Counsellors as agents of change
SAID
Participants in the counsellor‐led format described how interactions during face‐to‐face sessions encouraged them to open up about their problems.He [counsellor] helped me as a friend, spoke nicely with me and encouraged me to share all my problems openly. He [counsellor] said, ‘I would help you solve them [problems], so I told him everything without fear.’ So, after that, he [counsellor] told me all the good ways to solve the problem, and then I kept working on them. Many participants spoke approvingly of receiving directive advice from counsellors, reflecting adolescents' preferences for concrete “tips” that could be applied to their problems.[My counsellor] would tell me things. I would think about it and try them. I was feeling better, as things were improving. Like, for my academic‐related problems, ma'am [my counsellor] had asked me to make a timetable for every minute of the day – for going out with friends, eating, drinking, and studying. I did that, and I am more attentive in my studies today. Then I spoke to sir [my counsellor] and he spoke to me in a very good manner. After that, I followed what he told me. This made it easier for me… Whatever he taught me, I followed it as it is, and that has helped me a lot! Participants also described how counsellors helped them navigate through the POD booklets and clarify written concepts.When I read the booklet, I could not understand what I had to do. Then I asked [my counsellor], ‘Ma'am, what do I have to do in this, I do not understand.’ Ma'am explained everything to me, what I had to do and how. Then I completed it as instructed. 