Grade 12 Applied Social Science Overview

Discipline and Ideas in Applied Social Science (DIASS)

• DIASS is a Grade 12 subject
• The subject introduces Applied Social Sciences such as Counseling, Social Work, and Communication
• These disciplines build on the theories and principles of Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, and other Social Sciences
• The course emphasizes the interconnectedness of these disciplines and their application to critical development areas

What is Social Science and Applied Social Science?

• Social Science: The study of society and how people behave and influence each other
• Its goal is to answer questions and solve problems related to society and human condition
• Social Science provides essential data for governments, policymakers, and organizations
• Applied Social Science: Uses Social Science knowledge, theories, principles, and methods to understand society and help solve societal problems

Introduction to Counseling

• Counseling is a relationship centered on applying psychological theories and communication skills to address a client's concerns, problems, or aspirations.
• It relies on a recognized set of skills and theories. (Feltham & Dryden, 1993)
• Counseling is frequently used within schools to support students.

Definition of Counseling

• Counseling is a process of guiding someone through life changes and choices about their lives
• Schools often use counseling services as a critical support
• Counseling often employs psychological tests and non-psychometric methods to aid with assessment
• It aims to empower individuals, families, and groups achieve goals including mental health, wellness, education, and career aspirations

Context and Basic Concepts of Counseling

• Counseling is influenced by external factors like social contexts, and this should be considered in the process
• Primary Context: Peers have a substantial influence on adolescents. Families are also incredibly important in shaping adolescents. Neighborhood dynamics also impact individuals within a community.
• Culture as Context: Culture provides meaning to communities and influences individuals within those communities
• Counseling as Context: The counseling process itself is a context, regardless of the specific approach taken, which should be taken into account.

Factors Contributing to Counseling Success

• Client Factors: Clients' expectations, attitudes, and experiences heavily influence the counseling outcome, often more than often initially believed
• Counselor Factors: Counselor qualities, such as personality, skills, and personal style play a vital role in shaping the effectiveness of counseling
• Contextual Factors: The surroundings of the counseling session, such as the environment and atmosphere, influence the outcomes of counseling
• Process Factors: The specific process of counseling, as structured by Vellemean (2001) in six stages, is integral to its effectiveness

Processes in Counseling

• Developing trust is essential in counseling, and involves providing warmth, genuineness, and empathy.
• Exploring issues means undertaking a deep analysis of the problem, its source, triggers, and development.
• Setting goals in counseling focuses on developing and handling goals which are targeted and relevant to the client's situation.
• Empowerment involves supporting to take ownership and action in pursuit of their goals to foster change
• Maintaining change focuses support and techniques to help maintain positive changes
• Ending the relationship means ensuring the end of the counseling process is successful for the client

Goals and Scope of Counseling

• The major goal of counseling is to facilitate a client's or group's self-emancipation and increase self-awareness to tackle felt issues
• At some point during the procedure, the client should comprehend their situation to better support their own growth and empowerment

Principles of Counseling

• Principles of counseling include trust building, investigating concerns, setting goals, empowering action, positive change, and proper process closure
• Counseling involves several functions that counselors perform including advice, reassurance, releasing tension, clarifying thoughts, and reorienting goals.

Core Values of Counseling

• Respect for human dignity and providing unconditional positive regard, compassion, non-judgmental attitudes, and empathy and trust are essential counseling traits.
• Partnership: Counselors should collaborate with other disciplines to support physical, emotional, spiritual, and intellectual healing.
• Autonomy highlights respect for confidentiality and creating safe healing environments, letting clients guide their own journeys toward change
• Responsible Caring: Respect is a core principle, respecting that everyone has the innate potential for change and consistent learning
• Personal Integrity: Counselors must uphold honesty, integrity, and truthfulness in their interactions with clients to build trust
• Social Justice: Respect and recognize diverse client characteristics for equitable treatment