Differences between Guidance and
Counselling
Dr. K.K. Chauhan
(Assistant Professor)
Department of Education,
C.S.J.M. University, Kanpur
Email:
[email protected] Self-Declaration
The material provided by me is my original work and/or obtained from online, open access
sources, and if any content is copied, appropriate acknowledgment has been made. The
information provided in this e-content is authentic and best as per knowledge.
Dr. K.K. Chauhan
Differences between Guidance and Counselling
Guidance:
Definition: Guidance is a process of providing advice, support, and assistance to
individuals, usually in educational or career-related contexts.
Focus: It primarily focuses on helping individuals make informed decisions regarding
their academic or career paths, personal development, and life choices.
Context: Guidance is often provided in educational settings, such as schools and
colleges, where counselors or guidance counselors offer guidance to students.
Scope: The scope of guidance is broader and includes helping individuals identify
their interests, strengths, weaknesses, and potential career options.
Tools and Techniques: Guidance may involve aptitude tests, career assessments,
goal setting, and educational planning to help individuals navigate their academic
and professional journey.
Counseling:
Definition: Counseling is a therapeutic process aimed at addressing personal, educational,
emotional, psychological, or behavioral issues and challenges.
Focus: It primarily focuses on understanding and resolving specific problems or difficulties
that individuals may be facing in their personal or emotional lives.
Context: Counseling is provided in various settings, including mental health centers, private
practices, hospitals, and community centers, by trained counselors or therapists.
Scope: Counseling deals with a wide range of issues, such as stress, anxiety, depression,
grief, relationship problems, and more.
Tools and Techniques: Counselors use various therapeutic techniques, such as talk therapy,
cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), psychoanalysis, and others, to help clients explore
their feelings, thoughts, and behaviors and work towards personal growth and resolution of
problems.
Both guidance and counseling are essential for supporting individuals in their personal and
professional development, but they have different areas of specialization and methods of
intervention.
Difference between Guidance and Counseling
Guidance is a term which is broader than counselling.
It includes counselling as one of its services.
Better makes a logical separation of the counselling process i.e.
(i) Adjustive phase- The emphasis is on social, personal and emotional problems of the individual-
Counselling
(ii) Distributive phase – the focus is upon educational, vocational and occupational problems. –
Guidance
Guidance–
one way exchange.
It includes educating, influencing, instructing and showing the way.
It is encouraging in nature.
Counselling-
Two way exchanges,
It is enabling clients to explore problems, understand problems and resolve, come to terms with
problems.
It is facilitative in nature.
References
Aggarwal, J. C. (1991). Educational, vocational guidance andcounseling. New Delhi: Doabai House.
Bhatnagar, R. P., & Seema, R. (2003). Guidance and counselling ineducation and psychology. Meerut: R. Lal Book Depot.
Chauhan, S. S. (1982). Principles and techniques of guidance. NewDelhi: Vikas Publishing House Pvt. Ltd
Crow, L. D., & Crow, A. (2008).An introduction to guidance. Delhi:Surjeet Publications.
Indu, D. (1983). The basic essentials of counseling. New Delhi: SterlingPublishers Private Ltd.
Jones, A. J. (2008). Principles of guidance. (5ed). Delhi: SurjeetPublications.
Kochhar, S. K. (1979). Guidance in indian education. New Delhi:Sterling Publishers Private Ltd.
Kochhar, S. K. (1984). Guidance and counseling in colleges anduniversities. New Delhi: Sterling Publishing Pvt. Ltd.
