3 Hours Task

Question 1
Cikgu Najwa is a counsellor. She identified a student named Faiz from 5
Cempaka who always hardly finishes his homework. This happens due to his
poor ability in time management. If Cikgu Najwa uses behavioural theory,
discuss the strategies that can be implemented to improve Faizs behaviour.
Behaviourists believe that behaviour is 'learned' and therefore, it can be
unlearned. Behavioural theory focuses on the behaviour of the individual and aims to
help that particular individual to modify unwanted behaviours. According to this
theory, unwanted behaviour is an undesired response to something or someone in a
person's environment. Using this theory in the case stated above, Cikgu Najwa
would identify the unwanted behaviour shown by Faiz which is having poor ability in
time management and they will work together to change or adapt the behaviour.
There are four strategies that can be implemented by Cikgu Najwa to improve
Faizs behaviour in classroom. There are operant learning, imitative learning,
cognitive learning and emotional learning. The first one, which is operant learning is
the approach of changing the behaviour with the use of reinforcement which is given
after the desired response. The reinforcement is in the form of rewards or expression
stated and agreed.
Reinforcement can be either positive or negative. Positive reinforcement
strengthens a behavior by providing a consequence an individual finds rewarding. In
this case, Cikgu Najwa could establish positive or negative reinforcements to Faiz.
Positive reinforcement works by presenting a motivating or reinforcing stimulus to the
person after the desired behaviour is exhibited, making the behaviour more likely to
happen in the future. For example, Cikgu Najwa gives Faiz praises (positive
stimulus) for doing homework (behaviour). While negative reinforcement occurs
when a certain stimulus (usually an aversive stimulus) is removed after a particular
behaviour is exhibited. The likelihood of the particular behaviour occurring again in
the future is increased because of removing/avoiding the negative consequence.
Negative reinforcement should not be thought of as a punishment procedure. With
negative reinforcement, teacher are increasing a behaviour, whereas with

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punishment, teacher are decreasing a behaviour. For example, Faiz does his
homework to avoid nagging from Cikgu Najwa.
The second one is the imitative learning. It is related with acceptance of new
responses exposed to the models that the students would love to imitate or copy
based on their preferences. Imitative learning is a type of social learning whereby
new behaviours are acquired via imitation. Imitation aids in communication, social
interaction, and the ability to modulate one's emotions to account for the emotions of
others, and is "essential for healthy sensorimotor development and social
functioning".
The third one is cognitive learning. It focus on learning response by giving
instruction to the client on ways to adapt himself in certain learning situation. The last
one is the emotional learning. This approach involves acceptance of emotional
responses as the alternative of unwanted emotional reactions.

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Question 2
In order to ensure an effective individual counselling, a counsellor need to
identify and focus on the problem. This is important during the exploration
phase (fasa penerokaan). With suitable/relevant examples, describe the
elements during this stage.
Counselling should undergo a certain process to ensure that a counselling
session would achieve its targeted goal. The counselling process is a complex and
yet systematic process which follows a series of events. It involves steps, levels,
techniques, skills, time and changes for each process and usually happens through
certain processes. Generally, the counselling process involves phases or stages
such as involvement of counsellor and client, clients exploration, clients selfunderstanding, and finally the action itself.
Exploration stage is one of the most important stages in identifying and
focusing on the clients problem. During exploration stage, the relationship or rapport
between the counsellor and the client should be maintained so that the whole
counselling process can be conducted smoothly. The counsellor need to make sure
that the client got the sense of trust in telling about his or her problem. Besides, the
counsellor should also destroy the feelings that could disturb the process in
achieving the aims of the counselling session.
Making a deep exploration on the current issues is vital in a counselling
process. Through this method, a counsellor could get a true insight of a particular
problem before proceeding with helping strategies. I have to know about what is his
perspective towards himself, what is others perspective of him, what is his
expectations upon himself and others. For example, his emotions will affect and
change his perspectives. In return, his perspectives will change the way he feels.
Like I said, they influence each other and this is how I help my clients. The client
should throw away any negativity on the counsellor and vice versa to ensure that the
aims of the counselling session are attained. The client should explore the problem
and feeling in order to achieve higher self-actualization. The client must go deep

3 Hours Task

inside the problem and understand their own feeling in order to understand
themselves. Facts that are able to help in solving the problems should be collected.
For example, the external factors that cause the problem to occur should be realised
in order to avoid it and solve the problems. The counsellor also has to teach the
client on certain skills needed to achieve the objectives. Besides that, in order to
achieve the aims, homework activities should be given to the client. For example, the
client would be given some task related with problems and the ways to solve it bit by
bit. Thus, the client would apply it anytime even at home and not just during the
session.

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Question 3
Give your opinion on group counselling that could help students to solve their
problems.
Group counselling is a powerful tool for growth and change. During the
session, six to eight individuals meet face to face to share their struggles and
concerns with the facilitation of one to two trained group counsellor. The power of
group counselling lies in the unique opportunity to receive multiple perspectives,
support, encouragement and feedback from other individuals in a safe and
confidential environment. These interpersonal interactions can provide group
members an opportunity to deepen their level of self-awareness and to learn how
they relate to others.
Group counselling is typically unstructured. There is no specific topic for each
group session. Some of the groups may be focused on a particular theme or issue
faced by the clients, or the group may be focused on a specific group of individuals.
Members are welcome to bring any issues to the group that they feel are important.
The primary focus of therapy in the group is on the interactions among group
members. Members are encouraged to give support and feedback to others, and to
work with the reactions and responses that other members contributions bring up for
them.
In my opinion, group counselling could help students to solve their problems.
The first few sessions of a group counselling will usually focus on the establishment
of trust. During this time, the group therapists and group members work towards
establishing a level of trust that allows them to communicate openly and honestly. In
a climate of trust, people feel free to care about and help each other. New members
are often amazed at how much their contributions help other members. Group
counselling is enhanced when all members make a commitment to the group.
Group counselling could help in solving the problems of the members as it
establish a helpful environment. The counsellor and members would help each

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other without being judgemental. They would also feel the sense of trust,
understand, safe and empathy with each other. It would really help the members and
encourage them to be better. Next, it also has self-exposure process where the
members could tell about themselves such as their interest, feelings, attitude and
belief. They would start to tell a story about themselves which is safe like the name,
class and interest as well as not safe information such as familys economic
background (if low) and their weaknesses.
Besides, the feedback or response gained from the main person in the group
would help the clients. An honest, open-minded and clear feedback should be given.
Members are encouraged to give support and feedback to others, and to work with
the reactions and responses that other members contributions bring up for them.
Group members and group counsellor may serve as models for effective
communication, offer problem-solving strategies, and promote self-acceptance and
self-support.
Other than that is the quality of the leadership. In order to have a successful
group counselling, the leader should have certain skills. The leader would ensure
that all the members anticipate in the session in order to achieve the objectives.
Besides that, the leadership quality among members should be develop so that they
could support the leader and guide other members.
Next, the hope would encourage the members to change and it is possible to
be better. It also proves that the person is not the victim of the situation but new
decisions or results can be happening or formed. The closeness of the group
members would be formed and thus it would make the members to trust each other.
As each individual begins interacting freely with other group members, they usually
re-experience or recreate some of the interpersonal difficulties that brought them to
the group in the first place.
Their commitment to change is important. As individuals increase their selfawareness, develop new ways of relating to people, and learn new adaptive
behaviors, they make progress towards their personal goals and objectives.
Guidance or motivation of an individual to change is really crucial. It involves the
clients readiness to say out the changes needed thus us the group process to
explore the ways to change the individuals behaviour.

3 Hours Task