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Counseling Definition
Pepinsky and Pepinsky ( 1954) :
"Counseling

Lecture 3
Prepared by :
N.A
Norzihan Ayub

( COUNSELOR ACT, 1998 )

Systematic process of helping relationship based on

psychological principles performed by a registered

counselor in accordance with the counseling code of
ethics to achieve a voluntary favourable holistic
change, development and adjustment of the client
such that the change , development and adjustment
will continue throughout the lifespan of the client.

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Burks and Stefflre (1979).

Counseling denotes a professional
relationship between a trained counselor
and client. This relationship is usually
person-to-person, although it may
sometimes involve more than two people. It
is designed to help clients to understand
and their self determined goals through
meaningful resolution of problems of an
emotional or interpersonal nature
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is a process involving an
interaction between a counselor and a client
in a private setting, worth the purpose of
helping the client change his/her behavior
so that a satisfactory resolution of needs
may be obtained".
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Wrenn ( 1970)
A more intensive concerned with assisting

normal people to achieve their goals or

functions more effectively.

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Corey (2004)
counseling is a form of psychotherapy, usually far more

brief in the length of time clients receive in traditional

psychotherapy, that aims to assist people who are
experiencing problems in a variety of areas including
relationship problems, academic/school related
problems, depression, anxiety, trauma, and issues from
the past that negatively affect the person's daily
functioning.

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Meier and Davis (2004)

note that counseling uses several basic
methods such as active listening,
providing feedback , confrontation,
questioning strategies, and so forth

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Nystul ( 2009)
Counseling involves a profesionally trained counselor

assisting a client with particular concern. In this

process counselor use a variety of counseling strategies
, such as individual group, or family counseling to
assist the client to bring about beneficial change and
generate a variety of outcomes. Facilitating behavior
change, enhancing coping, promotion decision
making and improving relationship

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Formal Helper VS Informal Helper

Formal

Informal

Counselor can maintained a degree Usually have a personal relationship

of objectivity because they are not with individual. So the assistance
directly involved in clients life.
they provide is likely to reflect a
personal bias.
No previous experience with
counselor, the client is free to new
modes of behaving and relating

May expect the person they are

trying to help act in certain way.

Counselor are guided by a code of

ethics to protect clients rights.
More confidentiality and clients feel
more free to share

Not guided by code of ethics.

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DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COUNSELING , GUIDANCE

AND PSYCHOTHERAPY

Guidance
The process of helping people makes important choices

that affect their lives.

Guidance focuses on helping individuals choose what they

Formal

Informal

Counseling strategies and

technique available to
professional counselor and their
ability to systematically utilize
strategies and technique to
promote client growth.

Lack formal counseling training.

Typically rely in advice giving as
their main method of helping.

Example : psychologists
counselor

Example : friends, teachers,

parents, doctors, employer

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Early work in guidance occurred in schools and career

centers where students were helped to make decisions,

such as career choices. An unequal relationship was
between an adult and student.
Helps to gain an understanding of self and own world

through guidance, such as from parents, ministers, scout

leaders, and coaches.

value most.
Othman Mohamad (2000), guidance is a part of the

helping process. It involves giving instructions on a regular

basis and contains information suitable for determining
that a goal achieved by those who received it.
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Psychotherapy

Seen as more of an inpatient treatment rather than

outpatient.
Therapy initially focused on serious internal

conflicts.

In more modern times, psychotherapy and counseling

Emphasized past more than present, insight more

than change, detachment of the therapist, and the

therapist as an expert.
Long-term relationships (20 to 40 sessions over 6

have become blurred with professions who determine

whether the client receives counseling or psychotherapy.
Some counseling theories are commonly refered to as

therapies as well and can be used in either counseling or

therapy settings.

months to 2 years) focused on reconstructive

change. [Short-term relationship = 8 to 12 sessions
over less than 6 months.]
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Counseling
In October of 1997 the American Counseling

Association (ACA) accepted a definition :

The application of mental health, psychological or

human development principles, through cognitive,
affective, behavioral or systemic interventions,
strategies that address wellness, personal growth, or
career development, as well as pathology.

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Important points for counselors and consumers

to realize:
Counseling deals with wellness, personal
growth, career, and pathological concerns.
In other words, the internal concerns and
concerns of relationship with others are
related in counseling to finding balance and
adjustment for the client in certain settings
including schools, family, and career.

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Counseling is conducted with persons who are

considered to be functioning well and those who
are having more serious problems.
In other words, clients may be seen for many
reasons, including developmental issues or
situational concerns (i.e., like a break-up) that
require assistance in gaining adjustment or
remediation. Problems are usually short-term,
but may require longer treatment, especially
when the client has a disorder included in the
DSM IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of
Mental Disorders provided by the APA
American Psychiatric Association).
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Counseling is theory based. Counselors may

glean from different counseling theories.
These theories include theoretical approaches
from cognitive, affective, behavioral, and
systemic. Application can be made to
individuals, groups, and families.

Counseling is a process that may be

developmental or intervening. Reaching goals
might be the focus or making change (or both)
might be the focus.

