The difference between ASCHP, CCSA & HPCSA Counsellors
An HPCSA counsellor or psychologist is one that is registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa. These professionals may have a different type of training or have studied for longer. For example, a psychologist is a mental health professional who has a minimum of a Masters Degree in Psychology and is registered as a clinical, counselling or educational psychologist. Each of these designations has its own scope of practice and ethical code. A clinical psychologist is better trained in working with disorders such as depression and anxiety. A counselling psychologist is experienced in working with general life difficulties such as financial crises or divorces. An educational psychologist generally works with children and adults who have learning difficulties or similar. Furthermore, there is another designation called the Registered Counsellor. These individuals have a BPsych degree in psychology and are authorised to work with clients and provide basic counselling and assessments per their scope of practice. Registered counsellors are often the first point of counselling for individuals and families and work a lot in schools or clinics. They can assess and refer clients to other professionals if needed. Most HPCSA registered professionals can claim from medical aids, or you can claim back for money spent on their services.
The ASCHP otherwise known as the Association for Supportive Counsellors and Holistic Practitioners is separate from the HPCSA. These counsellors have a different focus and speciality. They hold different degrees and qualifications, although still in the general field of Psychology. The counsellors at the ASCHP are registered under different designations. This includes designations such as Supportive Counsellor and Holistic Counsellor. These counsellors may have a BA Psychology degree or a BA Honours degree in Psychology. Some of these counsellors also have qualifications in Pastoral Counselling or Natural Healing (similar to homoeopathy). These counsellors typically charge a much lower rate than your normal HPCSA mental health professionals, as they offer very different services. An ASCHP counsellor may not work with mental disorders and dysfunctions but they are authorised to work with individuals, families, and relationships in a more holistic way. This holistic form of counselling focuses on the different aspects of a person’s life such as their relationships, their finances, their physical health, and mental health. This is known as general well-being, so ASCHP counsellors are also known as Wellness Counsellors or Life Coaches. ASCHP counsellors are not allowed to claim from medical aids as it is only HPCSA professionals that can register with medical aids. This is also why ASCHP Counsellors generally charge lower rates.
The Council for Counsellors South Africa CCSA is also part of the ASCHP, and their counsellors do the same work.
The main difference between the HPCSA and ASCHP comes down to whether you need to claim from medical aid or not. Furthermore, if you are looking for long-term therapy to help with possible past issues, it may be best to see a clinical psychologist. ASCHP counsellors are trained to help guide a person to better their lives when it comes to their relationships, physical health, financial health, spiritual health, and general well-being. If you are looking for more general counselling and help in your relationships as well as personal life, an ASCHP counsellor maybe just for you. They are aware of when to refer should the need arise, and if you need more advanced professional help.
Consider the following lists, to decide which kind of counselling is right for you
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If you answer YES
To the statements below, it may be best to seek an appointment from an HPCSA registered professional, such as a psychologist
  • You are looking for longer-term therapy (10 sessions +)
  • You have a diagnosed disorder, and want to receive therapy for it
  • You want to claim from your medical aid
  • You think your partner or a family member has a disorder, and want them to receive counselling for it
  • You want counselling for yourself, family, or relationships
  • You have feelings of suicide or are feeling extremely depressed
If you answer YES
To the statements below, then booking a session with an ASCHP or CCSA counsellor may suit you better
  • You are looking for counselling for yourself, regarding general life stressors, and want a safe place to “vent”.
  • You need counselling for your marriage, relationship, or family and want to focus on a few factors, such as finances, children or problems with your job or in-laws.
  • You need general life coaching.
  • You need trauma debriefing or counselling.
  • You can spend anywhere between R100-R500 per session depending on the counsellor’s rates.
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Adapted from:
The Family & Relationship Counselling Association Of South Africa
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The Role of the Counsellor
A Counsellor is highly trained and assists a client to rationalise and examine their thoughts, feelings, and actions so that they can gain increased personal insight, self-confidence, and the ability to make informed decisions to address their specific problem situations.
The role of a counsellor is:
  • NOT to judge
  • NOT to preach
  • NOT to make you feel guilty
  • NOT to make you feel inferior
  • NOT to cure, but to care and guide
It is the counsellor’s job to help facilitate change in your life, by respecting you as a person and the uniqueness of your situation. Counselling methods consist of various therapeutic interventions and sessions are tailored according to each person or group’s needs. Counselling sessions are an hour each and during the first session, the counsellor will get all the background information needed and also allow you enough time to decide whether you are comfortable with him/her.Thereafter sessions are booked as needed.
Taken from:
La Vie Counselling
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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.
