Counseling Defined

Counseling can be defined in various ways. Over the years, several

conceptual models have been used to define counseling proving the
dynamic and complex nature of the discipline no single definition is
enough to explain what counseling is hence this lesson presents
counseling as process, a relationship, an art, a science, and an emerging
profession. Furthermore, this lesson provides a brief description of the
goals, purposes and scope of counseling.

Counseling as Process

Counseling is a holistic process that helps individuals cope with living

problems and promotes healthy development. It involves empowering
clients to set achievable goals and use personal and environmental
resources to achieve them. Counseling involves a sequence of steps,
leading to self-exploration, self-discovery, and behavior changes. The
number of sessions varies, with Lesson 5 discussing the stages.

Counseling as a Relationship

Counseling is a principled relationship involving the application of

psychological theories and communication skills to address clients’
intimate concerns, problems, or aspirations. It is a professional
relationship that empowers individuals, families, and groups to achieve
mental health, wellness, education, and career goals. Counseling is
egalitarian, requiring conscious sharing of power between counselors and
clients. Counselors assist clients in making choices and solving problems
for themselves. Counseling is built on trust and confidentiality, with clients
placing their trust on their counselors and sharing personal information.
Counselors must ensure confidentiality is maintained, only disclosing
information with consent from clients. However, there are situations where
counselors may need to break confidentiality, such as when the safety of
clients or others is at risk or a court order requires disclosure.

Counseling as an Art

Counseling is a flexible and creative process where counselors adapt their

approach to the unique needs of clients. They are artists who use their
natural talents to address clients’ concerns. Counselors must constantly
think of new ways to address clients’ concerns and give of themselves,
which can be challenging and exhausting. This process involves providing
concern and support, going beyond oneself, and feeling at one with the
client.

Counseling as a Science

Counseling is a scientific field that focuses on objective observations and

research to support clients. Counselors, known as “counselor-scientists,”
must develop skills for making objective assessments, testing hypotheses,
and using psychological tests. They analyze various aspects of a client’s
life, including physical, emotional, social, economic, and spiritual
dimensions, as well as the environments that affect them. To be effective,
counselors need a solid understanding of theoretical frameworks related
to human development and personality. Becoming a counselor-scientist
requires academic training and ongoing education to equip them with the
necessary skills and knowledge to help clients.

Counseling as an Emerging Process

Counseling became a prominent helping profession in the 20 th century,

offering a confidential space for individuals in distress to discuss their
issues in a less stigmatizing environment than traditional psychiatric
settings. Counselors assist clients in making decisions and solving
problems in various contexts, including schools, communities, and clinical
settings. The profession requires graduate education, adherence to ethical
standards, and encourages licensure and organizational involvement.
Counselors undergo rigorous training to effectively meet the diverse
needs of their clients.

Goals of Counseling

Counseling is a deliberate and carefully though -out process no client goes

into counseling and no counselor conducts counseling just because it
strikes their fancy goals are very important in counseling relationship is
terminated
According to George and Cristian(1995as cited by Nystul 2016),
counseling has five major five major goals, these goals are the following :

