WEEK 1: Introduction to DIASS

Academic Disciplines under Social Sciences

We came to a notion that social science itself may be categorized into different aspects thus, Social science
has its different branches namely:
POLITICAL SCIENCE
- Political Science is the discipline that studies the state and its basic elements such as people, territory,
government, and sovereignty. It is concerned with politics focusing on decision-making and
governance. It focuses on different areas such as Political Theory, International Relations, and
Comparative Politics.
ECONOMICS
- When we talk about Economics, this Is the field that analyzes how individuals interact within society
to address major issues about the use of economic resources for production and the exchange of
goods and services. It also studies issues such as poverty, development, underdevelopment,
goverment revenues and expenditures, budgeting, foreign aid, fiscal and monetary policy, and
foreign trade.
DEMOGRAPHY
- Demography is the study of population changes and trends, including migration from rural to urban
areas, urbanization and human ecology, and population and its relationship to development. It uses
statistical tools in the collection and analysis of data pertaining to population, birth and date rates, and
unemployment and underemployment levels.
GEOGRAPHY
- Geography studies the world, its people, and its communities. It is the study of places and the
relationships between people and their environments. Geographers explore both the physical
properties of Earth's surface and the human societies spread across it.
There are two types of geography namely:
A. HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
• This is a main branch in geography and it mainly covers studies of the human race. This
normally involves their backgrounds, how they interact and the perceptions that they have
for various ideologies affecting them. In addition to this, the discipline also studies the way
in which the groups of people that inhabit the earth organize themselves on the particular
regions that they inhabit.
B. PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
• Physical geography is a major branch of the science and it mainly deals with the study of
the natural characteristics of the earth. It covers both the ones that are on the earth’s surface
as well as those near it.
ANTHROPOLOGY
- Anthropology studies the origins and the cultural and physical characteristics of human beings, as
well as the social norms that they observe.
LINGUISTICS
- Linguistics is the scientific study of language. It studies the structure and functions of words,
sentences, and other spoken sounds and utterances.
LAW
- Law is the discipline that studies the rules formulated and implemented by governments to uphold
order and equitability in society. One of the most important subjects of law is the Constitution, which
is the fundamental law of the land.
HISTORY
- History studies the past to better understand contemporary society and anticipate changes and
development in the future. It looks into the significant events and achievements in the human
experiences and how these are all interconnected with one another.

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
 - Public Administration is the field that deals with the implementation of public policies and government
agencies that enact these.
PSYCHOLOGY
- Psychology studies the human mind and human behavior. It examines how people think, act, and
feel, with the end goal of creating intervention programs that would help improve human behavior.
SOCIOLOGY
- It is the systematic study of society and social relations. It seeks to understand individuals relate wit
h one another and how they function in society.
The different interdisciplinary fields of Applied Social Sciences
There are also other Interdisciplinary Fields of social science and theses are:
1. SOCIAL WORKS (as a discipline)
What is the function of Social work?
- Social work is concerned with determining the needs of people in a certain community, linking them
to the appropriate parties who will provide them these needs, and helping them acquire skills to inde
pendently address future problems.
2. COMMUNICATION
It deals with the process of human communication and discusses how messages are interpreted based on t
heir political, cultural, economic and social context.
3. DEVELOPMENTAL STUDIES
Studies that tackles social and economic issues experienced by underdeveloped and developing nations. A
n interesting issue in the discipline is whether a country is a developing or an underdeveloped country.
4. ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING
The process of facilitating decision making to carry out land development with the consideration given to th
e natural environment, social, political, economic and governance factors and provides a holistic framework
to achieve sustainable outcomes. It encourages individuals to make decisions that maintain the balance be
tween human and natural systems. These decisions must be effective, transparent, and equitable.
5. SOCIAL POLICY
Social policy is an inclusive disciplinary, which means to provide solutions to address needs of social life.So
cial policy refers to governmental and legislative efforts to implement changes to benefit society or a particu
lar segment of society and, in this sense, is a social intervention. It is concerned with how societies respon
d to the needs of people, usually focusing on the economy.
6. STATISTICS
Statistics involves the collection, organization, and analysis of numerical data. It has two main objectives:
A. To present information in a convenient, usable, and understandable form;
B. To make inferences or decisions based on data form a small portion or sample of a larger group.
C. It can help describe characteristics of specific elements in the analysis of society, such as population
and economic development.
What are the APPLIED SOCIAL SCIENCES?
The Applied Social Sciences draw heavily from theories of the various social sciences to critically study soc
iety and the relationships among the people within.
1. They equip individuals with the ability to develop practical and effective solutions to societal issu
es and concerns.
2. They develop the individuals’ research skills and give them opportunity to conduct studies on so
cial realities.
3. they prepare people to tackle some of the most crucial and pressing social, economic, political,
and ecological issues of the time.
4. they also prepare students towards becoming effective leaders in society
What are the Three Important Fields of APPLIED SOCIAL?
1. COUNSELING
Counseling Draws heavily from the theories of Psychology and the other behavioral sciences.Counseling s
eeks to improve the client’s mental and well-
being by discussing his or her emotional problems to help him or her come with them.
2. SOCIAL WORK
Social work is a practice-
based profession that seeks to improve the welfare of communities, individuals, families, and other group in
society. It draws heavily from the social and behavioral sciences for its theoretical and knowledge base.
3. COMMUNICATION
Communication involves the sharing symbols to create meaning. The discipline covers a number of topics,
including face-to-face conversations and mass media such as television, radio, newspapers, the internet,
social media, and electronic mail.
GENERALIZATION
Social Sciences are important because they create better institutions and systems that affect people's lives
every day. Thus, social sciences help people understand how to interact with the social world—how to
influence policy, develop networks, increase government accountability, and promote democracy. The most
important branches of Social Science are Anthropology, Economics, Politics, Psychology, Sociology, History,
Law, Linguistics, Archaeology and Geography. It delves deeper into the science of humankind and society
and explores many branches such as Law, Political Science, Psychology, History and more.
The applied social sciences critically analyze society and the relationships among people by drawing from
ideas and theories of social sciences. Three of the well-known applied social sciences are counseling, social
work, and communication. Counseling involves discussing a client’s emotional problems to help him or her
cope with them. Counseling thereby helps improve mental health and maintain well-being. Social Work seeks
to improve the welfare of communities, individuals, families, and other groups in society. Communication
deals with understanding the process of human interaction (communication), which involves the sharing of
symbols that create meaning.

WEEK 2 - INTRODUCTION TO COUNSELING

COUNSELING
Well, COUNSELING is an interactive process characterized by a unique relationship between the counselor
and client which leads to the client experiencing changes in his/her Behavior, Beliefs, and the Level of
Emotional Distress. It is also known as a helping profession. It seeks to improve the client’s mental health
and well-being.
What are the focus of Interest of counseling?
The following are the focus of interest under counseling namely:
1. BEHAVIOR- This refers to overt changes in the client’s actions, as well as his or her coping skills,
decision-making skills, and interaction skills.
2. BELIEFS-These refers to ways of thinking about oneself, the others, and the world, or emotional
concerns relating to those perceptions.
3. LEVELS OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS- This relates to uncomfortable feelings or reactions to
environmental stress (Patterson and Welfel, 2000).
What are the different objectives of counseling? How do these affect the standards of counseling?
OBJECTIVES OF COUNSELING
We all know that good mental health means that people feel comfortable about themselves. This means that
they are not easily overwhelmed by their own emotions (fears, anger, love, jealousy, guilt, and or worries).
This also means that they can take life’s disappointments in stride and accept their own shortcomings.
Mentally, healthy people also feel right about other people. They have satisfying and lasting personal
relationships, are able to give love and consider the interest of others, and respect their differences with other
people.
FUCTIONS OF COUNSELING
What are the Functions of counseling?
1. ADVICE
Advice pertains to telling a client what should be done. However, counseling is more than an advice-giving
activity. To give useful advice, the counselor should be able to make judgments about the client’s problems
and lay out the possible course of action.
2. REASSURANCE
Reassurance involves giving the client courage and confidence that he or she is capable of facing a problem.
One problem with reassurance is that the client does not always accept it. Even if the client initially accepts
reassurance, his or her temporary self-confidence may fade away as soon as he or she faces the problems
again.
3. COMMUNICATION
Communication entails providing information and understanding. Counseling is an exchange of ideas and
feelings between two people-the counselor and the client.
4. RELEASE OF EMOTIONAL TENSION
Release of Emotional Tension helps a client become free of frustration and stress. This is sometimes
called emotional catharis- the process of getting rid of worries, of clearing your emotional baggage and or
the purification of the body/mind/soul from any negativities of life. Counseling provides the client an
opportunity to release his/her emotional tension by talking about his/her frustrations and other problems. The
release of tension does not necessarily solve people’s problem, but it does remove mental blocks by finding
a solution.
5. CLARIFIED THINKING
Through emotional release, the counselor encourages the client to engage in more coherent, rational, and
mature thought. Clarified thinking enables the client to accept responsibility for emotional problems and think
of realistic solutions to them.
6. REORIENTATION
This involves a transformation in the client through a change in his or her goals, values, and mental models.
Reorientation helps the client recognize and accept his or her own limitations as well (Newstrom, 2007).
COMPONENTS OF COUNSELING
What are the different components of counseling?
1. The COUNSELOR
Who are the counselors? What are the standards in the selection of a counselor?
A COUNSELOR is a trained professional who serves clients through therapeutic communication, which
entails encouraging disclosure, listening to the client, and giving advice, among other things. A counselor can
be a guidance counselor in school, clinical psychologist, psychiatrist, a marriage counselor, an organizational
behavior specialist, and even a doctor, lawyer, or parish priest.
What are the expected attributes and values of a counselor?
o A genuine desire to help client. The counselor should have a genuine desire to help the client. This
genuine desire must be experienced by the client throughout the counseling process. If the client feels
otherwise, counseling would prove to be unproductive.
o An acceptance of and respect for the client. Acceptance of and respect for the client are essential in
building trust and confidence in a counseling relationship. The counselor must demonstrate a positive
attitude toward the client to maintain the latter’s trust and ensure the success of counseling.
o An ability to listen and understand the client’s psychological pain from his or her perspective. This
includes creating an environment in which the client feels safe enough to disclose personal issues to
the counselor. This is achieved by the counselor’s action such as keeping quiet while the client talks,
intervening only to encourage him/her to continue the explanation; demonstrating a keen interest in
what she is saying; and communicating a non-judgmental attitude.
o Excellent therapeutic communication skills. Effective communication skills will help the counselor
guide the client in understanding him/herself and his or her situation. It is necessary to help the client
understand the connection between his or her present and past feelings, thinking, and behavior, and
certain unresolved conflicts in his or her life.
2. The CLIENT
Why are clients considered as the heart of the entire counseling process?
A CLIENT is a person who experiences therapeutic problems in his/her life. A client includes those who are
mentally and physically drained person, emotionally depressed individuals and even with those who loses
spiritual concepts’ person.
What are the CLIENTS’ most Situated Problems?
o Personal Pain. This pain may be a reaction to an adversity like the death of a loved one, or it may
be an enduring concern like chronic low self-esteem. However, there are times when a client seeks
 counseling not exactly because of personal pain but for other reasons, e.g., deciding what course to
pursue in college, choosing a job offer, or learning how to improve class performance.
o Help-seeking by choice. Counseling is based on the assumption that a client has voluntarily decided
to seek help. A client whose marriage is on the rocks may opt to see a marriage counselor to seek
help on how to save marriage. A student who is confused as to what course to pursue may also
choose to see a counselor.
o Personal Issues. Counselors hold the view that all client behaviors are a result of the issues they
struggle with. Clients inevitably bring their problems to the counseling sessions and these could affect
their behavior during counseling.
What is the working alliance between Counselor and Client?
These are the GOALS and COMPONENTS of counseling
Ed Bordin (1979) argued that counseling and psychotherapy can be best understood as an alliance between
the counselor and the client who work together through the process. This relationship is described as the
counseling bond.
CORE CONDITIONS
These are the conditions that bring about constructive personality change in the client. There are three core
conditions which must be experienced by the client: empathy, respect, and genuineness
What are the three core conditions of counseling?
1. EMPATHY is experienced when the counselors put themselves in the place of the client. An
empathetic counselor will be able to better understand the experiences of his or her client.
2. RESPECT is the counselor’s positive regard for client. Roger (1957) originally called this
unconditional positive regard (UPR), which involves caring for the client without setting conditions for
doing so.
3. GENUINENESS means being consistent in one’s feelings, thoughts, and behavior in the relationship.
What are the goals of psychotherapy?
Alvin Mahrer in his book “The Goals of Psychotherapy” (1967) argued that there are two types of goals:
1. Amelioration of psychological distress, and
2. Promotion of psychological growth.
The SOCRATIC DIALOGUE
What is a Socratic Dialogue?
A method of assisting clients to determine how accurate and helpful certain thoughts may be. Specifically,
this is done by exploring how the client came to have those thoughts, and evaluating the evidence regarding
those and other possible thoughts. This process is undertaken in a spirit of respectful curiosity.
The therapist guides this exploration using questions, but does not presume a pre-set outcome and instead
professes an ignorance of the topic with the client seen as the expert in his or her own experiences.
What are the characteristics of the Socratic Dialogue?
• Clarification of the thought
• Critical examination of the thought
• Exploration of the origin or source of the statement
• Examination of the implications and consequences of the statement
• Examination of alternative views
PROCESS GOALS IN COUNSELING
(The Outcome and the Process Goals)
OUTCOME GOALS
It is the intended result of counseling. They are described in terms of change in the client after the counseling
sessions and outside the counselor’s office.
PROCESS GOALS
These are objectives that must be achieved during the counseling sessions and in the counselor’s office.
They are considered instrumental in bringing about outcome goals. One process goal is the establishment of
rapport between the counselor and the client.
Example: The creation of an environment where the client has trust and confidence in the counselor.
OUTCOME GOALS OF COUNSELING
Counseling leads to change in the client. This is true for both individual counseling and group counseling and
whether the expressed intent of counseling is developmental (oriented toward personal growth) or remedial
(oriented toward the resolution of problems).
SEVERAL CHANGES IN THE COUNSELING PROCESS
1. BEHAVIORAL CHANGES is easy to recognize because it is overt and observable.
A behavioral change might be the manner of solving a problem, as in the case of the child who learns to get
what he or she wants from others through verbal requests and negotiation rather than physical aggression.
A behavioral change can enhance one’s potential for personal growth, as in the case of a middle-aged person
who returns to school or embarks on a new career. Changes in thoughts and attributes tend to precede
changes in behavior
2. Improvement in COPING WITH THE REALITIES OF LIFE
There are certain environmental conditions that are adverse and are difficult to change. However, learning
how to manage one’s life in the face of adversity makes room for accomplishment and enjoyment despite
such conditions.
3. IMPROVE MAKING IMPORTANT LIFE DECISIONS
The counselor teaches the client self-assessment techniques and ways to use information to arrive at
personally satisfying answers. For example, we know that career counseling is still a major concern in
colleges and universities. When one is confused about what course to pursue, he or she may undergo career
counseling.
4. CHANGE IN BELIEFS
May also occur due to counseling. This may not be directly observable but can be assessed from the client’s
verbal responses. An example of change in beliefs is the improvement of the self-concept of clients; they
begin to deem themselves competent and worthy of being loved. Another example of change in beliefs is a
boost in the morale of the client.

