Counseling as a Profession

Areas of Specialization
The scope of work of a professional counselor covers a broad area. Some of these roles and function require
specialization because counselors cater to the various needs of an individual. Counseling services are provided given an
identified need.

Fields of work where the professional counselors may specialize:

1. School Counseling – guidance counselors ensure students success and assist those with various careers, social and
personal development needs. They provide various services to the school and community and
collaborates with other stakeholders, such as parents, teachers and school administrators to promote
holistic development among students
2. Mental health or Clinical Counseling – counselor may focus on mental health counseling by providing programs and
services specifically designed to address the needs of individuals with mental health issues like
depression, anxiety, and substance or chemical dependency.
3. Rehabilitation Counseling – rehabilitation counselors are responsible for helping patients with physical, mental or
Emotional issues. They deal with psychological and physical issues like illness affecting the individual.
They utilize various approaches to help patients understand and overcome their disability.
4. Industrial counseling – counselors specialize in the industrial setting where they could provide workplace counseling to
respond to the concerns of the employees. They are also tapped in other areas like training or professional
development service or in other activities to help the employees develop soft skills.
5. Marriage and Family Counseling – marriage and family counselors explore issues and concerns that affect the
relationship of husband and wife and their roles as parents. They provide counseling sessions and various activities to
foster stronger relationships with the family.
6. Private Practice – counselors may have their own wellness center or private clinic. The clinic can accommodate
children and/or adults, depending on the counselor’s specialization. For examples, a child diagnosed with social
anxiety disorder may seek help or psychotherapy during weekends, as a follow-up or support program to the
counseling sessions he or she receives from the school on weekdays.
7. Community counseling – is provided to members of the society who encounter difficulties in the community setting.
Counselors who work in the community setting are usually adept in the community’s background, culture or practices.
They help members of the community improve their relationship with each other.
- They are in charge of helping people adjust and understand their community better to
minimize issues.

Career Opportunities for Professional Counselors

Jobs that a counselor can choose from after completing the academic requirements of the counseling profession:

Elementary and High School Counselors

They provide individual and group counseling as well as homeroom guidance sessions to support the academic, social-
emotional and personal development of schoolchildren. They also provide psychological tests to assess the students’ strengths
and weaknesses. Result then of the tests and other gathered data are utilized as bases for improving the guidance program
and services.

College Counselors
They are in charge of the implementation of comprehensive guidance programs for the tertiary level. They do not only
focus on the academics, social, emotional and personal development of students but they also address career-related needs of
the students. They provide seminars on job hunting skills, corporate dressing, interview techniques, and other activities
relevant to the students’ preparation for work. They also collaborate with parents, faculty members and administrators to
strengthen the programs and services that will further promote the students’ development. They also provide psychological
assessments which intend to identify the students’ strengths and limitations

Workshop facilitator
 Guidance counselors are equipped with competencies that address the needs of diverse groups trhough facilitation of
seminars and workshops.

Career counselors
They prepare students and other clients on how to perform well in job applications. They may also educate those who
wish to change their career or achieve career advancement. They also provide activities that guide individuals to explore their
interests, personality traits, attitude and aptitudes

Marriage and Family Counselors

They are trained to address family issues and concerns through therapeutic interventions. Family counseling is usually
provided when there are marital conflicts, sibling rivalry, intergenerational conflict among members, or one or more members
of the family are going through a difficult situation

Professional Ethical Principles in Guidance and Counseling

Professional ethics pertains to values that determine the counselors’ behaviors. Professional counselors stick to ethical
principles that serve as an overall guide in their practice. Ethical principles in counseling will guide the counselor in addressing
and responding to cases or issues .

Confidentiality
This principle states that counselees have the right to privacy in working with his or her counselor. All information
shared by the counselee, including his or her identity must be kept secret.
This means that the counselor should not divulge any information and protect all documents about the counselee

Client Welfare
The counselor’s primary responsibility is to protect the welfare of the clients. If the identified needs of the counselee
are beyond the expertise of the counselor, then the counselor must refer the client to another professional. Counselors must
then be knowledgeable about cultural and clinically appropriate sources of referral which they may suggest to the counselee.

Informed Consent
Professional counselors are required to provide their clients an overview of what counseling is all about and what the
counseling process entails. This allows the client to decide whether he or she would participate in the counseling process or
not.

Relationship with Client

A Professional counselor must establish and maintain boundaries in his or her relationship with the clients. Within and
outside the counseling session, the counselor must be aware and be bound by the ethics of professional relationship with the
clients. Counselors should not engage in any personal relationship with the clients.

Professionalism
A Professional counselor should clarify with the client the types of activities other than counseling which will be
utilized to address the presenting concerns, the techniques and counseling procedures that will be employed and the sort of
payment that is expected to be paid

Valuing the Rights of Individuals, Professional Responsibilities and Accountabilities of Counselors