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Psychotherapy Vs. Counseling

Psychotherapy

Counseling

Long term (up to 2 years)

Short term (< 6 months)

Medical model

Wellness model

Alleviate symptoms

Improve quality of life

Dealt with mental disorder

patients. Clients problem
more complex

Deal with normal people and

clients tend to have problem of
living

Goal of insight

Goal of change

Therapist as expert

Counselor as collaborator

Psychotherapy

Counseling

Focus on short and long term goal

Focus in short term goals

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Comparison of mental health

professional
Type of helper Skills and professional

Setting

School
Counselor

Elementary and
high schools

Marriage ,
couple and
marriage
counseling
School
psychologists

has specialty in school

counseling.
Personal and career
counseling and consultation
with students or school staff
counselor tend to have
specialty course work in
systems dynamics , family
therapy, child, family life
stages, and human sexuality
Psychological testing,
counseling and consulting

Private
practice,
welfare

Type of helper Skills and professional

Setting

Mental health
counselor

Use of counseling and

psychotherapeutic strategies

Rehabilitation
counselor

Rehabilitation counselors
offer a wide range of services
to people with physical,
emotional and
developmental disabilities

Community
mental health
centre ,
hospitals and
private practice
work in a state
vocational
rehabilitation
agencies,
unemployed
offices or
private
rehabilitation
agencies

Elementary and
high schools

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Type of helper

Skills and professional

Setting

Psychologists

The functions of a psychologist

depend on the specialty of the
psychologist. Generally,
psychologists conduct evaluations
and psychological testing to
diagnosis patients. They provide
what is referred to as "talk therapy."
This can occur on an individual or
one-to-one basis or in a group.
Example clinical psychologists,
counseling psychologists

Hospital,
community
mental health
center, and private
practice

Have a strong background in

sciences , theory and practice
which enables them to alleviate
maladjustments and promote
psychological wellbeing

Hospital,
community
mental health
center, and private
practice

Clinical
Psychologists

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Type of helper

Skills and profesional

Setting

Counseling
Psychologists

Have worked with relatively healthy

populations as compared to clinical
psychologists work with seriously
impaired populations. . Treatment :
remedial, preventive and
development

Hospital,
community
mental health
center, and private
practice

Pastoral counseling Counseling and psychotherapy

from religious perspectives. Some
focus on issues pertaining to
marriage and the family.

Church

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Type of helper

Skills and profesisonal

Setting

Psychiatrists

Licenced physician who generally

completed a residency in psychiatry,
meaning that in addition to medical
school , he or she has completed
extensive field placement training in a
mental health setting. Treatment
serious mental disorders usually
involving the use of medications,
minimal of counseling and
psychotherapy and consultation.

Hospital and mental

health community

Social Work

Type of helper Skills and profesional

Setting

Psychiatric
nurses

Hospital and
mental health
community

Assist in the psychiatric

treatment of mental
disorders by monitoring
medication . Also have a
basic skills in counseling

Have been found working with the

Hospital and mental
underprivileged and with family and
health community
social systems. Although social workers
have training in counseling skills they
usually less well prepared in
assessment techniques and theory.
Ability to assist with social services

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Role of Counselor Psychologists

2. Preventive

1. Remedial

Focus on psychoeducational program

Assisting client to overcome or threat an undesirable

development
Something needs to be fixed or some problem needs to

Preventive is a goals in which the counselor helps the

client aviod some undesired outcome.

Cth : drug prevention program, suicide preventive

program

be resolved

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3. Development
In company : team-building, supervisor-staff

relationship, management and developement.

Help clients make changes in their personal and
interpersonal environement to minimize the
occurence of problem ( frtez, 1985) and for remedial
work

Help individual to plan , obtain and derive maximum

benefit from the kinds of experience which will enable

them to discover and develop their potential .
( Joordaanet.al, 1986). Cth : skill training intervention,
couple groups formed to enhance relationship, growth
groups, various workshop or seminars.
Focus on enhancement. Teach skills or enhance

attitudes that facilitate dealing with inevitable,

everyday problems and that maximize effectiveness
and satisfaction.
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Effectiveness of counselor
The effectiveness of a counselor and of counseling
depends on numerous variables including:

1. Encouraging helps clients learn to believe in their

potential for growth and development.

The personality and background of the counselor,

2. Empathatic and caring care about people and have

the desire to help those in needs. There are sensitive
to the emotional states of others and can
communicate an understanding of their struggle in
life.

Formal education of the counselor, and

The ability of the counselor to engage in professional

counseling-related activities such as continuing

education, supervision, advocacy, and the building of a
portfolio.
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Effectiveness of Counselor

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3. Self-acceptaance- counselor are comfortable with

themselves.

6. Courageous counselor with the courages to

communicate their weaknessess as well as their
strengths are disclosing an authentic picture of
themselves.

4. Patient counselor must be patient and recognize the

goal of achieving overall positive therapeutic
movement

7. Acceptance being accepting is the ability to regard

clients unconditionally despite differences in cultural
heritage, values or belief systems.

5. Nonjudgemental counselor must not impose their

values or beliefs on the client.

8. Open-minded counselor is able to hear the client, be

with the client and be open to whatever the client
might say .

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Maintaining Effectiveness as a
Counselor
9. Appropriate use of themselves as instruments. They
are able to be spontaneous, creative, and empathetic
10. Effective over time: stability, harmony, constancy, and
purposefulness

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Handling stressful life events while still counseling

others can result in synchronicity, events that
occur coincidentally result in a meaningful
connection (Roehlke, 1988). In other words,
handling ones own life events may enhance
his/her counseling.

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Characteristics of counselling
Burnout is the state of becoming

emotionally or physically drained to

the point that one cannot perform
functions meaningfully. Counselors
must develop interests outside
counseling and avoid taking their
work home.

Counseling is systematic process.

Counselling is usually for normal people with

problems.
It is essentially a dynamic interaction between the

client and the counselor.

Client is expected to be frank and forthright in his

approach.
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It is the duty of the counsellor to keep confidentiality

regarding the client.

Counselor is to show warmth while listening to the

clients problems.

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Myths about counseling

Counseling giving advise

Counselor is expected to be non judgmental and non

Only one way relationship

critical.
The relationship between the client and the counselor
is expected to be genuine.
Counseling usually works at the level of rapport and
not at the level of transference.

Clients problem important than client

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Counseling solve the problem

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