5. RELIEF/REDUCE EMOTIONAL DISTRESS

Clients are able to find an avenue where they can safely vent negative feeling about themselves. They are
able to feel accepted and understood, and prevent emotional distress from fully interfering with their daily
activities. For example, counseling and debriefing sessions help victims of disasters process and recover
from the trauma of their experience.
What are the Stages of the COUNSELING PROCESS?
1. The First Stage: INITIAL DISCLOSURE
At the start of counseling, the counselor and the client do not know each other well and have no prior contact.
Relationship building is the first important step in the counseling process. One important task of the counselor
in this stage is to allay the client’s fears and encourage self-disclosure.
Example: A student, for example, may have been sent to the counselor by his or her teacher. A counselor
might have been referred to the client by a friend. To encourage disclosure, the counselor must set conditions
that promote trust. Rogers (1951) described these trust-promoting conditions as the characteristics of the
helping relationship:
• Empathy- understanding another’s experience as if it were your own.
• Congruence or Genuineness- having one’s actions consistently reflect his or her thoughts and
feelings.
• Unconditional Positive Regard- caring for the client without setting conditions for doing so.
• Concreteness- using clear language to described the client’s life situation (Patterson and Welfel
2000).
According to Carkhuff (1973) and Egan (1998), another important counselor behavior at the start of
counseling is attending, or paying careful attention to the client’s words and actions.
2. The Second Stage: IN-DEPTH EXPLORATION
In the second stage of counseling, the client should gain a clearer understanding of his or her life concerns
and begin to develop a new sense of hope and direction. At this stage, a broad outline of the pattern of
desired change is beginning to emerge.
In this stage, the relationship between the counselor and the client becomes more secure. The counselor
discusses his or her impressions and observations of the client’s coping behavior. The counselor must help
the client examine this coping behavior and whether or not they are effective in solving his or her problems.
The counselor not only shows understanding of the client’s circumstances, but also the willingness to further
explore better options of resolving problems. It should be noted that, when making responses, the counselor
not only exercises empathy, but also incorporates information from prior sessions.
For instance, if trust has been built in the first stage, the relationship between the counselor and the client
becomes less strenuous and fragile than the beginning. Tension beyond tolerable limits is avoided, even
when. The counselor begins to use more intervention tools and further explores personal information about
the client. The client becomes more ready to disclose more information to the counselor.
What are the IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF IN-DEPTH EXPLORATION?
• Immediacy- is an important quality that counselors must exhibit in this stage of counseling. It can
be characterized in three different ways (Egan; 1998).
• It can relate to general discussions about the progress of the counseling relationship (Is the
counseling process progressing in a way that is satisfactory to you?)
• It can also be manifested in the immediate reaction to the client’s statement s or I asking the client
to disclose current thoughts about the counselor (I am wondering about your reaction to my
comments about your teacher?)
• Immediacy can be seen in self-involving statements that express the counselor’s personal
reaction to client’s progress (I am impressed with what you have accomplished in just a few
counseling sessions.)
• Assessment- is a process of information gathering that takes into account the client’s history, life
circumstances, and strengths. It involves the use of behavioral observations, information from
those connected to the client, and finding from standardized test (e.g., Personality Test and Career
Preference Tests).
• Diagnosis- the actual identification of the problem that shall be addressed. Once a diagnosis is
established, the counselor and the client can now identify the goals and plans that must be
achieved to address the diagnosed problem.
At this stage, clients must realize that their habitual behavior may be detrimental to their well-being. The
clients are challenged to stop engaging in the “familiar” yet harmful behavior, and instead engage in
“unfamiliar” yet beneficial behavior. Counselors, meanwhile, must maintain a caring relationship and avoid
insulting the client for his or her past behavior.
 3. The Third Stage: COMMITMENT TO ACTION
-The client must decide on how to accomplish the goals defined during the second stage. He or she must
identify or choose from possible courses or action and aim for the best possible outcome. Ideally, the client
comes up with or chooses a course of action with help and encouragement from the counselor.
-Once a decision is made, the client must commit to his plan and to his or her behavior while keeping in touch
with the counselor. Both the counselor and the client then monitor the client’s ultimate progress in solving his
or her problem/s.
-In case no action is planned, the last stage of counseling can focus on making sure that the client has done
everything possible to deal with his/her situation
GENERALIZATION
Counseling provided by trained professionals can make a profound impact on the lives of individuals, families
and communities. This service helps people navigate difficult life situations, such as the death of a loved one,
divorce, natural disasters, school stress and the loss of a job. Counselors are trained in helping others to
work through the problems. They help people to determine the root cause of e.g. addiction or behavioral
issues and focus on healing. They can guide and direct people through a variety of situations and help them
to focus on what really matters.
Counseling is designed to facilitate student achievement, improve student behavior and attendance, and help
students develop socially. Mental health professionals with master's degrees or beyond, school counselors
both provide counseling and serve an educational role in and around schools.
The primary role of a counselor is to assist clients in reaching their optimal level of psychosocial functioning
through resolving negative patterns, prevention, rehabilitation, and improving quality of life. The benefits of
counseling includes improvement in communication and interpersonal skills, greater self-acceptance and
self-esteem, ability to change self-defeating behaviors/habits, better expression and management of
emotions, including anger.

