difficult situation? Usually, we talk it through with a friend, a family member or a professional. We do this to seek guidance, solutions, or simply support.
But is there a difference between professional counselling or therapy and advice from a loved one?
Many people believe counselling is the same as advice giving and can be substituted by casual conversations with friends or family. While advice from loved ones can be helpful, it is very different from the support provided by a trained professional. Counselling psychologists are trained to help clients understand, manage and strengthen their mental health, often at an early, preventive stage.
Advice giving vs counselling
When someone listens to your problem and provides advice, it can sometimes feel therapeutic. However, there are key differences between advice and professional counselling or talk-based therapy:
- Aim of the conversation: Speaking to a professional is focused on healing and personal growth, whereas seeking advice from loved ones is often mainly for comfort.
- Bias: Loved ones are emotionally involved, so their opinions can be clouded by bias.
- Judgement: Professional counselling and therapy come from a place of no judgement.
- Complexity: Mental health concerns are rarely straightforward. Most individuals are not trained to fully address the breadth of a person’s needs.
While both therapy and advice involve listening, professional counselling actively works towards long-term growth and coping, whereas advice primarily offers short-term comfort.
Active listening as a therapeutic intervention
In counselling, listening is different from everyday conversation. In counselling psychology, professionals practice active listening, which involves giving the speaker full attention and consciously understanding their words, emotions and intent. This includes responding with empathy, asking questions and showing genuine interest.
By contrast, everyday listening is often just hearing someone without deeply processing or engaging emotionally.
Counsellors also pay attention to non-verbal and paraverbal cues, such as body language, tone of voice and pauses. They notice patterns, emotional undercurrents and moments of hesitation. Listening in counselling is intentional and reflective, creating space for insight, emotional processing and meaningful change.
Moving beyond advice in counselling practice
During training for the M.Sc. in Psychology (Counselling), students learn to distinguish between therapeutic listening and advice giving, as the two can easily be confused. Counselling and therapy rely on the intentional application of professional skills rather than simply offering solutions.
Some of the skills students develop include:
- Paraphrasing: restating what the client has shared to demonstrate understanding and aid clarity.
- Empathy: understanding the client’s emotions and showing care without judgment.
- Self-disclosure: sharing a small, relevant personal experience only when it helps the client feel understood.
- Objectivity: remaining neutral and keeping personal opinions aside, so clients can safely explore their own thoughts.
The goal is not to “fix” problems, but to help clients understand root causes, identify contributing factors and cope in healthy ways.
Training, supervision and professional identity
The M.Sc. in Psychology (Counselling) at CMR University shapes students’ listening skills and professional identity through classroom learning, practical exercises and supervised practice. Over the two-year programme, students develop a deeper understanding of empathy, patience and professional ethics, creating safe spaces for clients to navigate their challenges.
Graduates are trained as counselling professionals who provide emotional and therapeutic support in educational, organisational and community settings.
By the end of the course, students carry these skills into real counselling and therapy sessions, approaching clients with respect and understanding.
Benefits of counselling
Counselling and therapy offer lasting benefits for clients, including:
- Emotional awareness: Clients learn to identify emotional patterns and respond in healthier ways.
- Coping skills: Therapeutic conversations help clients develop their own strategies to manage stress and emotions.
- Personal development: Clients build self-awareness, resilience and confidence through reflection and exploration.
- Supportive environment: Counselling creates a safe, respectful space where clients feel heard.
- Through these benefits, counselling and therapy promote long-term well-being rather than temporary comfort.
Empathy, listening and growth
Counselling goes beyond nodding along or asking, “And how does that make you feel?” It is about understanding clients’ concerns, supporting them and guiding them towards positive change.
Through their training, students develop skills to listen deeply with empathy, respond thoughtfully and maintain ethical boundaries. Counselling and therapy emphasise coping rather than fixing and view clients as individuals navigating life’s challenges.
These experiences not only prepare students for professional practice but also shape their personal growth and professional identity.
Ultimately, counselling and therapy show that meaningful change begins with being heard and understood. With empathy and skilled listening at its core, this field prepares students to become compassionate mental health professionals who make a real difference.