Specialist Wellness Counsellors serve to enhance the total wellbeing of their clients by making use of a systems approach to counselling – working towards achieving wholeness within the integrative unity of body, mind, and spirit. The level of counselling is that of primary health care.
Specialist Counsellors specialize in one or more of the following areas of counselling/coaching: Individual counselling, marriage counselling, lifestyle coaching, counselling for problems, trauma counselling, drug and alcohol abuse counselling, HIV/AIDS counselling, counselling for gambling, research in the domain of counselling, addiction, bereavement counselling, hospice counselling and support and assistance in human development.
The Specialist Wellness Counsellor is competent to lend comprehensive and specialised counselling support towards the improvement of the quality of life by assisting clients in resolving conflicts, improving relationships, sorting out general problems, coping with life’s challenges and finding inner peace.
Specialist Wellness Counsellors are required to refer clients to medical and psychological professionals if they identify needs that require specialised intervention such as mood, personality and anxiety disorders and health-related problems that require medical attention.
Taken from:
Designations
Scope of Practice
The counsellor is bound to a specific scope of practice which is comprehensive but excludes psychotherapy, social work, medical health work and occupational therapy.
The generic scope of a life skills practice is that of wellness which includes, but is not limited to, providing support in interpersonal social relationships, spiritual growth, marital relationships, parental relationships, health-related issues such as stress management, lifestyle management in the prevention of chronic diseases, victim empowerment, domestic violence, trauma debriefing, household planning, HIV/AIDS, counselling, workplace adaptation, risk-taking, study methods, management of anxiety and depression, substance abuse, support of vulnerable people, meeting cultural issues and diversity in the workplace, improvement of employment prospects, support to people with disabilities, mental preparation for retirement, and any other general problem that people encounter in day-to-day living.
Holistic Counsellors work on the primary health care level and are obliged to terminate counselling and refer clients to a professional (doctor, psychologist, social worker or psychiatrist) where their counselling, regarding possible pathology or dysfunction, falls outside the scope of their practice.
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Counselling competencies within scope of practice include the ability
  • To apply interpersonal skills by entering into a helping relationship.
  • To apply counselling tools and techniques to assist, support, guide, debrief and encourage a client in need.
  • To apply knowledge of health and wellness in a counselling context to screen for a health profile.
  • To apply knowledge of health and wellness in a counselling context to screen for a health profile.
  • To manage a counselling consultation concerning record-keeping, confidentiality, ethical codes, legal requirements, and professional conduct within own scope of practice.
  • To apply communication and numeracy skills to be able to analyse, interpret and evaluate information in a counselling context.
A counsellor is also required to demonstrate the following critical cross-field outcomes in counselling
  • Identify and solve problems to make responsible decisions using critical and creative thinking in the counselling process.
  • Work effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organisation or community.
  • Organise and manage him/herself and his/her activities responsibly and ethically concerning the scope of practice and the ethical code of the profession.
  • Organise and manage a practice by keeping routine records of counselling interventions according to the work context.
  • Collect, organise, and critically evaluate information in screening a client to determine needs and recommend appropriate interventions.
  • Communicate effectively with clients and colleagues.
  • Make use of science and technology in maintaining records in a database.
  • Demonstrate cultural, religious, gender, social standing, and language sensitivity across a range of counselling contexts in applying knowledge of interpersonal relationships to enhance the effectiveness of the counselling process.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognising that problem-solving contexts do not exist in isolation.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the integration between human behaviour and health and wellness in terms of short-term interventions and potential long term effects.
  • Reflect on and explore a variety of strategies to learn more effectively in reflecting on own practice.
  • Participate as a responsible citizen in the life of local, national, and global communities in counselling within a structured environment.
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Taken from:
Scope of practice
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Code of Ethics
The counsellor shall
  • Retain a high level of competence in the interests of the profession and the public in general
  • Be aware of the influence of personal morals, ethics, values, and the norms on the quality of service
  • Ensure that public statements are directed at the provision of information in an attempt to assist individuals to make informed decisions in general. Such statements shall be accurate, qualified and objective
  • Guarantee the confidentiality of personal information acquired during counselling or instruction and regard all disclosures as privileged
  • Respect colleagues and individuals in the professional and counselling sphere. Conflicts in direction, evaluation, training procedures and loyalty shall be clearly defined to encourage freedom of participation
  • Acknowledge the requirements, competence, and responsibilities of colleagues and other professional organisations
  • Undertake research while protecting and recognising the welfare, dignity, and respect of the participant
  • Terminate counselling as soon as it becomes apparent that no professional contribution can be made as a consequence of a lack of special knowledge or personal limitations
  • Refer a client to a designated specialist in circumstances which reasonably require such referral
  • Decline further counselling where a client refuses to recognise a reasonable referral for specialist attention