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DISCIPLINES AND IDEAS IN THE APPLIED SOCIAL

SCIENCE
MODULE 9&10
Now that you know already the definitions, goals, scopes, core values and principles
of counseling, let us go further, this time let me introduce to you the professionals and
practitioners of counseling.
Counseling profession is very challenging, the person must acquire a counseling style
tailored to their own personality by familiarizing themselves the different approaches in
counseling. To be qualified in counseling profession he/she must study masters or doctoral
degree and pass the licensure exam. A counselor must have personal qualities like: self-
awareness and understanding, caring attitude, sensitivity, open-mindedness and objectivity
plus accepting personal congruence. A professional counselor must have the ability to
listen, convey understanding without judgment, ability to be sensitive, empathic, patient and
the ability to convey to the client that the counselor values the client’s experiences.
Moreover, conveys the belief that the client is capable, trustworthy, respectable, worthy and
dependable.
Republic Act 9258, an act professionalizing the practice of guidance and counseling
adheres counseling practitioners to abide the code of ethics in this profession, thus a
counselor must uphold professional responsibility, counseling relationship, dimension of
confidentiality, ethical issues in a multicultural perspective, ethical issues in the assessment
process.
With this competence, counselors may work in hospitals, Correctional and prison facilities,
rehabilitation centers, retail business, educational system, career centers, nonprofit or
social services agencies, religious institution, private and public practice as well as in a
weight loss camp.
An effective counselor must have an understanding and awareness of systematic theories
that guide professional practice, sufficient encounter and understanding with human beings
furthermore, sufficient human experience and awareness of one self’s strength, limitations
and values.
Roles of the Counselors
Counselors offer guidance to individuals, couples, families and groups who are dealing with
issues that affect their mental health and well-being. Many counselors approach their work
holistically, using a “wellness” model which highlights and encourages client’s strengths. On
the job counselors:
1. Work with individuals, groups and communities to improve mental health.
2. Encourage clients to discuss emotions and experiences.
3. Examine issues including substance abuse, aging, bullying, anger management,
careers, depression, relationships, LGBTQ issues, self-image, stress and suicide.
4. Work with families.
5. Help client’s define goals, plan action and gain insight.
6. Develop therapeutical processes.
7. Refer clients to psychologists and other services.
8. Take a holistic approach to mental health care.

Prepared by:
IAN CAMILLE C. SABANGAN
MARIE JOY P. TAMONDONG
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Functions of Counseling
Counselors work in diverse community settings designed to provide a variety of counseling,
rehabilitation and support services. Their duties vary greatly depending on their specialty
which is determined by the setting in which they work and the population they serve.
Counselors are challenged:
1. with children, adolescents and adults that have multiple issues such as mental health
disorders
2. to provide appropriate counseling and support
3. to assist students of all levels
4. to promote the academic, career, personal and social development of children and
youth
5. to help students evaluate their abilities, interests, talents and personalities to develop
realistic academic and career goals
6. to operate career information centers and career education programs
7. to help students understand and deal with social, behavioral and personal
development.
Competencies of Counseling
Counselors are licensed mental health therapists who provide assessment, diagnosis and
counseling to people facing a variety of life stresses and psychological problems. They help
people with relationship issues, family problems, job stress, mental health disorders such
as depression and anxiety and many other challenging problems that can impact feelings of
well-being and happiness. To be effective in their roles, counselors should enjoy helping
others and possess specific attributes and skills. Here are the competencies of counselors:
1. Communication skills
Effective counselors should have excellent communication skills before embarking on a
counseling career. Counselors need to have a natural ability to listen and be able clearly
explain their ideas and thoughts to others.
2. Acceptance
Counselors must be able to “start where the client is at.” This phrase is often used in
counseling to describe the ability to relate to clients with an open, nonjudgmental attitude-
accepting the client for who she is and her current situation.
3. Empathy
Counselors help people through some of the most difficult and stressful times of their lives.
They must be able to display empathy-the ability to feel what another person is feeling.
4. Problem-Solving skills
Counselors must have excellent problem-solving skills to be able to help their clients
identify and make changes to negative thought patterns and other harmful behaviors that
might be contributing to their issues.
5. Rapport-Building skills
Counselors must possess a strong set of interpersonal skills to help establish rapport
quickly with clients and develop strong relationships. They must give their undivided
attention to clients and be able to cultivate trust.
6. Flexibility

Prepared by:
IAN CAMILLE C. SABANGAN
MARIE JOY P. TAMONDONG
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Counselors must have the ability to adapt and change the way they respond to meet their
client’s needs.
7. Self-Awareness
Counselors need to have the ability to look within and identify their own unmet
psychological needs and desires, such as a need for intimacy or the desires to be
professionally competent.
8. Multicultural Competency
Counselors help people from all walks of life. They must display multicultural competency
and adopt a multicultural worldview.
Specific Work Areas of Counselors
The following places of employment offer work opportunities for someone with a counseling
degree:
1. Hospitals
Counselors provide mental health evaluations, some counselors are hired to assist patients
overcome various psychological and behavioral issues.
2. Impatient or Outpatient Detoxification Centers
Counselors may also serve as detox specialists or crisis workers within detoxification
center.
Counselors are hired to work in:
2.1. Impatient facilities hire counselors to assist with 24-hour care of high-risk patients
battling substance abuse.
2.2 . Outpatient facilities hire counselors to provide treatment during the day, while patients
are allowed to return to their homes at night.
3. Mental Health Facilities & Agencies
Counselors provide one-on-one treatment or holding group therapy sessions. Community
counselors are hired at localized mental health agencies to assist a local population,
interact with community leaders, and bridge the gap between support services found in
surrounding areas.
4. Residential Care Facilities
A residential care facility provides counseling services to people living in a temporary
environment that requires continuous supervision. This may include facilities that house
troubled or at-risk youths, autistic children, or people with mental or physical disabilities.
5. Halfway Houses
Halfway houses, also known as transitional housing facilities and recovery houses, hire
rehabilitation and substance abuse counselors to guide patients or residents in need of help
transitioning back to a societal environment, their family, their community, and/or entering
the workforce.
6. Geriatric-Related Facilities
Counselors, especially geriatric counselors, are often employed by facilities, agencies and
organizations that serve the elderly population.
7. Medical Hospitals and Outpatient Clinics
Counselors are hired to work with veterans, their spouses, and family to address issues,
such as PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and anger management.

