Psychological Well-Being of Counsellors in Malaysia: A Descriptive Study

Abstract

The importance of psychological well-being in the counselling profession is undeniable as it ensures that counsellors are always able to provide counselling services effectively. The Counsellor's Code of Ethics emphasizes that every counsellor needs to be sensitive to the signs of physical, mental or emotional disability, including psychological well-being. This is to avoid interference with the effectiveness and efficiency of dealing with a client. If a counsellor's psychological well-being deteriorates, the counselling session should be postponed or terminated, and the client should be referred to another qualified counsellor. This procedure ensures that both the client and the counselling service are not adversely affected. Therefore, this study was carried out to uncover the level of psychological well-being among counsellors in Malaysia through a survey study involving 100 registered counsellors. The level of psychological well-being of counsellors was measured by using the Psychological Well-Being Scale and was analysed using descriptive statistics. The results showed that the level of psychological well-being of counsellors was at a high level. Psychological well-being deserves attention as its deficiency can be extremely dangerous when uncontrolled. Therefore, this study serves as a guide for counsellors regarding the role of psychological well-being in the workplace and for the counselling profession. The findings can help raise awareness among counsellors on the importance of psychological well-being as a protective factor as well as to mitigate risk factors in their careers.