Title: Key concepts in counselling
Course: Level 3 - Family Planning > Section: Family planning counselling

Informed Choice is an individual's well-considered, voluntary decision based on options, information, and understanding. When applied to decisions about FP, the concept of informed choice means that individuals freely choose whether to use a contraceptive method and which one, based on their awareness and understanding of accurate information about the methods.

The concept of informed and voluntary decision making applies broadly to any health care decision and assumes that individuals have both the right and the ability to make their health care decisions in a voluntary manner and with full information and understanding of the consequences of each option.

In order to make a choice that is truly informed, the client needs to know:

- The range of all methods available (this assumes that a variety of methods actually are available, or that an effort is made to obtain or refer).
- Advantages / disadvantages of each possible side effects/complications.
- Precautions based on her individual medical history.
- Information on risks of not using any method, such as risks associated with pregnancy/childbirth versus risks associated with contraceptive use.
- How to use the method chosen safely and effectively.

Importance of counselling:

- It ensures clients' right to informed and voluntary decision making.
- It is an essential element of quality FP services.
- It is a key determinant of the adoption and continuation of family planning.

What does effective counselling do to clients?:

- Enables clients to choose a method that suits their needs.
- Enables clients to use their chosen method correctly.
- Enables the client to continue using an FP method with satisfaction.
- Informs and prepares clients for side effects.

Counselling Settings

1. Individual counselling
It is the case in which an individual prefer privacy and confidentiality during counselling and it is important to respect the needs and interests of a client by finding a private room or place where you can talk with them.
2. Couple counselling
Couple counselling is when you give a counselling service to a couple or partner together. Couple counselling is particularly common when they are thinking of using irreversible family planning measures, such as voluntary surgical methods.
3. Group counselling
Appropriate when clients are more comfortable in a group situation or when individual counselling is not feasible
  - Greet clients in a friendly manner.
  - Introduce benefits of family planning.
  - Elicit and discuss rumours and concerns about family planning.
  - Discuss family planning methods and encourage questions and group discussion.
  - Discuss how to obtain appropriate methods.