Prepared by:
IAN CAMILLE C. SABANGAN
MARIE JOY P. TAMONDONG
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8. Correctional Facilities and/or Prisons

From mental health counseling to substance abuse counseling, the prison system employs
counselors to provide individual and group therapy for individuals who are jailed, or living in
a correctional facility.
9. Retail Businesses
Assuming positions in the human resources or public relations departments of large retail
organizations, job duties typically include improving company-customer relationships, as
well as designing and conducting training programs.
10. The Educational System
Primarily helping students to better navigate the stresses of growing up and successfully
completing their studies, counselors play an important role at all levels of the school
system.
Counseling Careers
Counselors often work in a wide array of settings-even when in one specific career. Here
are the career opportunities of counselors.
1. Mental Health Counselor
Mental health counselors provide therapeutic support to clients faced with mental,
emotional and behavioral health issues, such as anxiety, depression, stress, low self-
esteem and other concerns.
2. School Counselor
Professional school counselor provides services to students to support their academic,
personal and social development while working with teachers, administrators and parents.
3. Career Counselor
Career counselors help individuals understand themselves and the world of work to make
solid occupational, education and life decisions.
4. Child Counselor
Child and adolescent counselors help children and teens with physical, emotional, or
mental roadblocks that impede healthy development.
5. College Counselor
College counselors provide college students with a variety of supports in order to promote
overall academic, mental and behavioral wellness.
6. Grief Counselor
Grief counselors support client growth from profound loss, death of a loved one, debilitating
injury, terminal illness, divorce or other personal bereavements.
7. Military Counselor
Military counselors assist active duty, veterans and their families on mental, emotional and
social concerns related to the military lifestyle and experience.
8. Pastoral Counselor
In pastoral settings, counselors combine therapy with theological training to offer patients a
unique and integrated approach to sessions.
9. Rehabilitation Counselor

Prepared by:
IAN CAMILLE C. SABANGAN
MARIE JOY P. TAMONDONG
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For individuals with physical, mental, developmental, and or emotional disabilities,

rehabilitation counselors assist them in leading fulfilling and successful independent lives.
10. Substance Abuse Counselor
Substance abuse and addiction counselors work with clients to support their mental and
physical health in order to accurately provide a holistic treatment of substance abuse
disorders
Code of Ethics
Guidance counselors work with clients, as individuals and in groups, to whom they supply
professional services concerning educational, vocational, personal and social development.
The following are the ethical behaviors and unethical behaviors among counselors:
Ethical Behaviors:
1. They protect members from practices that may result in public condemnation.
2. They provide a measure of self-regulation, thus giving members a certain freedom
and autonomy.
3. They provide clients a degree of protection from cheats and the incompetent.
4. They help to protect counselors from the public if they pursued for malpractice.
Unethical Behaviors:
1. Incompetence
2. Lack of integrity
3. Violating confidences
4. Exceeding the level of professional competence
5. Imposing values on clients
6. Creating dependence on the part of the clients to meet the counselor’s own needs
7. Improper advertising
8. Charging fees for private counseling to those who are entitled to free services
through the counselor’s employing institutions and or using one’s job to recruit clients for a
private practice.
TASK #1:
Write your answer in any clean paper.. Answer must be at least 2 paragraphs with 3-4 sentences
each paragraph.
1. Do you consider on becoming a guidance counselor in the future?

2. Why do you want to become one? Or Why you don’t want to become one? Explain.

Prepared by:
IAN CAMILLE C. SABANGAN
MARIE JOY P. TAMONDONG
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Task #2: “FACT or BLUFF”

Directions:
After the chapter study. Read and understand each item carefully. You are going to answer whether
the statement is a “Fact” as true or a “Bluff” as false. Answer directly on this answer sheet.
Statements Fact or Bluff
1. The counselor should not practice
active listening, noting and reflecting
during the counseling sessions.

2. The counselor must be aware of the

client’s problem including the goal why
he/she undergo counseling session.

3. The counselor should encourage the

client to draw their conclusion and
choose the direction they want to resolve
the issue.

4. Counselors have certain standards and

quality service that don’t need to comply.

5. Counselors help clients that has drug

addiction.
6. Practitioners in counseling cater
clients who has financial problem.

7. Counselors help clients who

has
depression, anxiety, and stress.
8. Counselors are employed
only in
schools.
9. There is no such thing as private practice
counselors who provide their services to
clients.

1. It is important to know the functions and

roles of counselor because
this will
prepare you in the future to offer help,
support, understanding, and
possible
alternatives that could lead enjoyment
and a more fulfilling and productive life
not only for yourselves but also to other
individuals.

Prepared by:
IAN CAMILLE C. SABANGAN
MARIE JOY P. TAMONDONG