WEEK 3 - PROFESSIONALS AND PRACTITIONERS OF COUNSELING

With the given image above, what can you infer about the roles of counselors?
A lot of you would say, the role of counselor here is to give advice to the younger generation who needs help
in terms of different problems they are encountering. But apart from that notion, counseling is not just about
that. It is more than that.
The latest generation parents, the press administrators and the general public often wonder just what it is
that school counselors do on a daily basis. Gone are the days of school counselors sitting in their office simply
handing out high school or college applications, making schedule changes for students who want to drop a
class or meeting with the troublemakers in the school. They help all students in the areas of academic
achievement, personal / social development and career development ensuring today’s students become the
productive, well- adjusted adults of tomorrow. With our lesson for this week, you will learn the different
functions and roles of counseling.
In general, the roles of counselors are classified into three: counselling role, consultation role and
facilitation role.
COUNSELLING ROLES
The counselors in this specific role of counselling act as an advocate for students. They develop realistic
interventions upon listening to the needs of students and concerns of parents. They help adolescents to
understand social, emotional and academic pressures. One great example are the roles of counselors in
different schools, such as if a student has a problem with regards to his/ her academics, the counselor’s duty
is to give advice and words of encouragement to that student to keep moving and to stop pressuring herself
from that distress.
CONSULTATION ROLES
Counselors here assist in the identification of problems that arise in school and to help provide
recommendations that lead to solutions. They develop educational strategies to accommodate the needs of
students who are experiencing difficulty. They collaborate with special teachers to aid in the development of
educational plans that meet the needs of special education students.
FACILITATION ROLES
The counselors assist in the coordination of school meetings with parents, teachers and students as
requested. They coordinate yearly course selections and course changes. They organize standardized
testing administration. One good example is the administration of entrance examinations for college and high
school of different schools. It is under the notion of many that teachers are the ones who facilitate these but
it is merely the duty of guidance counselors. They also review and maintain all records, report cards, progress
reports and the test scores.
FUNCTIONS OF COUNSELORS
Counseling helps people to explore feelings, and emotions that are often related to their experiences. This
allows clients to reflect on what is happening to them and consider alternative ways of doing things.
Counselors work in a confidential setting and listen attentively to their clients. They offer them the time,
empathy and respect they need to express their feelings and perhaps understand themselves from a different
perspective. The aim of counselling is to reduce a client’s confusion and enable them to cope with challenges,
or to make positive changes in their life where necessary.
There are five key functions of a counselor ordered by importance. These are outlined as follows:
KEY FUNCTIONS TYPE OF COUNSELING ACTIVITIES
Collaboration and consultation
with Teacher’s, Administration, Classroom guidance Academic and career planning
and caregivers
Caregiver, staff and community
Classroom Guidance Individual counselling
consultation
Group Counseling Group counseling Individual counseling
Peer Support Programs Academic planning Classroom guidance
School, parent and community School, parent and community School, parent and community
needs assessment needs assessment needs assessment
Counselors do not give advice, but help clients to make their own choices within the framework of an agreed
counseling contract. Thus, counselors must be competent to do their jobs in order to properly serve the clients
assigned to them. To be competent, they need the following credentials:
A. EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION
A counselor must be a graduate of a bachelor’s degree in guidance and counseling as a minimum
requirement. In the absence of the above qualification, a degree in psychology, social work and nursing may
do. To be more qualified, one must have graduated a master’s degree, if not, must at least have masteral
units in guidance and psychology may do.
B. WORK EXPERIENCE
Work experience is preferable than those with no experience. Relevant experience in a helping capacity is
very desirable. It is particularly useful if they can demonstrate experience in working with a diverse range of
clients- cultural diversities, levels of education (elementary to college). personalities, occupation, etc.
C. SKILLS
Counselors will need to show a non-judgmental outlook- a willingness to work with all kinds of people. You
must have excellent observation and listening skills. Counselors must understand their own attitude and
responses and they must have patience, tolerance and sensitivity
CAREER OPPRTUNITIES FOR COUNSELORS
What are the different fields of specialization and career opportunities for counselors?
There are opportunities to specialize in areas such as bereavement, family therapy, mental health, sexual
health and substance abuse.
Counselors may also specialize in areas such as training or supervision. Experience in more than one setting
may be advantageous for career development in general. There is also the option of becoming a self-
employed counselor once they have significant experience and have undergone thorough training and
therapy. Self- employment can be combined effectively with part time or voluntary work. As demand of
counseling services continues to rise, more people are turning to being private practitioners, making it a
viable option.
What is the basis in professionalizing the practice of counseling?
The basis in the practice of counselling is the Republic Act 9258. It is an act professionalizing the practice
of guidance and counseling and creating for this purpose a professional regulatory board of guidance and
counseling, appropriating funds and other purposes.
It is the basis for creating the Board of Guidance and Counseling which administers the licensure examination
for counselors.
Counselors are also guided by a Code of Conduct.
The professionals and practitioners of counseling include the following:
1. Guidance Counselors
2. Human Resource Development Specialist
3. Career Counselors
4. Marriage Counselors
5. Psychiatrist
6. Child Counselors
7. Adult Counselors
8. Geriatric Counselors, and
9. Clinical Psychologist
COUNSELORS IN DIFFERENT AREAS
SCHOOL COUNSELORS
School counselors are those who help students deal with hindrances in their studies. They play an
important role in crisis intervention following traumatic events like a violent incident or the death of a teacher
or classmate. They also help students better navigate the stresses that they experience and prevent these
from interfering with their academic performance. School counselors often help students mediate conflicts
with their peers, teachers, or parents. Many school counselors also provide short-term counseling services
to students during school hours.
Our school guidance counselor as an example helps not only those who are experiencing difficulties in their
academics but they also handle situations such as family problems, conflicts between their classmates and
many others. Thus, as we had mentioned on the different functions of counselors, they also keep records
and they are the ones who help students in facilitating entrance examination and enrolment as well.
CAREER COUNSELORS
Career Counselors are those who help clients prepare for the start of their professional lives, adjust to
workplace, and succeed in their careers. They are usually found in schools as well as in public and private
organizations. They provide consulting, coaching, and counseling for clients who want to explore their
interests and make choices that will improve their careers.
Career counselors are the ones who conduct career orientations and seminars before, during or after the
semester.
Career Counseling is a process that will help you to know and understand yourself and the world of work in
order to make career, educational, and life decisions. Career counselors Help you figure out who you are and
what you want out of your education, your career, and your life. They can be someone to talk to about your
thoughts, ideas, feelings, and concerns about your career and educational choices, who will help you sort
out, organize, and make sense of your thoughts and feelings. They also help you identify the factors
influencing your career development, and help you assess your interests, abilities, and values.
Who needs Career Counseling?
Since career development is a lifelong process, Career Counseling can be appropriate for anyone, including
freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors, and even alumni. The earlier you get started making intentional
decisions about your future, the better prepared you will be! We recommend that all freshmen visit a Career
Counselor
CHILD ABUSE COUNSELORS
Child abuse counselors are those who help victims of child abuse rebuild their psyche, trust to others, and
gain happiness. These counselors use their training to identify, analyze, and treat specific symptoms of child
abuse. They provide necessary therapy to help the child overcome ordeal. They may have private clinics or
offices and may also be employed in schools, colleges or universities They also provide counseling for
children with behavioral, social, or emotional issues. They use their training to help families identify and treat
issues in children such as weight disorder, anger management problems, and social anxiety.
What is the Main Focus of Child Abuse Counseling?
Child abuse counseling is an area of specialization within mental health counseling that focuses on helping
abused children effectively work through their traumas in order to lead a healthy, normal life. Child abuse
counseling often occurs as part of a spectrum of services that might include medical care, family counseling,
social work services, or play therapy.
For example, because of the trauma inflicted through abuse, abused children often have lingering difficulties
and anxieties that lead to cognitive distortions about threats in the environment. Children may become
anxious around adults, withdraw from loved ones, and have uncontrollable fears about another abusive event
occurring. This, in turn, leads to significant avoidance behaviors that can cripple a child’s ability to function
from day to day.
Counselors that work with abused children typically focus on working through feelings and emotions related
to their abuse. Counseling sessions usually take place in a one-on-one situation, however, if family
reunification is a goal, the abused child will likely be part of family therapy. Child abuse counseling also seeks
to help children work through mental health issues that arise as a result of abuse, such as post-traumatic
stress disorder, anxiety disorders, or somatization disorder.
GERIATRIC COUNSELOR
Why Do We Need Geriatric Counselors?
Geriatric Counselors provide counseling services to senior citizens and families. They help senior citizens
live a more fulfilling and comfortable life. The families of senior citizens take part in the counseling process
to help them better understand the issues of the elderly. Geriatric counselors are often hired by agencies and
organizations that serve the elderly such as hospitals, homes for the aged, retirements home, independent
living communities, and long-and short-term care facilities. Geriatric counselors may also have their private
clinics.
It’s no secret that many older adults need help with their day-to-day activities. However, it can be very difficult
for family members to be there whenever their loved ones need them, no matter how much they wish they
could be.
Geriatric counselors, on the other hand, can provide the assistance that older adults need. The help that
these professionals provide often makes the lives of older adults and their families much easier, convenient,
and more comfortable. In short, these counselors help provide a better quality of life for those in their “golden
years”.
DEPRESSION COUNSELOR
Depression counselors help people who deal with the mental, emotional, and physical issues arising out of
depression. These are usually psychiatrists who not only perform counseling but also prescribe appropriate
medical treatment. Depression counseling encourages the family of the client to give him or her
support toward reaching full recovery. Depression counselors work in hospitals and private clinics. Many
government agencies such as embassies also hire depression counsellors to assist foreigners who are
having difficulties adjusting to their new environment and are experiencing “culture shock”.
COMMUNITY COUNSELORS
What Is Community Counseling?
Imagine a snowball, cold and wet and compacted between your hands. Now, imagine that you roll that same
snowball down a mountain. As the snowball starts rolling down the mountain, it begins to gather more speed.
It also gets much larger, as more snow is packed onto its surface. By the time the snowball reaches the
bottom of the mountain, it is no longer small, fluffy, and innocent. Instead, it is quite large and possibly
dangerous.
This is roughly the same manner in which many community problems take shape as well. They start out
small, affecting only a handful of community members, but they can quickly grow out of control. Examples of
some community problems can include poverty, and cultural or racial prejudices. Problems such as these
can often lead to additional problems, like widespread psychological issues, substance abuse, and increased
school dropout rates.
Other issues might also affect the health of a community as a whole. A traumatic event or disaster, for
instance, will often turn a community upside down. The suddenness of an event such as this - such as a
terrorist attack or devastating natural disaster - combined with the loss of property, possessions, and loved
ones can result in an increased number of psychological disorders.
Why Do We Need Community Counselors?
Everyone wants to live in a relatively peaceful community, and the majority of people prefer to be proud of
their communities rather than ashamed of them. Problems running rampant in a community, however, can
make it difficult to feel this way. Issues and problems suffered by older generations in a community will also
often be adopted by younger generations, making them difficult to put an end to.
Community counseling, however, can help prevent this vicious cycle. Professionals in this field are experts
at treating problems of individuals as well as communities. They are often experts at getting communities to
pull together during tough times and restore order and harmony.
LEGAL COUNSELOR
What are the duties of legal counselors? They are usually lawyers who rehabilitate inmates and help
them adjust to their incarceration. They also provide counseling to inmates about to be freed to help them
become better citizens of the community. Legal counselors usually work in prisons or correctional
facilities. They may also be in local communities, where they can help resolve interpersonal conflicts. There
are also legal counselors in foreign embassies who help citizens going through difficult times. One example
would be on the verge of a possible deportation or divorce from foreign husband and wife.
They are the ones who provide opinions, explanations and answers to the legal questions. They explain what
kind of legal rules the client has to fulfill and analyze the implementation. They provide suggestions on how
to ensure the legitimacy of her actions and the means to protect her interests and rights. They compose or
take part of composing or formulating legal documents. They communicate with third persons in the interest
of the client including the public authorities and perform legal actions in the interest of the client or the
employer; example, legal counseling can include: reaching agreements outside the court in the areas most
relevant to the victims of domestic violence, such as divorce, child support, dividing common property,
termination of co-ownership, custody rights, communicating with children or representing the client in the
court and achieving positive settlements for the client in civil proceedings.
GRIEF COUNSELOR
What are the benefits of Grief Counseling?Grief counselors are counselors who help people cope with the
loss that usually follows the death of a loved one. They also help the survivors of those disasters and
calamities cope up with their losses which may include lives and properties. Grief counselors may have
private offices or they can also make their services available to communities victimized by natural and man-
made disasters. The service of grief counselors is also available in hospitals.
While grief counseling is not necessary for most people dealing with the loss of a loved one, there are some
big potential benefits for those who are struggling more than usual (Mehta, 2013).
If an individual was experiencing distress before the loss they suffered, or if their grief is chronic and interferes
with normal functioning, grief counseling can help him or her to address their intense emotions and move on
with the healing process. Additionally, as with most forms of therapy, it is most effective if the individual
voluntarily seeks it out.
HOSPITAL COUNSELORS
Who is a Hospital Counselor?
Have you ever thought about taking a swimming class, learning how to do tai chi, or going horseback riding?
What about being recommended to them by staff in a hospital? These are some of the exciting activities
hospital counselors recommend to their patients. Hospital counselors are licensed mental health counselors
or licensed social workers who help patients find beneficial things to do after they are released from the
hospital.
What are the primary works of hospital counselors?
Hospital counselors work in different hospital settings and are an important part of a patient's treatment team.
They can even help get insurance authorized so that that the family does not have to worry about how the
treatment will be paid for.
Most people are in hospitals for a short stay. Therefore, the counselor's primary role is case management,
meaning to help the family find important resources the patient needs after they are discharged. Patients and
their families receive referrals to link them to everything from home health care aides to summer camps for
autistic children.
DRUG ABUSE COUNSELORS
Drug abuse counselors are specialized counselors who are in charge of counseling drug-dependent/addict
people. They may be hired in inpatient or outpatient facilities. In inpatient facilities, counselors assist in the
case of high-risk patients battling substance abuse. In outpatient facilities, counselors are hired to provide
treatment during the day while patients are allowed to return to their work at night.
These counselors may also serve as a detox specialists or crisis workers in a detoxification center, where
people dealing with substance abuse first head for recovery. They may also be found in private clinics or in
non-governmental organizations helping people facing drug abuse.
RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES COUNSELORS
Residential counselors assist and monitor people temporarily living in foster care facilities, including those
that house troubled or risk youth. Boys Town is an example of a residential care facility in the Philippines.
What is the main function of a residential counselor?
Residential counselors often work at organizations such as rehabilitation centers, residential care facilities,
group homes, shelters and universities. The exact job duties of the counselor vary depending upon where he
is employed. However, this job generally entails supervising a group of program participants or clients within
a structured environment. Most employers require residential counselors to have a bachelor's degree or
higher in a related field of study, such as psychology, counseling, sociology or social work.
Most residential counselors also maintain order and discipline within residential facilities by setting and
enforcing behavioral rules and resolving conflicts between residents. They may also provide support through
housekeeping and meal preparation tasks.
RELIGIOUS OR SPIRITUAL COUNSELOR
Religious counselors are specialized in combining mental health counseling with Christian beliefs in their
practice. They often work in a religious environment such as the church. Priests and nuns can be considered
religious counselors. They counsel clients who are troubled not only in their faith but also with other issues
such as domestic abuse or violence, as well as separation.
OTHER PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS
The list presented is not exhausted. Professional counselors may also work/consider as teachers,
researchers, textbook writers, human resource development specialist, curriculum designers, community
organizers, administrators of health care facilities, mentors of aspiring counselors, insurance advisors, life
coaches, travel counselors and public relation officers.
GENERALIZATION
Counseling provided by trained professionals can make a profound impact on the lives of individuals, families
and communities. This service helps people navigate difficult life situations, such as the death of a loved one,
divorce, natural disasters, school stress and the loss of a job.
Counselors are trained in helping others to work through the problems. They help people to determine the
root cause of e.g. addiction or behavioral issues and focus on healing. They can guide and direct people
through a variety of situations and help them to focus on what really matters.

