Counseling and Its Work settings

- Counselors in Schools – has grown rapidly. According to Gibson and Mitchell (2003), counselors are
recognized especially in the preventive interventions and developmental stage. There are elementary school
counselors, junior high school counselors, secondary school counselors, counselors in vocational schools,
counselors in higher education, and counselors in community and junior colleges. The counseling service in the
schools is usually located under the student affairs program. It is under the supervision of the Dean of Students
Affairs.
- Counselors in the Community Setting – refers to employment in community, agency, and other non-school
professional situations. Counselors can be found in community and mental health agencies, employment and
rehabilitation agencies, correctional settings, and marriage and family practice. (Gibson and Mitchell, 2003)
- Counselors in the Private Sector – refers to counselors who decided to do full time work as private
practitioners or engage in part – time private practice while employed by community agencies. This is feasible if
the counselors expertise and specialization matches or relevant to an adequate client population in the
geographic area. ( Gibson and Mitchell , 2003 )
- Counselors in the Government - counselors are also present in various agencies of government or institutions
supported by the government that are into social welfare, health, and education. Relevant agencies or institutions
include public schools, public social welfare agencies such as that for the youth, children, and the aging.
COUNSELING AND ITS PROCESSES, METHODS, AND TOOLS
There are six stages of the counseling process, namely, relationship building, assessment and diagnosis, formulation of the counseling goals, intervention
and problem solving, termination and follow –up, and research and evaluation.
1. Stage One: Relationship Building
▪ This is the heart of counselling process because it provides the force and foundation for the counselling to succeed.
▪ This stage involves establishing rapport,
▪ promote acceptance of the client as a person with worth,
▪ establishing genuine interaction,
▪ promote direct mutual communication
▪ helping clients understand themselves,
▪ helping client focus and
▪ Slowly promote counselling relevant communication, from the client.

2. Stage Two: Assessment and Diagnosis

▪ One of the most crucial stages.
▪ This serves as the window for the counsellor to have a thorough appreciation of the client’s condition.
▪ It entails analysis of the root causes of problems.
▪ The data that will be gathered in diagnosis will be utilized in the formulation of goals.
3. Stage Three: Formulation of Counseling Goals
▪ Goals are important as it sets the direction of the counselling process.
▪ It shall serve as the parameter of work and the client-counsellor relationship.
▪ Counselling goals may be treated as a process goal or outcome goal.
▪ The client and counsellor must agree on the counselling goals.
4. Stage Four: Intervention and Problem Solving
▪ Guidelines:
▪ A. The counselor has to provide a mapping of the different approaches offered.
▪ B. Describe the role of the counselor and client for each procedure.
▪ C. Identify possible risks and benefits that may come.
▪ D. Estimate the time and cost of each procedure.

▪ Kafner and Busemeyer identified the six-stage model for problem solving
▪ Problem detection
▪ Problem definition
▪ Identification of alternative solutions
▪ Decision-making
▪ Execution
▪ Verification
5. Stage Five: Termination and Follow –up
▪ The essential goal in counselling is to witness a client progress on his/her own without the assistance of the counselor.
▪ There are four components of termination which were identified by Quintan and Holahan:
 ▪ 1. Discussion of the end of counselling
▪ 2. Review of the course of counselling
▪ 3. Closure of the counsellor-client relationship
▪ 4. Discussion of the client’s future and post-counselling plan
6. Stage Six: Research and Evaluation
▪ This stage can be undertaken at any point in the counselling stage.
▪ Research and evaluation are fundamental part of the evaluation.
▪ Results of the research provide a scientific appreciation of the counselling situation.
BlackBoard Activity:
Where are the counselors?
Instruction:
1. Your task is to locate the counselors in Davao through internet.
2. Which work setting can you find many of the counselors? What could be the reason why many of the counselors in that
particular setting? Please explain.
3. Send your answers through Word Document. To be submitted on Blackboard.