In this way, you reflect on the information (daughter dying), the emotion/feelings (sadness and anger) and the person’s behaviour/reaction (‘I see your sadness by your tears’). Summarising The understanding stage continues when both client and listener agree on a view of the situation and problem. If the counsellor summarises the information (content, feelings, thoughts), this may help the client to have a clearer perspective of the problem/situation. In this process, one looks not only at the current problem, but also includes the person’s past and his or her experiences. It is very important to understand the client in his or her context, such as his or her current family, family of origin, belief system, education and skills, as well as any other facet of the person’s life. These factors could influence the person’s way of coping and thinking. Intervention The process of understanding the client and clarifying his or her situation can be healing in itself, but, very often, counselling also involves problem solving. This involves coming up with ideas together with the client on how to: • Solve or at least cope with the problem/s; and • Work out a plan of action to alleviate the problem. Problem solving involves a series of steps: 1. Understanding the problem as clearly as possible; 2. Brainstorming as many different ways of coping with the problem as possible. It is best if the client manages to come up with different ideas, as this will empower them; 3. Assisting the client to think of the good and bad sides of each option and then decide on the preferred option; 4. Having selected the chosen option, discussing the plan of action for finding the solution/ way of coping; 5. Discussing the possible problems that may arise in the plan of action, as well as discussing and planning ways of managing these problems; 6. Working on the action plan, which is done by the client, and then discussing progress in the next meeting; and 7. Checking on progress in follow-up meetings and reviewing the plan if necessary. Exercise Role play: Participants divide up into pairs or groups of three. In their pairs or group, they take turns in being a facilitator and being the client. They then come back and discuss activity with the participants as a whole. SUPPORT-GROUP FORMATION (Mini lecture, discussion and group exercises) Definition of ‘support group’ A support group is a group of people who meet regularly to support or sustain one another by discussing problems commonly affecting them. The following points can be made about such groups: Module 7: Dealing with trauma, psychological healing and support 119 7