Counseling Overview: Exploring Theories, Assumptions, and Benefits

This essay provides a comprehensive overview of counseling, exploring its definition, the differences between counseling and psychotherapy, key assumptions, and the benefits it offers. It delves into various counseling theories, such as behavioral, cognitive, humanistic, and holistic approaches. The essay clarifies the counseling process, emphasizing the importance of trust and confidentiality. It highlights the key assumptions underpinning counseling, including the innate tendency of individuals to integrate their thoughts, feelings, and actions, and the belief in people's ability to overcome challenges. The essay also explains how counseling helps individuals enhance problem-solving skills, develop coping mechanisms, improve communication, and make informed decisions, ultimately leading to better self-esteem and a more positive outlook on life. References from sources like the University of Washington and Counseling Today are included to support the information provided.

Running head: COUNSELING OVERVIEW A28568
Counseling Overview
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COUNSELING OVERVIEW
Counseling Overview
Counseling is a psychological aspect that entails research and applied for work in various broad
categories such as counseling process and outcome, supervision and training, prevention and
health and career development and counseling. Counseling is described as the provision of
guidance in decision making, especially in emotionally significant issues. It involves the
accordance of help to a client as they explore and understand their situations and come up with
better ways of how they think and live. In most situations, the client is in distressed, and
counseling helps deliver them through various methods such as face-face dialogues, group work
or written materials. There are various counseling theories such as behavioral theory, cognitive
theory, humanistic approach, and holistic or integrative therapy (Barb 2013).
Definition of counseling
Counseling can be defined in various ways such as:
 It is the process that occurs when a client and the counselor plan on time to explore
various problems which can be stressful or emotional.
 Also, it is the act of helping the client so that they can view clearly, the different
possibilities from various view points and this aids the client in staying focused on
feelings, experiences or behavior with an objective of facilitating positive change.
 It is mostly considered a relationship of trust since confidentiality is essential to a
successful counseling. It is seen that professional counselors explain their policy on
confidentiality (University of Washington 2016).
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COUNSELING OVERVIEW
Explain the difference between counseling and psychotherapy
Most people use counseling and psychotherapy interchangeably, but they are different.
Counseling is usually a short term consultation while psychotherapy is a long term treatment.
Counseling deals with present issues which can be easily resolved on the conscious level.
Psychotherapy is considered intensive and extensive in the examinations of an individual's
psychotherapy past. It can be said that counseling is concerned with more practical or immediate
situations, but psychotherapy focuses on assisting a client in finding their life in a deeper
manner. Counseling usually helps the client in processing some powerful emotions such as grief
or anger. Also helps in dealing with causes of anxiety and stress, management of stressful
relationships and development of better interpersonal and communications skills (Meyers 2014).
Psychotherapy, unlike counseling, is considered an evolutionary process that assists a client in
dealing with long-standing attitudes, thoughts, and behaviors that have led to the current issues.
It tries to understand the primary causes of problems and lead to more noticeable changes on
how one perceives oneself and the environment. The main objective of psychotherapy is to help
the client free from unconscious triggers or impulses through improving their self-awareness.
What are the key assumptions underpinning counseling?
We have a primary assumption about human nature that individuals possess an innate tendency,
or striving as we try to integrate and organize our way of thinking, feeling and acting. When all
these processes function smoothly, they represent a critical dimension of healthy functioning.
We have a believe that people have the capability to overcome much on their own. Cultural and
spiritual connections are considered basic.
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COUNSELING OVERVIEW
Problems may be realized when the natural human tendencies are obstructed or blocked by use
of cumulative environmental scenarios. Other obstructs include personal fear, doubt, pain,
emotional, crisis, and trauma. It is assumed that there comes a time when one must get
professional help when these resources do not work (Meyers 2014).
It is also assumed that it is out the obligation to help those who encounter challenges and assist
them in finding ways to understand, grow and resolve these experiences.
Counseling also assumes that everyone has various strengths and the commitment is to help them
find these strengths channel them towards resolving problems.
Results are usually associated with the utilization of traditional and innovative counseling
practices which research on organizational dynamics (University of Washington 2016)..
Explain how counseling helps
Counseling helps individuals enhance their problem-solving skills in the development of new
and better coping skills. Counselors do not fix people's problem but help avail an opportunity to
explain their feelings and problems and try to reach decisions and actions based on choices
which are well informed. Excellent counseling assists people in building skills that they apply in
solving problems. For instance, individuals learn good means of communication and dealing
with their loved ones. They can also use such skills with co-workers and friends (Barb 2013).
Counseling also aids in enhancing skills of decision making, reduce tension and people have
better self-esteem and confidence. People also have positive and optimistic lives. So it is possible
for one to find professional counseling and better approach life.
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COUNSELING OVERVIEW
Counseling is considered an integral part and helps in getting assistance from a professional
expert. It means that counseling happens when there is a need person requiring help.
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COUNSELING OVERVIEW
References
Barb. (2013). Six Reasons Counseling Theory Is Important. Retrieved on 31st October 2016
from https://www.mastersincounseling.org/six-reasons-counseling-theory-is-important.html
University of Washington, (2016). The Counseling Process. Retrieved on 31st October 2016
from https://www.washington.edu/counseling/about/process/
Meyers, L. (2014).Counseling today. Retrieved on 31st October 2016 from
http://ct.counseling.org/2014/08/connecting-with-clients/
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