LESSON

COUNSELING AND ITS

WORK SETTINGS
 Counselors are employed in different work settings
such as schools, community, private sector, mental
facilities, and government. However, most are
deployed in school settings and mental facilities.
Counselors in Schools

Counseling in schools has grown rapidly. According

to Gibson and Mitchell (2003), counselors are
recognized especially in the preventive interventions
and developmental stage. There are elementary
school counselors, junior high school counselors,
secondary school counselors, counselors in
vocational schools, counselors in higher education,
and counselors in community and junior colleges.
The counseling service in the schools is usually
located under the student affairs program. It is under
the supervision of the Dean of Student Affairs.
Counselors in Community Setting

This setting refers to employment in community,

agency, and other nonschool professional situations.
Counselors can be found in community and mental
health agencies, employment and rehabilitation
agencies, correctional settings, and marriage and
family practice (Gibson and Mitchell, 2003).
Counselors in the Private Sector

This setting refers to counselors who decided to do

full time work as private practitioners or engage in
part-time private practice while employed by
community agencies. This is feasible if the counselors'
expertise and specialization matches or relevant to a
adequate client population in the geographic area
(Gibson and Mitchell, 2003).
Counselors in the Government

Counselors are also present in various agencies of

government or institutions supported by the
government that are into social welfare, health, and
education. Relevant agencies or institutions include
public schools, public hospitals, public social welfare
agencies such as that for the youth, children, and the
aging.