Week 4: Rights, Responsibilities, Accountabilities of Counselors

COMPETENCIES OF COUNSELING
1.PROFESSIONALISM
Professionalism is the conduct, behavior and attitude of someone in a work or business
environment.
Professionalism leads to workplace success, a strong professional reputation and a high level of
work ethic and Excellence. Counselors are expected to follow the policies and procedures of the institutions
they are affiliated with. They are also expected to be highly organized and exhibit integrity
2.ACCOUNTABILITY
Counselors make sure that they look after the welfare of their clients. They demonstrate compassion and are
aware and sensitive to the various cultural and personal backgrounds of their clients.
3.CONCERN FOR THE WELFARE OF OTHERS
Counselors must take responsibility for their own actions. They must value the commitments they have made
with clients and other parties. A situation in which someone is responsible for things that happen and can
give satisfactory reason in doing them so.
4.PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY
Counselors think and act like professionals. They are usually members of professional organizations for
guidance counselors. Professional identity refers to one's self as perceived in relation to a profession and to
one's membership of it. Professional identity is created through one's beliefs and attitudes, values, motives
and experiences through which individuals define themselves, in their current or anticipated professional life.
5.GOOD SOCIAL SKILLS
Counselors must be able to relate well with different types of people, groups, and communities. They must
maintain productive and respectful relationships with clients, peers, supervisors, and professionals from other
disciplines.
6.EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Counselors should be able to clearly communicate ideas, feelings, and information through verbal, non-
verbal, and written skills. They use professional terms and concepts appropriately and clearly in discussions
as well as in case reports.
7.BASIC HELPING SKILLS
These relate to the counselors’ readiness to help their clients. The counselor listens and is empathetic
towards others. He or she respects and show interest in other cultures, as well as the experiences, values,
points of view, goals, desires, and fears of other people. He/ she also effectively uses verbal and non-verbal
communication
8.KNOWLEDGE OF KEY ISSUES AND CONCEPTS IN RELATED DISCIPLINES
Counselors must be open to working with professionals from other related disciplines such as social work
and psychology. They must also recognize the contributions of other disciplines in the development of
counseling practices.
9. SCIENTIFIC-MINDEDNESS AND APPLICATION OF ETHICAL DECISION MAKING
Counselors are expected to display critical and scientific thinking and apply scientific methods in their
practice. They evaluate the methodologies of studies and the scientific basis of their findings. Counselors
should apply the concepts of informed consent and confidentiality in their practice. They must also value
morality in their work, as well as honesty and integrity.
RIGHTS, RESPONSIBILITIES, ACCOUNTABILITIES OF COUNSELORS
The effectiveness of counseling is determined by the client’s capability for self-disclosure and self-exploration
and motivation to change his or her attitudes and behaviors. This is why successful counseling requires a
skilled, empathetic, and trustworthy counselor.
The following are the rights of counselors
The right to receive adequate salary commensurate to their qualifications, training and experience. Volunteer
counselors do not receive salaries, but honorariums.
- Every working person regardless of profession must receive due salary because they worked hard in order
to satisfy and give clients the best service they can offer. Thus, one of the rights of counselors specified is to
receive salary dictated by the law and their private agencies.
The right to legal working hours. The usual working hours is eight hours a day for 5 days (Monday to Friday).
some private institutions require their counselors to come on a Saturday. Some posts may require evening
to meet with clients or more than 8 hours a day. An overtime pay is required.
The right to receive other benefits such as vacation leave, maternity leave for women, paternity leave for
married men, 13th month pay, bonuses, performance pay among others
The right to be respected with honor and dignity by their superiors, clients, co employees and the public.
The right for professional development such as to be sent for training and if possible, to be on a scholarship
grant studies.
The right to go on such leave or when emergency arises- to be allowed by their employees
The right to use counselling strategies that are appropriate to the client’s personality, without interference
from superiors or co-workers, except if their suggestions are regulated
The right to resign from employment after the laps of a contract, or the right to be re- assigned in another
department or district, when services are urgently required.
Why is it important for counselors to know their rights?
It is extremely important to know the legal and constitutional rights of counselors. These rights are the
foundation and are in place for the protection of every counselor. Failure to know and utilize these rights leads
to their erosion and trouble as well.
Counselors should know the rules so they won’t break them. Another reason is that they should know the
rules so they won’t violate it. Having knowledge of your rights is crucial in times of need. When there is no
knowledge at all, how would you defend yourself from some brewing trouble in which you had no part at all?
In general, not knowing your rights will attract people who will take advantage of you.
The modern world became less friendly, so knowing your rights will prevent those people from taking
advantage of you. If you don’t, then you are like a fish swimming around a shark tank. They will eat you alive.
I’m not saying that the world has become an ugly place where you need to be vigilant all the time. But what I
am really trying to say is, it’s good to know how you can protect yourself from unprecedented events.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF COUNSELORS
After knowing the rights of counselors. We will now move to the responsibilities of counselors. Here are some
of the responsibilities of counselors across most areas of counseling and they include:
1. Counselors must value their client’s trust, be sensitive to their needs and beliefs, observe limits
in their power, and only utilize counseling interventions that they are fully prepared to use.
2. Counselors must also follow their Code of Ethics. They should know it by heart and adhere to
its principles and values. They should also be familiar with other sources of information which
will assist them in making informed professional decisions.
3. Counselors must maintain a high standard of professional competence. They must continue
their education in the discipline in order to enhance their expertise, and also to ensure the
renewal if their licenses.
4. Counselors are accountable to their clients, their peers, and the general public. Should they
fail to uphold the standards of their practice, they may be subject to complaints and disciplinary
procedures. Professional organizations, such as the Philippine Guidance and Counseling
Association, and the Psychological Association of the Philippines provide support and training
for counselors.
Counselors are trained in helping others to work through the problems. They help people to determine the
root cause of e.g. addiction or behavioral issues and focus on healing. They can guide and direct people
through a variety of situations and help them to focus on what really matters. These is the reason why it is
also important to know the different responsibilities of counselors.
As you have observed on the given responsibilities, values are being emphasized as the primary
responsibility of counselors.
Why are values important in counseling?
Values are important in counseling because imposing one's values upon the client is indicative of judgement.
Paradoxically, when therapists accept the client for the person, they are regardless of their values, over time,
the client's values tend to grow closer to the values of the counselor, as counselors do become role models
for their clients.
ACCOUNTABILITIES OF COUNSELORS
Counselors continually hold themselves accountable to their employers, clients, community and the general
public. Listed below are the different accountabilities of counselors:
1. The school counselors plan, organize and deliver the school counseling program. They also
implement the school guidance curriculum through the use of effective instructional skills and
careful planning of structured group sessions for all students.
2. The school counselors provide responsive services through the effective use of individual and
small group counseling, consultation and referral skills. This is the reason why counselors
conduct counseling tools that help them identify students who need their counselling abilities
and skills.
3. The school counselors are responsible for establishing and convening an advisory council for
the school counseling program.
4. School counselors collect and analyze data to guide program direction and emphasis. They
also monitor the students on a regular basis as they progress in school.
 5. Counselors also use time and calendars to implement an efficient program and develops a
result evaluation for the program.
NOTE: Counselors are also expected to do the following:
6. Submission of result reports- counselors are required to submit result reports of their
performance. In their reports, they compare clients before and after the intervention to look for
differences. In creating result reports, counselors examine perception and results data.
7. Program Performance Audit- it is best to audit the performance of counselors on yearly basis
to determine the current state of the guidance program. School counselors may also evaluate
themselves, on a simple scale. An evaluation for counselor’s Sheet must be prepared by the
school and this Evaluation form must have undergone validation scrutiny
CODE OF ETHICS
The roles of the Guidance Counselor is significant in the lives of the people. The nature of their work demands
competence, excellence, integrity, trust and service. The ethical principles of guidance counselors must be
observed.
What is Code of Ethics?
Code of Ethics is the outline of a particular set of behaviors that is expected to the professionals, as well as
certain prohibitions. An example of behavior expected from counselors is keeping counselling records
confidential, while the example of prohibited behavior is stating fake credentials. It also discusses principles
that counselors can use to guide their actions. Examples of such principles include respect for human rights
and dignity and ensuring the integrity of the counselor-client relationship.
The Code of Ethics discusses how the counselor should relate to his or her clients, colleagues, employers,
peers, and the public, and emphasizes the counselor’s responsibility to promote the welfare of the client. The
Code also includes provisions describing the client’s right to privacy, accurate assessment of needs, freedom
of choice, and fair and competent treatment or referral.
It also points out that counselors must present their training and experience accurately, be fair in assigning
fees for services, be updated with the latest trends in the discipline, conduct research responsibly, and train
future counselors. It elaborates on how counselors must balance their professional responsibilities to clients
and their employers. It also explicitly prohibits certain behaviors such as developing sexual relationships with
clients, claiming degrees not earned, and using psychological tests inappropriately.
Lastly, the Code of Ethics recognizes the relationship between ethical standards and the law, and advises
practitioners to abide by the laws of their jurisdiction unless these are unethical. It also obligates counselors
not only to act ethically in their own interactions but also to intervene at some level in known ethical violations
of colleagues (Patterson and Welfel 2000).

