Counseling Course

I passed Module 1 of the Basic Counseling that I took up in January'07. I have not yet decided whether to take up Module 2 and 3 which will start this week. Module 2 is a supervised counseling practicum and Module 3 is on Marital Counseling. I am having second thoughts of finishing this course because I will be getting busier the next two quarters as we are about to launch a product at work. If I really love this endeavor, I will find ways to manage my schedule and find time to finish this course. I feel I have the talent to be in counseling. But lately, it seems that the desire to finish a course in counseling have simmered down a bit.

I wanted to take up counseling because I felt that I have the talent to become a counselor. Close friends have encouraged me to pursue this course as they appreciate my gift in counseling(in reality, people do not come to me to seek advice but to get the approval of the choices they have already made). But counseling is much more challenging than I what I thought it was. It's more than understanding the problem of the client and gaining insights into possible causes and solutions. It is a total giving of oneself to the client. It is offering something that I have to the client. Success in counseling does not solely depend in the micro-skills and analysis skills of the counselor (though they are important skills to have). One must have a genuine love and interest in the client.

After taking the NEO personality inventory test two weeks ago, I am having doubts as to whether I really have the gift in counseling. I still have so many homework to do with my self. A lot of house cleaning to perform. With all these, what can I really offer my future clients? And if I should decide to take the deep dive first and see, I might be loosing the $800 course fee if I back out In the middle of the course.

Lord, guide my heart to make the right decision. Not my will but Your will be done. Amen