What is Counseling?

According to the American Counseling Association External link (ACA), professional

counseling is the process of building relationships with individuals that empower them to
accomplish mental health and wellness, education, and career goals. It is a
collaborative relationship between the counselor and their client.

Professional counseling can take the form of:

 Individual counseling is the most common type of counseling that focuses on the
growth and mental health of an individual.
 Couples or marriage counseling focuses on assisting couples in overcoming
conflict and working towards a stronger relationship.
 Family counseling involves the different familial dynamics and how they affect the
family structure.
 Group counseling is the use of group interaction to facilitate growth.

When you become a counselor, you are likely to engage in many of these types of
counseling throughout your therapeutic work.