ETHICAL PRINCIPLES OF COUNSELING

8. RESPECT OF AUTONOMY
Autonomy is the principle that addresses the concept of independence. The essence of this principle is
allowing an individual the freedom of choice and action. It addresses the responsibility of the counselor to
encourage clients, when appropriate, to make their own decisions and to act on their own values.
Autonomy is the individual’s right to self-determination. Individuals have a right to think as they wish, even if
others disagree. They also have the right to act freely even if others don’t like their choices. Autonomy should
always be respected, but it is limited by two restrictions:
First, the right of the individual ends where rights of others begin. This means that a person has the right to
act as he or she wishes, but must avoid violating the rights of others. Second, respect for autonomy assumes
that individuals are capable of understanding the implications and consequences of the choices they make.
2.BENEFINENCE
What does beneficence mean?
Beneficence is defined as an act of charity, mercy, and kindness with a strong connotation of doing good to
others including moral obligation. In the context of the professional-client relationship, the professional is
obligated to, always and without exception, favor the well-being and interest of the client.
Counselors must do all they can to help their clients. This is important since counselors are paid
professionals-they receive payments for their services-and have specialized training in counseling, unlike the
client’s friends or personal confidants.
Moreover, valuing beneficence also means that the counselor cannot end up the process without seeing
improvement in the client. Failing to help the client improve his or her life is considered a failure of the
counselor to achieve his or her goal, which is to help clients address their problems successfully.
3.NONMALEFINENCE
What is the meaning of non-maleficence?
Non-maleficence is the principle of 'do no harm' in which counselors do not undertake and actively avoid
activities that could be detrimental to clients. Beneficence involves doing good both within
the counselling relationship and as a member of the greater community.
Non maleficence means that counselors must do no harm intentionally. Counselors must provide a standard
of care which avoiding risk or minimizing it, as it relates to counselling competence. An example of counselor
demonstrating this principle includes avoiding negligent care of the client
This is the responsibility of preventing the client from getting worse, be it by intention, reckless action or
incompetence. When used ineffectively, counseling and therapy become disadvantageous for the client. It is
thus imperative that counselors make the accurate assessment, choose counseling strategies wisely, and
closely monitor the impact of counseling on the client.
4.JUSTICE
In counseling, upholding justice involves treating all clients equally, regardless of their status in life.
Counselors must set goals and devise strategies based on the individual characteristics of the client and not
on discriminatory attitudes towards groups. Moreover, counselors must use strategies appropriate to the
culture of the client.
5.FIDELITY
Fidelity involves being “loyal” to the client. For instance, counselors must make a promise to not divulge what
the client tells them. Counselors can only disclose information from the client when there is a significant
reason to do so, and it must be ultimately for the client’s benefit. If the counselor needs to disclose client
information, the reason for doing so must be explained, as well as its consequences. Fidelity to the client also
means that counselors must avoid ending the counseling process abruptly. If doing this is unavoidable, the
counselor must refer the client to another institution or counselor. Counselors must also extend their fidelity
to their colleagues, employers, and their profession. They must be faithful to their employer’s mission, except
when it is detrimental to the client’s best interests. Counselors must also observe the tenets of their
profession.
GENERALIZATION:
Counseling is practiced primarily by guidance counselors, psychologist, psychiatrists, and other qualified
professionals. The profession of counseling is regulated by law, governed by organizations, and guided by a
code of ethics.
Professional counselors’ practice in various institutions and organizations such as educational institutions,
public and private organizations, government and nongovernmental organizations, and in civil society, among
others.
Counselors are expected to have the following core competencies: professionalism, accountability, concern
for welfare, professionalism, good social skills, effective communication, helping skills, knowledge of key
issues and concepts n related disciplines, scientific mindedness, basic knowledge of ethical and professional
codes, awareness and application of ethical decision making, ethical conduct, observational skills, thinking
skills, and computer skills.
Counselors should behave in an ethical manner as they are accountable for their actions and are expected
to uphold the ethical standards of the profession. The Code of Ethics for counselors emphasizes the following
principles: Respect for Autonomy, Beneficence, Non maleficence, Justice, and Fidelity.

Week 5: Clienteles and Audiences of Counseling

Counseling helps three sets of Clientele: individuals, groups or organization, and communities. Thought to
Ponder: Clientele is simply defined as the group of people who are experiencing therapeutic concerns in life,
in other words, it is referred to as the group of clients.
Based on these clienteles, counseling can be categorized into the following forms: individual counseling,
group counseling, organization counseling and community counseling.
CATEGORIES OF COUNSELING
1.INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING
• Individual counseling is a type of counseling that aims at helping individuals (e.g., students,
children, adults, and adolescents) cope with the challenges of daily living, stresses that can
cause anxiety, depression, and other serious mental issues. Sometimes called
“psychotherapy or individual therapy”.
• It is also concerned with helping clients heal from traumatic events in their lives such as failure
in class, death of a loved one, separation from spouse, divorce, family problems, drug abuse,
physical violence, and separation from a close friend. It can also help in managing stressful
life situations, work problems, grief, emotional distress, or relationship issues.
Individual counseling covers the following:
• How to create and sustain an intimate relationship
• How to be assertive
• How to resolve conflicts
• What happiness really means and;
• How to get happiness
This type of counseling can be done in private offices, schools, hospitals, parishes, and even in online media.
WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS AND NEEDS OF INDIVIDUAL CLIENT OR COUNSELING?
The ultimate aim of counseling is individual development. It is the task of the counselor to make the individual
into a distinct personality. For harmonious and integrated development of client, a healthier climate is needed
in the institution.
It can be said that counseling is a dynamic and purposeful relationship between two people- the counselor
and the individual client- to the end that the troubled one or less mature is aided to a self-determined
resolution of his problem
However, there are some common problems which are faced by counselors:
A. RESISTANCE TO COUNSELING
Resistance to counseling is faced from two angles.
Firstly, the individual facing a problem feels that he/she does not need any counseling or special help. These
individuals fear and are conditioned to certain pay offs like attention from significant other, sympathy, comforts
associated with present behavior, avoidance of work or stress. Such resistance can be dealt with either by
involving significant others or deconditioning pay offs.
Secondly the resistance comes from the faculty himself i.e. when the other teaches or the administrator do
not see the worth of counseling process and ' discard it as not a necessary service. Such resistance can be
managed by gaining - the cooperation from all the members and highlighting from time to time the important
achievements of counseling to them.
B. COUNSELING INDIVIDUALS OF DIFFERENT CULTURES
Some counselors may be working in such schools of nursing where students with a cultural background are
different from the counselors. These students have different sets of values and expectations. If you do not
have full understanding of these values, you may interpret their behavior inaccurately and impost your value
system on them which may further create problems. As a counselor you should try to understand their value
system and should not apply one approach uniformly to all the students.
C. COUNSELING INDIVIDUALS WITH STRONG EMOTIONS
Often a counselor may come across individuals with strong emotions such as high anxiety, anger,
depression, intimacy etc. These emotions hinder the process of counseling.
In such cases the counselor should first acknowledge his feelings by simply saying: "Sheila, I can see how
angry you are right now” ' or "Feel free and cry". You can remain calm in some such situations and this may
act as a tranquilizer to such individual.
2.GROUP COUNSELING
• Group Counseling is a form of therapy which posits that individuals benefit from shared
experiences. Oriented toward helping group members express and explore their difficulties,
and use the resources of the group to overcome these and live in more satisfying life. Usually
focused on a particular issue such as conflict management, stress management, or anger
 management. In addition, some groups address issue such as living with grief, anxiety
problems, raising a child with special needs, and living with depression.
• While a group counselor manages the group, contributions from the other members of the
group are encouraged since everyone in the group deals with similar issues. One of the main
ideas of disadvantage in group counseling is that dealing with specific issues may cause
isolation and a feeling that one is alone in facing his or her problems. This form of counseling
therefore attempts to counteract isolation by gathering people with similar issues, and making
it clear that problems or issues are not unique to a single person. This type of counseling may
be comforting to some individuals who may not have a strong relationship with their own family
or a circle or friends who understand their problems.
WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS AND NEEDS OF GROUPS IN COUNSELING?
Group Counseling or group therapy as it is sometimes called, is a form of therapy where a small group of
clients meet regularly to talk, interact and discuss problems with each other. It provides beneficial
advantages, where people can share experiences and contributions from other members in the group are
considered valuable, since all the group share similar experiences.
Group counseling is no different to 1—2-1 counseling, confidentiality and respect for all form part of
the same Clinical, ethical and professional boundaries. One of the main principles behind group counseling
is the idea that dealing with specific issues may cause isolation and a feeling that one is alone in facing one's
problems.
Group counseling attempts to counteract this isolation by assembling people with similar issues to enforce
that each individual's issues are not singular to one person. Additionally, knowing other people with similar
troubles can be comforting to each individual, who may not have access in their family or friends to people
with the same issues.
Group counseling can be highly organized, with people doing specific activities together and then sharing the
results. Or it can be more freeform, where people share current issues related to the groups. purpose. For
example, one person's verbal contributions to a group may be discussed, validated and provoke problem
solving by other members of the group. This interaction is then primary ‘led by the group therapist/s.
FORMAT CONSIDERATIONS FOR SCHOOL—BASED GROUPS
Group Structure: Small groups may be structured or School-based groups usually follow a structured format.
Structured groups are time-limited. They are scheduled for a specified number of sessions, focus on a single
topic, follow a pre-established agenda, and membership is closed. The structure is pre—set; students provide
the content, based on their experiences with the topic and the changes-they wish to make in their lives.
Unstructured groups may or may not have a pre-set topic, or agenda; counselor applies a broad range of
techniques to facilitate the process of the group. The groups are usually on-going with no set begin /end date
and membership is open. Unstructured groups require advanced group leadership skills.
3.ORGANIZATION COUNSELING
• This is usually performed in the workplace. It aims to help employees adjust with their work
environment and ensure that their potentials are maximized to the fullest. It may involve
discussions with an employee who is experiencing difficulties in the workplace to help an
employee overcome his/her emotional stresses, so that he/she can get back on track and
perform well.
Organizations may need counseling for a number of reasons:
• Failure of an employee to achieve his or her performance targets,
• Irreconcilable differences with a co-worker, or
• Failure to relate with peers in the organization.
A resident guidance counselor or a human resource development specialist can provide the counseling in
the organization.

