|
| |
|
April is
Counseling Awareness Month |
|
There have always been counselors — people who listen to
others and help resolve difficulties — but the word does not always mean
the same thing. One hears of carpet counselors, color-coordination
counselors, pest-control counselors, financial counselors, and so on.
These counselors are most often glorified salespersons. They are to
counseling what furniture doctors are to medicine. Counseling as a
profession is relatively new. It grew out of the guidance movement, in
opposition to traditional psychotherapy. To understand what counseling
is, you must first understand these two concepts. |
 |
|
Guidance |
|
Guidance is the process of helping people
make important choices that affect their lives, such as choosing a
preferred life-style. While the decision-making aspect of guidance has
long played an important role in the counseling process, the concept
itself, as an often-used word in counseling, “has gone the way of
‘consumption’ in medicine” (Tyler, 1986, p. 153). It has more historical
significance than present-day usage. Nevertheless, it sometimes
distinguishes a way of helping that differs from the more encompassing
word counseling.
One distinction between guidance and counseling is that while guidance
focuses on helping individuals choose what they value most, counseling
focuses on helping them make changes. Much of the early work in guidance
occurred in schools: an adult would help a student make decisions, such
as deciding on a vocation or course of study. That relationship was
between unequals — teacher and pupil — and was beneficial in helping the
less-experienced person find direction in life. Similarly, children have
long received “guidance” from parents, ministers, scout leaders, and
coaches. In the process they have gained an understanding of themselves
and their world (Shertzer & Stone, 1981). This type of guidance will
never become passé; no matter what the age or stage of life, a person
often needs help in making choices. Yet such guidance is only one part
of the overall service provided by professional counseling. |
|
Psychotherapy |
|
Psychotherapy (or therapy) traditionally
focuses on serious problems associated with intrapsychic, internal, and
personal issues and conflicts. Characteristically, it emphasizes the
following issues (Pietrofesa, Hoffman, and Splete, 1984; Super, 1993):
-
The past more than the present
-
Insight more than change
-
The detachment of the therapist
-
The therapist’s role as an expert
Psychotherapists and clinical
psychologists generally use the term psychotherapy to describe their
work. Whether clients receive counseling or psychotherapy, however, os
often determined by the professionals who provide the service (Trotzer &
Trotzer, 1986). Some counseling theories are commonly referred to as
therapies and can be used in either a counseling or therapy setting.
There are other similarities in the counseling and psychotherapy
process.
Generally, when making a distinction between psychotherapy and
counseling, you should consider two criteria. First, psychotherapy
usually involves a long-term relationship (20 to 40 sessions over a
period of six months to two years) that focuses on reconstructive
change. Counseling, on the other hand, tends to be a short-term
relationship (8 to 12 sessions spread over a period of less than six
months) and focuses on the relationship of developmental and situational
problems. Second, counseling is usually provided in outpatient settings
(nonresidential buildings, such as schools or community agencies),
whereas therapy is provided in both outpatient and inpatient settings
(residential treatment facilities such as mental hospitals). |
|
Counseling |
|
Both the American Counseling Association (ACA)
and Division 17 (Counseling Psychology) of the American Psychological
Association (APA) have defined counseling on numerous occasions. Their
definitions contain a number of common points, some of which follow.
Counseling is a profession. Practitioners should complete a prescribed
course of study usually leading to a master’s degree or a doctorate
degree. Counselors are members of organizations that set professional
and ethical standards and promote state licensing and certification by
national associations (Wittmer & Loesch, 1986). The process of
certification and licensing and the adherence to ethical codes assure
the public that the counselor meets minimal educational and professional
standards. Counselors should possess personal qualities of maturity,
empathy, and warmth. Overall, counseling is active and differs
considerably from passively listening to problems.
Counseling deals with personal, social, vocational, empowerment, and
educational concerns. Counselors work only in areas in which they have
expertise. These areas may include intra- and interpersonal concerns
related to school or college adjustment, mental health, aging, marriage
or family issues, employment, and rehabilitation.
Counseling is conducted with persons who are considered to function
within the “normal range". Clients have adjustment, development, or
situational concerns; and their problems require short-term
intervention. They are not considered “sick” but “stuck”. Sometimes they
just need information, but usually they are looking for a way to clarify
and use the information they already possess.
Counseling is theory-based and takes place in a structured setting.
Counselors draw from a number of theories and work in a structured
environment, such as an office setting, with various individuals, groups
and families.
Counseling is a process in which clients learn how to make decisions and
formulate new ways of behaving, feeling, and thinking. Counselors focus
on the goals their clients wish to achieve. Clients explore their
present levels of functioning and the changes that must be made to
achieve personal objectives. Thus, counseling involves both choice and
change, evolving through distinct stages such as exploration, goal
setting, and action (Brammer, 1993; Egan, 1990).
Counseling encompasses various subspecialties. Subspecialties include
school or college counseling, marriage and family counseling, mental
health counseling, gerontological counseling, rehabilitation counseling,
addiction counseling, and career counseling. Each has specific
educational and experimental requirements for the practitioners.
Thus, counseling can be more precisely defined as a relatively
short-term, interpersonal, theory-based process of helping persons who
are basically psychologically healthy resolve developmental and
situational problems. Counseling activities are guided by ethical and
legal standards and go through distinct stages from initiation to
termination . Personal, social, vocational, and educational matters are
all areas of concern; and the profession encompasses a number of
subspecialties. A practitioner must complete a required course of study
on either the master’s or doctoral level to be licensed or certified as
a professional. |
|
For more information, visit the
American Counseling Association |
|
