KUALA LUMPUR: Counsellors must prioritise their own physical, emotional and spiritual well-being, as well as emotional stability, before helping clients achieve a balanced and fulfilling life, says Datin Dr Ruhani Mat Min.
The Board of Counsellors Malaysia (LKM) president said that in the digital era, counsellors need to possess positive attitudes and personalities, in addition to relevant knowledge and skills, to enhance their professional competency levels.
"A 2025 scoping review study found that the two main elements of counsellor competency are attitude and personality, while knowledge and skills complement the effectiveness of counselling services.
"We cannot help others if we do not help ourselves. How can we guide our clients towards improvement if we are not in a good state ourselves?" she said.
Ruhani said this when delivering her keynote address titled "Counselling in the Digital Era: Nurturing Emotions, Enriching Humanity" at the closing ceremony of the National Counselling Month 2025 celebration here Thursday (Oct 30). The event was officiated by Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.
Ruhani said counselling supervision is an important check-and-balance process to ensure the counsellor's emotional well-being, which in turn ensures the effectiveness of interventions for clients.
As such, she suggested that supervision practices be extended to certified counsellors and not be limited to university students, as the process can help strengthen emotional resilience, ethics and professionalism among counsellors.
On current challenges, Ruhani said the advancement of communication technology requires counsellors to be more aware of client data security, digital literacy gaps and information authenticity, as borderless social networks expose them to risks of data breaches and misrepresentation of professional identity.
She said data from the 2023 National Health and Welfare Survey revealed that about one million Malaysians, or 4.6% of those aged 16 and above, suffer from depression, with the youth group (aged 16-29) being the most affected due to the rise in bullying, rape and violence in schools.
"This situation demands that counsellors play a greater role in strengthening counselling services, not only for clients but also for themselves," she said.
Ruhani also encouraged counsellors to use social media platforms to spread positive emotions, build networks and strengthen human connections, while stressing that physical interaction remains vital for maintaining honesty and empathy.
"Use digital spaces creatively, but never neglect face-to-face interactions, for it is through them that empathy and sincerity are born," she added. - Bernama