TYPES OF COUNSELING

• DIRECTIVE COUNSELING
• This involves learning about, planning to solve, and motivating a client to act on his or her
problems. It mostly accomplishes the counseling function of advice, but it may also reassure,
 communicate, give emotional release, and to a minor extent clarify thinking. In direct
counseling, it is the counselor who does most of the talking.
• The counselor is implicitly superior to the client. He or she is the “boss” or the “supervisor” of
the client who is the “employee”. The client is psychologically dependent on the counselor
whose role as a problem solver may limit the client’s personal growth.
ADVANTAGES OF DIRECTIVE COUNSELING
• Directive counseling is done
• More attention to the clients
• Counselor tries to understand the problem of the client
• Client gets a proper guideline to follow
• The counselor plays an active role
DISADVANTAGES OF DIRECTIVE COUNSELING
• Counselor is authoritarian
• Counselor becomes more confident and may abuse authority

•
NONDIRECTIVE COUNSELING or CLIENT-CENTERED COUNSELING
•
Non directive counseling was developed concurrently by two groups: Elton Mayo, Fritz
Roethlisberger, and others at Western Electric Company and Carl. R. Rogers and his
colleagues.
• The client is psychologically independent as a person, choosing a solution and making a better
choice for his or her future. The counselor, meanwhile, listens to the client in a caring and
supportive manner, and helps him or her discover better courses of actions.
• Counselors follow the iceberg model of counseling, which recognizes that there may be certain
feelings not revealed despite communication with the client. This is why nondirective
counselors encourage their clients to open up more and reveal deeper feelings which may be
necessary in solving their problems.
ADVANTAGEES OF NON- DIRECTIVE COUNSELING
• The counselor does not play authoritarian role
• Non-directive counseling is client centered
• Client can take his or her own decision
• Counselor cannot be overconfident
• Client cannot be dominated
DISADVANTAGES OF NON-DIRECTIVE COUNSELING
• The counselor does not play an active role
• Client faces a pressure that he has to think about his problems and take a decision
• Non directive counseling is indirect approach

• PARTICIPATIVE COUNSELING or COOPERATIVE COUNSELING

• A mutual counselor-client relationship that establishes a cooperative exchange of ideas to
help solve a client’s problem/s. The counselor and the client both mutually apply their different
knowledge, perspectives, and values to problems.
• It is considered as a balanced compromise that combines the good features of both
directive and nondirective counseling. It starts by using the listening techniques of
nondirective counseling.
• However, as the counseling session progresses, participative counselors may apply a
more active role than that of nondirective counselor. Participative counselors can help
client develop a different view of the problem.
• In general, participative counseling achieves the four counseling functions of
reassurance, communication, emotional release, and clarified thinking,

• COMMUNITY COUNSELING
• It helps address issues in a local area, such as mental health problems and disaster
rehabilitations. It also entails partnership between community leaders and guidance
 counselors or other service institutions. By improving services and increasing the availability
of community help organizations, counselors can quickly address problems that may occur in
communities.
• Community counseling is carried out in various settings such as schools, hospitals, mental
health facilities, private industries and businesses, behavioral health agencies, insurance
companies, and private practice.
ETHICAL DIMENSIONS OF COUNSELING
• INFORMED CONSENT
This means that the counselor has informed the client of what to expect in the counseling process and that
the client has given his or her consent to participate in the process.
• CONFIDENTIALITY
This means that the counselor should not disclose confidential information trusted to him or her by his or her
client. However, it should be made clear that there are limits to absolute confidentiality and these need to be
clarified with the client before counseling.
For instance, the counselor must inform a relevant third party if the client poses a significant risk to his or her
own life. If the client’s counseling is being paid for by a private insurance company, it is likely that the
counselor will have to provide periodic reports to the company.
3. PROTECTION AND DEVELOPMENT
The counselor is expected to protect the welfare of his/her client as well as his or her life. It is a professional
requirement for counselors to have their work supervised. Supervision of counseling work enables the
counselor to offer his or her client a more effective and safer service.
In addition, continuing professional development of counselors is encouraged for their accreditation to be
renewed (Dryden, 2006).
GENRALIZATION:
Counseling aims to help clients improve their mental health and well-being. This is achieved through the
counseling functions such as advice, reassurance, communication, release of emotional tension, clarified
thinking, and reorientation. The important components in counseling are the counselor, the client, and the
working alliance between the two.
The outcome goals of counseling are changes that occur at the end of the counseling sessions. These
include behavioral change, improvement in decision-making and coping skills, changes in beliefs or values,
and relief from emotional distress. Process goals, on the other hand, refer to actions done during counseling
session.
The counseling process has three stages: initial disclosure, in-depth exploration, and commitment to action.
The different types of counseling include: directive counseling, nondirective counseling, and participative
counseling. Counseling has an ethical dimension which focuses on the following considerations: informed
consent, confidentiality, and protection and development.

Week 6: Counseling Strategies and Techniques

DIFFERENT COUNSELING TOOLS
A. VERBAL DISCUSSIONS
Verbal Discussion is also known as the “talking therapy”.
Primarily, this is the mode for analyzing and solving problems in counseling. It involves facilitating self-
disclosure and conversations which explore the client’s situation.
Note: Speaking can also help you to make sense of what is going on. When we speak in depth about
our lives, we naturally create a story from the events in our life. It can be important to feel that what
is happening to us has meaning and purpose.
Through a process of talking, we may also uncover belief systems which are not serving you. There can be
opportunities to explore other possible frameworks of understanding your world and to find ones which feel
both true to you and healthy for you.
Part of the process can also be sharing of your thoughts, feelings and experiences. It can be very powerful
to tell another human being what is really occurring for you. Often people tell their counselors things they
don’t feel comfortable telling anyone else. This can be very liberating, and it can be life changing to show
your hidden aspects to someone and have them like and respect you within it.
B. PERSONALITY TESTS
A personality test is a method of assessing human personality constructs. Most personality assessment
instruments are in fact introspective self-report questionnaire measures or reports from life records such as
rating scales.
This tool compares the responses of the client to the responses of a norm group on a variety of personality
dimensions.
They may be useful in situations of long-standing concerns or relate to negative feelings about the self or
difficulties in interpersonal relationships. Meanwhile, there are tests that center on particular issues like self-
esteem, anxiety, or depression. These tests are appropriate when the general nature of the problem is fairly
clear.
C. JOURNALS OR DIARIES
A diary is mainly used to write things you would like to remember - daily activities, how the day was spent,
what was done, the daily routine and anything that needs to get done.
A personal journal is a record of significant experiences. It is much more personal than a diary. It contains
feelings, emotions, problems, and self-assurances and can be used to evaluate one’s life. For a journal, one
does not just record one's experiences but also thoughts, feelings and reflections. Diary writing is a daily
activity but one can write in a journal whenever there is a desire to write about significant experiences.
It can also be a good source for defining the problem and for understanding the variations in its intensity from
day to day. It is important that the client is willing to share his/her journal or diary to the counselor so that the
counselor can easily address the issues/problems which he/she is experiencing.
A performance appraisal report is a regular review of an employee's job performance and overall contribution
to a company. Also known as an "annual review," "performance review or evaluation," or "employee
appraisal," a performance appraisal evaluates an employee’s skills, achievements and growth, or lack
thereof. Companies use performance appraisals to give employees big-picture feedback on their work and
to justify pay increases and bonuses, as well as termination decisions. They can be conducted at any given
time but tend to be annual, semi-annual or quarterly
INTERVIEW IN COUNSELING
WHAT IS AN INTAKE INTERVIEW?
It is the initial interview with a client by a therapist or counselor to obtain both information regarding the issues
or problems that have brought the client into therapy or counseling and preliminary information regarding
personal and family history. In intake interview, a counselor works with a client to gather information about
his/her problems, general life situation, history and interpersonal functioning (Sommers-Flanagan, 1993).
This is usually conducted in single meetings, usually by a person other than the regular counselor.
The diagnosis reached after an intake interview is tentative since the data collected may be incomplete or
inaccurate. Counselors assigned for subsequent sessions then have to re-examine the issues tackled in the
interview to help facilitate the self-exploration of the client. This takes place in college counseling centers,
mental health facilities, and private counseling offices.
TECHNIQUES IN COUNSELING

STRUCTURING
A technique where the counselor informs the client of what to expect from the counseling process. The
counselor suggests how the client may participate and what a counselor will contribute to the conversation.
In structuring, the counselor and the client establish the pattern of how they will work together during the
initial sessions.
The following are the patterns established in structuring the structure of the counseling process:
a. The counselor usually initiates specific discussions about confidentiality,
b. The time frame of counseling sessions,
c. Client and counselor responsibilities, and
d. The possible outcomes of counseling.
Note: At the latter part of the counseling process, the counselor reassures the client of the confidentiality of
the whole process, reaffirms or renegotiates the time frame, and moves counseling to a new stage.
Structuring helps keep the conversation purposeful. When clients lose momentum during counseling, they
need help in maintaining the motivation to work on their concerns to move to a new stage. Therefore, it may
be necessary for the counselor to return to structuring at various times throughout the counseling.
LEADING
This refers to the counselor’s selection of a response that anticipate the client’s readiness to benefit from it
(Robinson 1950). Responses that incorporate elements of confrontation and interpretation may be valid but
nevertheless destructive if introduced before the client is ready to accept and absorb the information they
contain.
QUESTIONING
This helps open up certain aspects of the client’s situation for discussion, clarifies vague or conflicting
comments from the clients, or focuses his/her attention to specific thoughts, feelings, or behavior. It also
helps in acquiring specific information for arriving at a diagnosis, such as learning more about the duration of
one’s depression and the symptoms of the client to acquire the desired information that will help a counselor
device his/her diagnosis and to achieve the objectives of counseling, he/she must have to ask the following
questions:
What are the three Types of Questions?
a. Minimum-led Question. Such as “what happened next?” simply asks the client to continue
with his or her own story.
b. Medium-led Question. Incorporates information that the client has provided and implies that
the information has significance. An example of this is “What meaning did you attach to your
husband’s repeated late nights at the office and occasional failure to come home?”
c. Maximum-led Question. Includes the counselor’s hypothesis, for example, “Did you see how
anger towards your wife when she pressed you to do more was really self-disgusting at your
inability to deliver?”. (Patterson and Welfel 2000).

DEALING WITH HESITANT CLIENTS

Some people are indifferent to counseling. If given the choice, they would not be in the presence of a
counselor and would not talk about themselves. To understand this set of clients, it would be useful to learn
about their Reluctance, or conscious reservation about being counselled; and their Resistance, or
unconscious defensive reactions to the counseling session (Patterson and Welfel, 2000).
a. RELUCTANCE
The unwillingness or hesitancy to participate fully in the helping process. It is also described as the client
hesitancy to become oriented in the therapeutic environment and meet the demands of the tasks requested
by the therapeutic process.
One of the main reasons of reluctance includes beliefs of the clients preventing their approach to
psychotherapy at first, or their continuing of the sessions.
Other reasons in the occurrence of reluctance are the following:
a. Being labeled by the people,
b. Being despised by the society,
c. Emotional difficulty and pain that is expected to be experienced during the session, and
d. Perceived uselessness of psychotherapy.
There are a number of assumptions that underlie a counselor’s decision to work with a reluctant client:
Assumptions in addressing the issue of reluctance:
a. A moral and ethical and ethical obligation to help others live to the fullest if they can do so,
whether or not they seek help.
b. The counselor has the capacity to recognize ineffective behavior that they may be amenable
to change through counseling.
c. Early intervention for dysfunctional behavior is likely to lead to a more rapid and more complete
resolution of the problem.
2. RESISTANCE
It is the disagreement of the client regarding the approach of changing process of the counselor. In this case,
the clients may act as dissenter rather than collaborative partners to change.
The unwillingness of the change of the client due to her negative reaction to the therapeutic process.
Sometimes due to false expectations and believing to hearsays without any validations.
In some cases, verbal or non-verbal expressions of the counselor leads the client to develop resistance. To
illustrate, directive behavior of the counselor was found to lead slight, yet significant increase in the client
resistance of the counseling process.
Other counselor behavior leading client resistance for change might be illustrated as trying to investigate
sensitive issues too early in the sessions, verbal or behavioral expression of judge, and lack of empathy that
might result in client feelings of being misunderstood, not being understood, being mistreated, even being
abused leading negative reaction to the counselor, and sometimes preterm nation.
NOTE: In cases of reluctant and resistant clients, the effectiveness of the counselor lies in his or her ability
to communicate care and trust, to avoid a moralizing posture, and to avoid using coercive tactics to get the
client to conform to someone else’s norms (Patterson and Welfel 2000).
CRISIS INTERVENTION TECHNIQUES
CRISIS - An event or situation as an intolerable difficulty that exceeds their resources and coping mechanism
(Gilliland and James, 1997).
In crisis situation, solutions that have worked before are no longer sufficient. As tension and anxiety over the
inability to solve the problem increase, the client becomes less and less able to find a solution. The client
feels helpless, upset, ashamed, guilty, and unable to resolve the problem on his/her own
EVENTS THAT MAY PRECIPITATE A CRISIS
• Death of a love one,
• Serious illness,
• Unwanted pregnancy,
• Separation,
• Divorce,
• Domestic Violence,
• Rape,
• Academic Failure,
• Natural Calamities,
• Dismissal from work,
• Financial Problems and or
• Investment losses