 Facilitating Behavior Change

One major goal in counseling is to foster behavior change on the
part of the client
Certain behavior changes are needed to resolve clients’ concerns or
improve i lives. For example, a teenage boy who spends most of his
time playing video games and surfing the Internet may undergo
counseling to help him learn how to manage his time better and
improve his study habits.
 Improving The Client’s Ability to Establish and maintain
Relationship
Counseling helps clients overcome difficulties in their
interpersonal relationships
And improve how they relate with the people around them. For
instance, an
11-year-old girl who feels isolated and has trouble expressing herself
to others may seek a counselor to help her be confident in dealing
with people.
 Enhancing the Client Effectiveness and Ability to Cope
Counseling may turn to counseling to help them learn how to cope
and adapt to
Change. For example, a transfer student who finds adjusting to a
new environment difficult with its new set of rules, teachers, and
classmates may seek the help of a
School counselor.
 Promoting the Decision-Making Process
Counseling helps clients make decisions. Counselors assist clients in
exploring the different aspects of the self (namely physical, social,
emotional, mental, moral, and spiritual), which can influence
decision-making. Clients are also guided in identifying options and
their respective consequences to help them make informed
Decisions. A high school student from a poor family, for example,
may consult with
 Facilitating Client Potential And Development
Counseling is a process that maximizes clients’ potentials and
promotes growth. It helps clients discover their capabilities and
achieve their goals. McLeod (2013, 9) identified three potential
outcomes of counseling: resolution of problems, learning, and social
inclusion. Resolution involves understanding and accepting the
problem, learning involves acquiring new skills, and social inclusion
helps clients engage with others and the community.

Scope Of Counseling

Counseling is done to achieve specific goals for a group or

individuals who wish or need to address a certain aspect of their
behavior or personal development. Individual counseling addresses
identity concerns, relationships with others, anxiety, anger,
depression, and even gender. Premarital and marital counseling, on
the other hand, addresses issues related to the dynamics of one’s
transition from being single to embracing married life. Family
 counseling, meanwhile, takes on the challenges of addressing the
individual’s concerns about family life and issues surrounding it such
as, but not limited to, conflict, communication, separation, family
transitions, and others.

Principles Of Counseling

 Acceptance-Counselors recognize and espouse unconditional

acceptance of their clients right and unique needs hence,
counseling is a service that is open to all client regardless of their
demographic background.
 Communication-Counseling is communication in itself during both
verbal and nonverbal encounter with patients, counselor should be
aware of the needs of the individuals they are talking to.
 Empty-Counselors adopt enter their clients world by understanding
how client give meaning to their experiences.
 Non judgment-Counselors adopt a nonbiased behavior and
attitude toward their clients. They suspend any form of judgment
and accept their clients regardless of the disclosure that the latter
have made. In doing so, counselors are able to show to clients that
they are appreciated and valued; hence, clients know that they are
in a safe space that allows them to be who they are.
 Confidentiality-Counselor keep their personal information and
problems strictly to themselves. it is worthy to note, however, that
there are limits to this principal.
 Individuality-Counselors recognize that all client are unique in
their own way. There is no single way to address different client with
different concern.
 Non emotional-Counselors do their best to be objective by not
Letting their personal views, biases, and judgments affect their
counseling sessions. It is also important to maintain boundaries by
not getting over emotionally involved with clients
Core Values of Counseling
The European Association for Counseling (2013) emphasizes the
core values of counseling, which include respect for universal
human rights and individual and cultural differences. These values
reflect the counselor’s worldview, culture, and understanding of the
world, guiding their professional practice.
 Respect is recognize the client’s individual as well as cultural
differences counselor have the responsibility to be aware and be
sensitive to the client’s various background.
 Integrity the clients’ right to “maintain their physical and
emotional boundaries and the right not to be exploited in any way”
(EAC 2013, 13). Counselors should avoid engaging in unethical
behaviors.
 Authority means that the decision to enter the counseling
relationship rests on clients alone. Counselors must respect the fact
that clients can decide to commence or terminate the counseling
relationship.
 Autonomy s recognizing the client’s right to self-determination as
long as this does not impinge on the rights of others.
 Privacy means ensuring that the counseling sessions are conducted
in a conducive and safe place away from prying eyes and ears.
 Confidentiality is ensuring that information disclosed during the
sessions is kept classified however counselors must discuss with
their clients that there are limits to confidentiality .
 Responsibility means that counselors consciously and diligently
exercise their duties and task according to ethical standards.
 Competence for counselors to ensure and maintain high standards
of practice in their work counselors should only provide those
service and use only those and techniques for which they are
qualified by education, training or experience (EAC 2013,14).