What is a Specialist wellness Counsellor?

A Specialist Wellness Counsellor is a member with an applicable postgraduate qualification on NQF level 8 and at least 100 hours of practical experience. The level of counselling is that of primary health care. We work on a systems approach to counselling, focusing on achieving wholeness within the integrative unity of body, mind, and spirit. Our scope of practice is comprehensive but excludes psychotherapy, social work, medical health work, and occupational therapy.

The goal is to assist clients in resolving conflicts, improving relationships, sorting out general problems, coping with life’s challenges, and finding inner peace. I am competent to lend comprehensive and specialized counselling support towards the improvement of the quality of life. If any needs require specialized intervention such as mood, personality and anxiety disorders and health-related problems that require medical attention, we refer clients to medical and psychological professionals.

Scope of Practice:

• I specialize in one or more of the following areas: I have a special interest in children and adolescents, individual counselling, lifestyle coaching, Burn-out and stress management, Sports and injuries, counselling for problems, trauma counselling, HIV/AIDS counselling, bereavement counselling, and support in human development.
• Our services are based on a systems approach to counselling, working towards achieving wholeness within the integrative unity of body, mind, and spirit.
• work on the primary health care level are obligated to refer clients to medical and psychological professionals if they identify needs that require specialized intervention such as mood, personality, and anxiety disorders and health-related problems that require medical attention.

Counselling Competencies within the Scope of Practice:

• Applying interpersonal skills by entering into a helping relationship.
• Applying counselling tools and techniques to assist, support, guide, debrief, and encourage a client in need.
• Applying knowledge of health and wellness in a counselling context to screen for a health profile.
• Managing a counselling consultation with reference to record-keeping, confidentiality, ethical codes, legal requirements, and professional conduct within the scope of practice.
• Applying communication and numeracy skills in analyzing, interpreting, and evaluating information in a counselling context.

Keywords: wellness counselling, specialized counselling, primary health care, systems approach, counselling competencies, critical cross-field outcomes.