CRISIS INTERVENTION PROCESS

In the Crisis Intervention Techniques, the counselor should know and understand the client’s functioning prior
to the crisis he/she is experiencing. This is necessary to determine how the client usually manages difficult
situations and what skills have been available to him or her. This assessment should help the counselor
understand strengths of his/her client and help the client identify the course of action that will best address
his/her problem.
Follow-up sessions may be necessary to check on the client’s progress toward the resolution of the crisis.
COUNSELING CULTURALLY DIVERSE CLIENTS
CULTURE - It is a way of life. It encompasses the community and the individual’s belief system, values,
practices, and traditions.
Culture consists of implicit and explicit patterns of behavior acquired and transmitted by symbols and their
embodiments in artifacts. The essential core of culture consists of traditional (i.e., historically derived and
selected) ideas and their attached values.
Cultural understanding is very much necessary in the counseling process. Culture plays a vital role in the
performance of the therapeutic communication. A counselor must consider that clients are diverse in terms
of culture; those clients are same subject of counseling but not similar in terms of cultural background.
Say for instance, when a counselor and a client are of different of cultures, they may not be equally
comfortable using English, or they may speak different languages. Without commonalities in culture,
empathetic understanding is hard to attain and the communication itself may cause difficulties to the both
counselor and the client. Counseling may also be hampered at every stage of the process.
ASSUMPTIONS OF CULTURE IN THE COUNSELING PROCESS
 • Culture influences non-verbal communication.
Some nonverbal cues such as smiles or frown seems to have universal meanings, but others are culturally
relative. Failure to understand the meanings of nonverbal communications ay lead to the failure of the
counseling process
• Culture also affects a person’s perception of normal or dysfunctional behavior, and the
kinds of self-help strategies a person will use to solve his/her problems.
For instance, in many countries in Asia, the parents’ choice of a degree program for their children takes
precedence over the children’s wishes. A counselor who is not aware of this tradition may perceive the child
to be immature.
NOTE: For the counseling process to progress, counselors must be aware of the client’s cultural
background. They must understand and, if possible, speak the language of the client. The counselor
must also be sensitive to nonverbal communication.
Moreover, given the cultural background of the client, the counselor should be able to discern what is
functional and what is dysfunctional behavior. Standard tests in counseling must be carefully and cautiously
administered given the cultural background of the client.
GENERALIZATION:
Counselors often address the needs of three major groups of clients: individuals, groups or organization, and
communities. Each group has specific counseling needs which are addressed through various techniques
and strategies. Certain techniques and strategies are used by the counselors at different stages of the
counseling process and in various settings.
This may include verbal discussion, personality test, journals or diaries, performance appraisal reports,
interviews, and questioning techniques. Some individuals may be compelled to undergo counseling for
various reasons. It is the responsibility of the counselor to work closely with hesitant clients and convey care
and trust to them. Counselors should be mindful of the influence of culture on individual behavior and should
consider the client’s background during the conduct of counseling.

Week 7: The Discipline of Social Work

SOCIAL WORK
• Social work is an academic discipline and practice-based profession that concerns itself with
individuals, families, groups, and communities in an effort to enhance social functioning and
overall well-being. Social work plays an important role in the development of the society and
community. To give you a clear idea about social work, let us unlock first the different
disciplines under social work.

THE DISCILINE OF SOCIAL WORK

Social Work is a profession concerned with helping individuals, families, groups, and communities to enhance
their individual and collective well-being.
It is concerned with the social functioning of all people- the poor, the rich, men, women, the LGBT community,
the able, those with disabilities, the young, and the old. It also strives to prevent and solve social, relational,
and interactional human problems. It engages people and structures to address life challenges and enhance
well-being. Its end goal is to get support of both public and private agencies in implementing welfare
programs.
Social work aims to empower people and encourage them to make the most available resources and
opportunities to lead satisfying lives. It is both academic discipline and a profession.
SOCIAL WORK FUNCTION
• SOCIAL WORK AS AN ACADEMIC DISCIPLINE
It uses the tools of the social sciences to study social change, the empowerment of people in society, the
enhancement of social equality, and the development of the community. With the same tools as the social
sciences, specifically that of Political Science, Social Work studies the dynamics of power in the community.
It involves intellectual activities accompanied by individual responsibilities.
• SOCIAL WORK AS A PROFESSION
Social Workers – are those individuals who are capable of performing all the responsibilities of the social
work. They are able to help individuals, group, and communities improve and become productive members
of society.
Social Workers must be responsive to public interests than other individuals and are more concerned with
the attainment of social ends. Social Workers have an extensive background in Psychology, Sociology, and
Anthropology which enables them to understand the human individual and the world. They also study the
Biology Sciences and their observations against data from these disciplines.
Social Workers learn specialized knowledge, techniques, and communication strategies through research
and supervised field experience.
Practices Wisdom – It is a form of knowledge derived from the collective experience of several generations
of social works. This is the knowledge attained in the social work service.
Professional enhancement would most help a practitioner of this course to attain practical wisdom. Enhanced
through professional training, practical experience, and the application of the scientific method would most
likely help a social worker to be an expert in his/her field.
Furthermore, social workers are expected to show compassion when dealing with their clients. In fact, like
counseling, social work is also considered as a helping profession. Social welfare and Social Work are
sometimes interchangeable; however, they are actually different from each other.
SOCIAL WELFARE- is a broader concept that encompasses social institutions and fields of practice which
do not relate to social work, such as psychiatry, urban planning, and education.
Social Welfare can be defined as the group of assistance programs designed to ensure the well-being of a
nation's citizens. In other words, it is a system that aims to provide quality care to society participants. It is a
set of plans designed to aid crisis situation of the needy. It is a systematic plan that also ensures the social
capability of the community.
PURPOSE OF SOCIAL WORK
According to Sheafor, and Horejsi (1994), social workers aim to achieve the following: Enhance the problem
solving and coping capacities of people; prevent the development of serious personal and social problems;
restore and maintain the social functioning of people; link people with systems and resources that can provide
support, services, and opportunities.
They also promote the creation and development of humane and effective social policies and human services
programs; plan, develop, and administer social programs and projects with social agencies; promote the
effective and humane operation and administration of social work organizations and human services delivery
system.
Lastly, they protect the vulnerable and disadvantaged from destructive social influences; protect the
community from people who consistently harm others and develop and teach the knowledge and skills
needed to accomplish these purposes.
The purpose of social work is targeted toward all members of the society. Throughout recorded history,
however, social work has devoted its primary attention to people who are most vulnerable or at risk. These
include children, the elderly, people with disabilities, victims of disasters, and people experiencing
discrimination.
Two Broad Categories of People according to the Social Work
Social work is especially concerned with the social functioning of TWO BROAD CATEGORIES OF PEOPLE:
1. Those with few capacities and opportunities to function satisfactorily such as those living in poverty,
dependent persons like children or people with serious physical and mental disabilities, and persons whose
rights are violated.
2. Those whose actions seriously limit or interfere with the social functioning of others such as abusive and
neglectful parents, persons who commit crimes, and those who restrict opportunities or resources from
others. Concern for the second category motivates social workers to maintain control in society and establish
child and adult protection services, probation and parole services, and correctional services.
The SCOPE of SOCIAL WORK
The scope of social work is broad. Social workers themselves may find it difficult to answer the question:
“What do we do?”. Coming up with a simple answer is further complicated by the fact that social work primarily
serves society- its clients may either be individuals or social systems such as families, groups, organizations,
and communities.
Furthermore, social work is applied in a great variety of fields. Social workers are usually found in hospitals,
clinics, and rehabilitation centers where they provide emotional guidance to clients.
It is also applied in government and public service through the Department of Social Welfare and
Development, the Philippine Red Cross, the PCSO, and government health facilities such as the Philippine
General Hospital. Social work is also applied in nongovernmental hospitals.
THREE TYPES OF GENERAL FUNCTIONS OF SOCIAL WORK

1. PREVENTION
It refers to the timely intervention of the social worker before various problems emerge.
It involves the provision of financial assistance, as well as services and facilities such as marriage counseling
and well-baby clinics.
2. RESTORATION
Restoration involves the rehabilitation of clients whose functions have been impaired by physical or mental
issues.
3. REMEDIATION
It involves the elimination of existing problems such as drug addiction or substance abuse. To perform these
functions, social workers engage in case work, group work, community organization, social research, and
social action
TWO TYPES OF SERVICE IN SOCIAL WORK
1. DIRECT SERVICES or DIRECT INTERVENTIONS
This is likened to Counseling. Social workers meet face to face intervention with their clients as in a
Counseling Relationship between a social work and a runaway youth. Direct Counseling may take the form
of Clinical Social Work. Clinical Social Work involves applying principles and techniques in addressing
psychosocial problems, including mental and emotional disorders. (According to the National Association of
Social Workers, 1991).
Clinical Social Work is a specialty practice area of social work which focuses on the assessment, diagnosis,
treatment, and prevention of mental illness, emotional, and other behavioral disturbances. Individual, group
and family therapy are common treatment modalities. Clinical Social Work aims to improve interaction among
people, manage life support mechanisms, and deal with conflicts. It addresses the needs of individuals,
couples, families, and groups.
2. INDIRECT SERVICES or INDIRECT PRACTICE
The concept, “indirect practice” refers to the use of policy, advocacy, community and management methods
of social work practice to bring about and manage a more humane and just social order.
In other words, social works acts on behalf of a group to address a specific problem. For example, a social
worker may write to a funding agency and request financial support for the construction of a facility for
runaway youth.
THE THREE LEVELS OF SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE
1. MICRO-LEVEL PRACTICE
Micro level practice focuses on interaction at the most intimate level such as between husband and wife,
parent and children, and among family members. It is often classified as the most common type of practice,
involves working directly with an individual or a family. The terms interpersonal helping, direct practice, and
clinical practice are often used interchangeably with micro-level practice.
2. MACRO-LEVEL PRACTICE
Macro Level Practice involve work with an organization, community, or even society. When engaged in
macro-level practice, the social worker is frequently involved in administrative activities with a social work
agency, fund-raising, testimonial creation for proposed legislation, policy analysis, class advocacy, and social
resource development.
3. MEZZO-LEVEL PRACTICE
The mezzo level falls right in between the macro and micro levels, and involves working with smaller groups
and institutions. It deals with interpersonal relations that are somewhat less intimate than the family but more
personally meaningful than institutional and organizational-level relationships. Examples of these include
relationships among individuals in a self-help or therapy group, peers, at school or work, and neighbors.
The Roles and Functions of Social Workers
1. Human Service Broker
The social worker builds connections between his or her client and organizations that provide access to
necessary resources. The social worker must therefore know their actual needs and where to find the
resources that would respond to these needs. Broker means Negotiators or Business Dealers
2. Teacher
A social worker can be a knowledge provider in many ways. A social worker can educate clients
profound knowledge and skills needed or necessary for preventing problems through empowering solutions,
and enhancing social functioning. The social workers can also be academic instructors teaching social work
courses in institutions, states universities and colleges offering social work degrees.
3. Counselor
Social workers can also function as a counselor in the society. They can also correct clients in some issues
like health or mental problems, relational problems, and most especially situated problems.
To be an effective counselor, a social worker must have an understanding of human behavior and how it can
be affected by the environment. (That is why Psychology and Biology courses are also offered in some
degrees)
4. Case Manager
Case- is an instance of a particular situation
Manager- a person responsible for controlling or administering all or part of a company or similar
organization.
So therefore, a social worker can act as situation controller in the society. Social worker helps clients use
services from various institutions and organizations. This is particularly important to highly-dependent and
vulnerable sectors of population like children, disabled persons, and or even the elderly.
5. Workload Manager
The social worker must balance the needs of his/her clients and the agency he/she works for. Social workers
should always be able to maximize limited resources.
6. Staff Developer
Creator of effective professionals. Social workers can be a staff developer by guiding and helping his clients
use opportunities properly. They serve as mentors or coaches to their clients and even more to their
colleagues in the organization or agency where they belong.
7. Administrator
Peace protectors- Social workers also serve as administrators in both public and private agencies. As
administrators, social workers can implement social policies, programs, and services in their respective
organizations where they belong.
8. Agent of Social Change
United Alliance- the relationship among people. As an agent of social change, the social worker identifies the
community issues and problems, assesses the needs of the community, and finds ways to improve and
provide quality life to people. He/she also works to obtain and sustain resources for the community.
9. Professional
The social worker is expected to engage in competent and ethical practice of his\her profession. Active
membership in local, national, or international associations of social workers is an important part of being a
social work professional.
10. Researcher
Innovators of knowledge- the social workers need to be up-to-date with all the latest trends of knowledge in
his/her discipline and contribute to its scholarly literature. By being active in research, social workers help
contribute to further progress in the field

