Fantan, who was officiating at the launch of the Botswana Guidance and Counselling Association (BOGCA) at the Botswana Television auditorium over the weekend, also added that there is need to educate people that not all human emotions are a subject for counselling.
“All of us may at one stage in our lives need the services of a counsellor who can assist us to process or reflect on issues we are grappling with,” she said.
She cited that counselling is not only for dysfunctional people but a service that can benefit anyone by assisting them to explore the different choices before them and take the best decision for their particular situation.
“The issues may relate to a decision to change careers, retirement, getting married, adjustment to divorce, substance abuse, conflict in relationships, grief, identity crisis and many more,” she said.
She said that the establishment of the association is therefore welcome as it provides a forum for counsellors to dialogue on improvement measures to meet the diverse needs of their clientele.
Fantan asserted that various challenges prevalent in our society today including passion killings and suicides call for counsellors and the entire society to consult and find better strategies of addressing these challenges.
“We hope that you will seek to address the various challenges brought about by HIV/AIDS, alcohol and other substance abuse that destabilises humanity.
“Counselling can play an important role in changing the behaviour of the affected and infected as well as giving hope in difficult situations,” she said.
According to BOGCA’s president Christopher Tidimane, they are looking for people who specialise as counsellors, clinical psychologists and social workers to form part of the BOGCA body.
He said that they also intend to approach companies and relevant educational, industrial and business organisations interested in the objectives and ideals of the association, who provide and promote support services.
