CHARACTERISTICS OF

A COUNSELOR
• Have identity
• Appreciate the worth God has placed upon you
• Be open to change
• Develop your own counseling style
• Be open , sincere, and honest
• Develop your sensitive to peoples culture
• Be an optimist
• Enjoy life
• Have a caring spirit
• Have a reputation for confidentiality
• Be sensitive to human relationship
• Do not display a passion to reform everyone
• Be natural
• Show confidence in people and in their potential for growth
• listener
• Observe boundaries
ROLE AND FUNCTION OF COUNSELOR

• Assists person or persons(client) in realizing a change in

behavior or attitudes
• Assists them to seek achievement of goals
• Assist them to find help
 CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
• School counseling
• Substance abuse counseling
• Rehabilitation counseling
• Mental health counseling
• Health and wellness counseling
• Business and industry counseling
• Private practice counseling
FIVE ETHICAL PRINCIPLES IN
COUNSELING
 RESPECT FOR AUTONOMY

• The freedom of clients to choose their own direction – respecting that the
client has the ability to make choices free from the constraints of others
(Welfel, 1998; Corey, Corey and Callanan, 2007).  The role of the counselor
is to acknowledge client autonomy and to respect this right.   An autonomous
action is one that cannot interfere with the autonomy of another.  An
individual is to be aware of the choice taken and the effect/ consequences it
has on others (Welfel, 1998).
• Limitations to client autonomy apply to those clients who are currently
unable to understand the repercussions of their action – for example children
and mental health patients (Welfel, 1998).
NON-MALEFICENCE

• This term means to do no harm.  It is a concept derived from the

medical profession.  Autonomy relates to the individual client,
non-maleficence refers to the abilities of the counselor. 
Counselors have a responsibility to avoid utilizing interventions
that could or have the potential to harm clients (Welfel, 1998;
Corey et al., 2007).  In practice counselors are expected to
undertake thorough evaluation of the client’s concerns and apply
appropriately determined and explained interventions.
 BENEFICENCE

• Considered the responsibility to do good and to

contribute to the welfare of the client (Forester-Miller and
Davis 1996).  The counselor is expected to do the best for
the client and if unable to assist, to offer alternatives as
appropriate.  Welfel (1998, p36) also asserts that
beneficence ‘requires that counselors engage in
professional activities that provide general benefit to the
public.’
JUSTICE

•Justice means to act in a fair or just manner. It is expected

that counselors will act in a non-discriminatory manner to
individuals or groups. Forester-Miller and Davis (1996)
suggest that although justice instructs counselors to act
fairly it does not mean treating all individuals the same
rather it relates to equity.  It is the counselor’s ability to
acknowledge inequity and apply intervention to suit.
FIDELITY
• This principle deals with the trust relationship between the
counselor and their client. The interests of the client are placed
before those of the counselor even if such loyalty (towards the
client) is inconvenient or uncomfortable for the counselor (Welfel,
1998). A client needs to be able to trust that the words and actions
of the counselor are truthful and reliable.  The counselor however,
does not need to share every fleeting thought or reaction.
Thank you