LABORATORY COUNSELING TECHNIQUE
‘‘Structuring”
SUPERVISORS:
Dr. Ifdil and Mr. Zadrian
ARRANGED BY:
Phyu Sin Yadanar Thein
19006243
GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING
FACULTY OF EDUCATION
UNIVERSITAS NEGERI PADANG
2021
DEFINITION OF STRUCTURING STRUCTURING FUNCTION
Structuring is the counselor's effort in the 1. The facilitative function is to facilitate the emergence
counseling process to foster the structure of of a sense of responsibility, commitment, and
providing assistance through counseling. In line involvement or active participation of clients in the
with this opinion, Karneli (1999; 59) counseling process.
"structuring is the setting of boundaries by the
counselor regarding the nature, boundaries, and 2. Therapeutic function is to solve the client's problems
objectives of counseling in general and its and mentally nourish the problematic individual.
relationship to its particular aspects". 3. The protective function is to protect the client to feel
comfortable in the counseling process, to ensure
confidentiality.
PURPOSE OF STRUCTURING
The purpose of structuring is to explain the role of
TYPES AND FORMS OF STRUCTURING
the counselor, the role of the client, and the
counseling process that will be undertaken by the 1. Structuring in counseling is divided into two
client. Or in other words, structuring aims to types, namely: a. Full structuring and b. Partial
provide an explanation to the client about the structure.
meaning, purpose, nature, principles and
procedures of counseling. 2. There are four forms of structuring, namely: a.
Time Limits, b. Action Limits, c. Role Limits, and
d. Problem Limits.
STRUCTURING CONTENT
1. What is counseling.
2. How the counseling was carried out.
3. Where does the counseling go? STRUCTURING
4. The basic principles that overshadow the
counseling process.
5. The role of counselor and client in the
counseling process.
A. Definition of Structuring
In counseling activities, a counselor often meets clients who do not know
what is meant by counseling, or are still unsure about some aspects of counseling.
For example, the client does not know the meaning, goals, principles, principles,
processes and roles of the counselor and client in the counseling relationship. Or
the client has doubts about one aspect of counseling, such as doubts about the
principle of confidentiality. This encourages the counselor to do structuring.
Structuring is the counselor's effort in the counseling process to foster the
structure of providing assistance through counseling. In line with this opinion,
Karneli (1999; 59) "structuring is the setting of boundaries by the counselor
regarding the nature, boundaries, and objectives of counseling in general and its
relationship to its particular aspects".
Structuring is a technique used by counselors to provide boundaries so that
the counseling process runs according to what is the goal in counseling (in the
book Basic Counseling Skills, Mulawarman). Meanwhile, according to Brammer
and Shostrom, 1982 (in the book Basic Skills in Counseling) states that the
structuring contains the counselor's limitations regarding the nature, conditions,
boundaries and goals of the counseling process. Structuring can be applied
throughout the counseling process, although the early stages are particularly
important to encourage client involvement and responsibility. All counseling
processes are basically structured processes. Each counseling process can be
described through its parameters, procedures, conditions and characteristics. The
use of structure in counseling is important.
B. Structuring Function
Day & Sparacio, 1980 (in the book Basic Skills in Counseling) revealed
that the structural function is divided into 3:
1. The facilitative function is to facilitate the emergence of a sense of
responsibility, commitment, and involvement or active participation of clients in
the counseling process.
2. Therapeutic function is to solve the client's problems and mentally nourish the
problematic individual.
3. The protective function is to protect the client to feel comfortable in the
counseling process, to ensure confidentiality.
C. Purpose of Structuring
The purpose of structuring is to explain the role of the counselor, the role
of the client, and the counseling process that will be undertaken by the client. Or
in other words, structuring aims to provide an explanation to the client about the
meaning, purpose, nature, principles and procedures of counseling. Providing
structuring will bring clients to new insights and strengthen insights about
counseling services. In addition, the purpose of structuring is that the client
organizes the counseling process voluntarily and is directly, fully and actively
involved in the whole counseling.
D. Types and Forms of Structuring
1. Structuring in counseling is divided into two types, namely:
a. Full structuring
All structuring materials are presented to clients who do not understand
and know what counseling is. This is done for clients who do not realize they have
a problem and the client has a negative perception of counseling.
b. Partial structure
Deliver some structuring materials to clients. Structuring materials can be
selected by the counselor according to the client's needs. Partial structuring is
intended for clients who come voluntarily who generally have minimal knowledge
of counseling and have done counseling. Some of the structuring is done by the
counselor to reorganize the client's thoughts/feelings about counseling.
Structuring is needed to bring clients into counseling service activities for
self-development. For clients who are meeting counselors for the first time and do
not understand what, why and how counseling, especially individual counseling
services, requires full structuring.
2. There are four forms of structuring, namely
a. Time Limits
Time limits are needed in the counseling process in schools. In each
counseling interview session, there is only a certain amount of time that the
counselor can give to the client. In this case the counselor must also state at the
beginning of the meeting, how long the counseling will take. This is very
important, because the counselee must know how much time is available so that
they can convey the problems they are experiencing calmly because they are not
rushed by time. According to Brammer & Shostrom in the book Basic Skills in
Counseling, it is stated that if a time limit is given, the client often uses the
maximum time possible to speed up the therapeutic process.
b. Action Limits
Action restrictions here refer to the limits of actions that may or may not
be carried out. In counseling, the counselor may not limit the counselee's verbal
expression but the things that the counselee should not do is hurt himself and
others, for example, the counselee may say anything to the counselor, but the
counselee must not hurt the counselor. Rogers (in Sunardi, 1991) states that
hurting the counselor who is feared by the counselee is a mistake and this can
create anxiety for the counselor in his relationship to help the counselee.
c. Role Limits
In many counseling settings, counselors may have multiple roles. The role
structure is not only intended to limit who the counselor is at this time (in the
counseling room) but also what the counselor and client must play in the process
that will take place. The counselor explains his role in the counseling relationship
because the counselee sometimes comes to the counselor with the wrong
conception. Some counselees consider counseling as a panacea that can heal
quickly such as solving problems and giving advice. While other counselees often
assume that the responsibility for success lies with the counselor, these unrealistic
expectations require an explanation from the counselor that in counseling it is the
counselee who makes decisions or who can solve problems himself,
d. Problem Limits
The problems discussed in counseling that should be prioritized are the
most urgent problems to be solved. Therefore, the counselor needs to
communicate to the counselee first if the counselee comes with more than one
problem, for example, “You are experiencing three problems, namely learning
problems, social problems and time-sharing problems. And which three issues are
urgent to talk about.”
E. Structuring Content
The contents of the structure include:
1. What is counseling.
2. How the counseling was carried out.
3. Where does the counseling go?
4. The basic principles that overshadow the counseling process.
5. The role of counselor and client in the counseling process.
REFERENCES
Carkhuff, Robert R. (1985), The Art of Helping, USA: Human Resource
Development Press. Inc.
Willis, Sofyan S. (2010), Individual Counseling Theory and Practice, Bandung:
Alfabet.
Nurihsan, A. J. 2005. Guidance Services & Counseling Strategy. Bandung: PT
Refika Aditama.
Tohirin. 2007. Guidance and Counseling in Schools and Madrasas (Integration-
Based). Jakarta: PT. RajaGrafindo Persada.
Willis, S. S. 2013. Individualized Counseling: Theory and Practice. Bandung:
Alfabeta.
