‘Counselling helps in shaping better future’

LAHORE: The importance of life counselling is being recognised in developing countries as lack of guidance is leading the youth in myriad of problems, which casts negative effect on their life’s course.“Since the people are more introvert than extrovert, they are reluctant to discuss their problems and hide them out of fear of adverse public opinion, which necessitates professional’s intervention to instill confidence,” said Dr Shawana Mufti, a gynaecologist and life counsellor, while delivering a keynote lecture on “Life Counselling’s positive impact in all sectors – its importance in addressing depression, frustration, mental stress, issues of married life and health and educational matters” organised by Mir Khalil-ur-Rahman Memorial Society (Jang Group of Newspapers) held here the other day. Dr Shawana Mufti said that life coach’s concept was relatively new in Pakistan, but it is certainly not psychiatry or psychology as it covers all aspects of life. She said that everyone needs counselling in life, which helped individuals shape better future for themselves and others around them.Prof Dr Rashid Zia, Head of ENT Jinnah Hospital/Allama Iqbal Medical College, Lahore, said that up to 70 percent of thoughts in a person’s imagination were usually of negative nature. “Every person is different and so are their thoughts,” he said, adding that the idea was to strike a balance and overcome negative thoughts to spend a normal life. Dr Saira Afzal, Head of Community Medicine, King Edward Medical University, underscored the need for people to adopt preventive approach, which saves them from negative emotions and diseases. “Treatment is no substitute to prevention,” she said, adding that the counselling was vital in medical profession. She said many of the students join medical field on insistence of their parents, which wastes their talent in their field of interest and leads them into depression. She said medical profession was considered most honourable profession and doctors are a highly educated community, but the rate of divorce of doctors was alarming. She expressed concern that the students in educational institutions were inclined to drugs, which makes life counselling absolutely necessary to direct youth’s life towards successful career and positive life in future.Prof Dr Javed Iqbal said that most of the patients can be treated merely with counselling, which solves most of their problems and they start living a normal life.Prof Zahid Aziz said that the communication gap was widening among people, which was created mental and psychological problems for the people. Renowned folk singer Arif Lohar said that the children’s communication with their parents was of paramount importance. “The home is the first school of a child; therefore, parents must spend quality time with their children and leave positive effects on the minds of children,” he added.Besides, Col Mumtaz, singer Bilal Saeed and others also spoke, while MKRMS Chairman Wasif Nagi moderated the programme.

from The News International - Lahore https://ift.tt/2OGxDpD