Types of supportive techniques used in counselling are-

i. Ventilation: Ventilation means allowing the client to freely express his problems without any restrictionor inhibition. Ventilation is an important technique in therapy, particularly during the early phases. Ventilation is a process in which the client is allowed to talk and share freely his/her thoughts, feelings and emotions. It is very helpful for various reasons. Firstly it provides the counsellor with the opportunity to learn about the client and his problems. This helps the counsellor to understand his client better. Secondly, it provides the client an opportunity to share without getting any advice or judgment which he/she has to commonly face when sharing his/
her problem with others in general. Here the client is given a platform to share whatever he wishes and be really “listened to”. Ventilation enables the client to ‘get everything off his/her chest’ during the initial stages of counselling. This experience helps the client feel a sense of relief. Thirdly, as the client expresses his/her thoughts and feelings freely about the problem faced to the counsellor, s/he begins to see the clients problems in a more objective light, thereby gaining objectivity over the problems. And thus the client becomes more likely to think of solutions for the problems. This happens since through the ventilation process his/her mind gets relieved from the heavy burden that s/he was carrying.

ii. Catharsis: Catharsis is a letting off of steam. This often takes the form of tears, also may include
expressions of anger and rage. Catharsis can be used at any time during therapy, but is more helpful during the early phase. Most persons feel better after they have had a good cry