Week 8: Goals, Scope and Principles of Social Work

GOALS OF SOCIAL WORK
In general, Social work aims to maximize the development of human potential and the fulfillment of human
needs, through and equal commitment to working with and enabling people to achieve the best possible
levels of personal and social well-being.
The following are the goals of social work:
1. To prepare practitioners who engage in evidence- based beginning level generalist practice
with systems of all sizes and diverse populations
2. To prepare practitioners who understand and value human diversity
3. To prepare practitioners who understand and appreciate the role and value of systematic data
collection and analysis in systems of all sizes for the purpose of promoting the goals of the
profession of social work
4. To encourage the development of a strong professional identity and a commitment to the
values and ethics of the social work profession in the future practitioners:
5. To prepare students to understand the dynamics and consequences of social and economic
injustice and the importance of alleviating injustice and oppression

SCOPE OF SOCIAL WORK

The goal and scope of social work as laid down is noble and broad-to help an individual be included in
society and to transform the very society that creates structures that marginalize individuals from full
participation in the enjoyment of social services and resources of the community.
The scope of Social Work is very wide. However, the areas of social work are categorized into seven (7).
These are:
1.CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Children are the most vital part of our nation. For progress of any country their development is necessary.
Their mental, physical, emotional, psychological and social development are important.
The following services has been organized by the Central Social Welfare Board for welfare of child in India
and this is also true in the Philippines. They are: right to education, right to against exploitation, and right to
rehabilitation
GOVERNMENT POLICY
• Institutions for their protection, education and rehabilitation of the socially handicapped
children
• Temporary homes for the sick children suffering from TB and skin disease
• Children home, infant home, nursery, pre-primary school, day care center, recreation and
cultural centers
• Holiday homes for the children of the family of economic weaker sections.
• Child health center, Child Guidance Clinic, School for mentally retarded children
Social workers work in these institutions and try their level best to solve the problems and strengthen the
path for the development of their personality. They also develop the abilities and capabilities of children.
2. MEDICAL SOCIAL WORK
The medical social workers provide assistance to patients and their family who are coping with many
problems. A social worker has the potentiality to inform a doctor about the problem and collect and analyses
patient’s detail information to help other health and professions to understand the needs of the patients and
their family.
In fact, when a doctor come into any conclusion in a minute, a social worker diagnosis a problem thoroughly
3. CLINICAL SOCIAL WORK
The clinical social work provides a full range of mental health services including assessment, diagnosis and
treatment. It provides referral service to individuals, couples, families and groups. Assist clients in adjusting
to measure life style changes due to death of loved one, disability, divorce or loss of a job.
Clinical social work is a specialty practice area of social work which focuses on the assessment, diagnosis,
treatment, and prevention of mental illness, emotional, and other behavioral disturbances. Individual, group
and family therapy are common treatment modalities
What is the difference between clinical and non-clinical social work?
Non-Clinical Social Work can range from working with individuals to secure a new job, to coordinating
rehabilitation programs, and more. This typically will have you working with clients on more of a consulting
basis, compared to a clinical setting, which will be more comprehensive in services
What does it take to be a clinical social worker?
The majority of states require licensed clinical social workers to hold a minimum of a master's degree in social
work. You should also take several classes in your preferred area of specialty
4. SOCIAL WORK ADMINISTRATION AND MANGEMENT
What is social work administration and management?
A social work administrator steers the direction of an organization, working on budgets, designing programs
to fulfill the needs of the population, evaluating the efficacy of existing programs, identifying areas that lack
support, managing overarching strategy for the community or department, and working on policies
To manage a programmed planning is most important. The importance of a social worker related to fund
raising and making grants are:
• Budget management
• Monitoring and evaluation of public and social policy
• Co-ordinate activities to achieve the agencies’ goal
• Staff co-ordination
5. INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL WORK
What is International Social work?
International Social Work is a scholarly peer reviewed journal designed to extend knowledge and promote
communication in the fields of social development, social welfare and human services. Its major focus is
on international themes in the delivery of services.
What are some of the roles social workers play in global social work?
Social workers around the world strive to uphold the fundamental human rights of children. They provide
support to vulnerable populations, such as exploited, trafficked, impoverished and HIV/AIDS affected
children. They deal with abuse, child labor, gang activities and indifferent local authorizes
The role of social work under international field is to:
• Counsel and aid refugees to ensure a smooth transition into a new environment
• Facilitate international adoption
• Provide disaster relief in time of crisis
• Counsel families to find better solution to their problems. Remove children from abusive
situation and place it to care homes.
• Find employment and housing for homeless families
• Assist pregnant women, adoptive parents and adoptive children in crisis
• Provide assessment, support, counseling
• Provide assistants to women and their children who are victims of domestic violence
6. SOCIAL WORK IN AN ACUTE PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL
Inpatient psychiatric social workers work in the psychiatry departments of hospitals and medical centers with
patients who have been hospitalized for debilitating or dangerous psychological and/or behavioral issues,
such as severe substance abuse, psychosis, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and other conditions
Psychiatric social workers provide mental health services to individuals with high needs. They may perform
psychotherapy and even diagnose mental illness.
Duties vary according to work setting. Social workers in inpatient settings often have primary responsibility
for putting together the discharge plan. This is not something that is filled out right before discharge – it’s an
ongoing process during much of the time the person is hospitalized. The goal is ambitious: that the person
will have the resources to function optimally within the community. Hospital stays are shorter than they were
in the past, but patients sometimes need to transition to a residential care center or a day program.
Social workers who are employed at psychiatric hospitals also do psychosocial assessments and provide
therapy. They are in frequent contact with the family members of patients. They meet with other members of
the mental health team (psychiatrists, nurse practitioners etc.) to discuss patient care. If the patient is involved
in any legal procedures, the social worker may have a role in information gathering.
A social worker can help a psycho patient fully because of her/his professional quality. He/she can provide:
• Complete intake
• Psycho-social assessment
• Provide patient and family education support
• Provide individual treatment family and group therapy
7. SOCIAL WORKER AS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER
Social workers as a community organizer Assist the community in defining a school problem. Social workers
also provide direction and guidance to the community in order to mobilize and identified cause by case work,
group work and community organization. They also assist in establishing new programs to meet the needs
of individuals, groups and families.
5 Functions of a Community Organizer
The process of community organizing is a dynamic one with few rigid guidelines, suggesting that the functions
of a community organizer require flexibility, creativity and excellent leadership skills.
Community organization aims to organize, mobilize and educate people to build a sense of community. By
doing so, the community gains power or influence over issues concerning their welfare.
1. Grassroots Organization
Community organization is a valuable strategy at all levels, including at the national, regional and local level.
There is strength in numbers, and the community organizer's initial efforts will focus on getting individuals to
buy into the collective goals of the group. Unification efforts involve reaching out to individuals and
households and getting them to engage with the community. At this stage, the community organizer is
focused on building the numbers rather than spreading the message of community welfare.
2. Outreach with an Impact
The need for community organization exists because certain groups have little or no access to goods or
services that impact their quality of life. One of the functions of a community organizer is to identify the areas
requiring certain social services and initiating outreach programs to address these needs.
3. Educating and Informing the Collective
A community organizer is an effective communicator. Someone who can listen and empathize with individuals
and groups will have the ability to organize and lead no matter the diverse backgrounds of those involved.
To bring individuals together on controversial issues that affect the community, it is crucial to make them
aware of the truth about the issues as well as the long and short-term impact on their lives.
4. Community Worker
Community organizers work with the people of the community and not for them. This is an important
distinction to make because the organizer's advocacy efforts in favor of the community may be mistakenly
understood by the group. Community organizers work alongside the group, guiding their efforts through direct
or indirect intervention, and the group effects changes through their efforts.
5. Researcher
Working closely with a community provides the community organizer with an excellent vantage from which
to observe local practices, beliefs and interactions. The organizer will be able to document changes as they
take place and assess the social and economic impact of certain policies.
THE 6 CORE VALUES OF SOCIAL WORK
According to the NASW Social Work Code of Ethics, the 6 core values of social work are:
1. SERVICE- to provide help, resources, and benefits to help people achieve maximum potential
2. SOCIAL JUSTICE – to uphold equal rights, protection, opportunity, social benefits to everyone
3. DIGNITY AND WORTH- every person is unique and worthwhile
5. IMPORTANCE OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS – to value the exchange between social worker and client
5. INTEGRITY- maintain trustworthiness
6. COMPETENCE- practice within the scope of known skills and abilities
THE PRINCIPLES BEHIND SOCIAL WORK
The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) has a strict code of ethics that defines a set of values,
principles and standards to guide professionals in the delivery of services that address the complexities of
the human experience.
1.CLIENTS
It is expected that all social workers will put their clients interests first and maintain confidentiality concerning
the privacy of all conversations and interactions. Social workers are also tasked with helping their clients
work toward the ability to make sound judgements and set positive goals.
2.COLLEGUES
The responsibilities of a social worker in a collegial relationship are based on the professional courtesies of
respect and fairness. There is also a mandate for social workers to guard against any unethical or
incompetent behaviors on the behalf of their colleagues.
3.PRACTICE SETTING
Each practice setting is unique but the principles of responsible practice apply across the board when it
comes to the effective supervision and education of others, as well as the promise to conduct the activities
that fall under the domain of the social worker role.
4.PROFESSIONALS
Social workers are expected to: maintain their competencies through continued education and research;
avoid conflicts of interest; put private and personal business aside; and otherwise maintain the highest degree
of propriety.
5.SOCIAL WORK PROFESSION
The choice to pursue a career in social work comes with the responsibility of championing the profession,
providing service related to social work, and developing the body of knowledge and profession.
6.BROADER SOCIETY
Social workers have a responsibility to help improve the general welfare of all persons, shape political policy,
and lend support in public emergency situations including accidents, natural disasters and man-made
catastrophes.
ROLES OF SOCIAL WORKERS IN PAST DISASTER SITUATION
In times of disaster, social worker must be able to function effectively and impartially. A set of guidelines is
prepared in addressing work condition social worker may face when operating in major disasters.
1. Strengthen the human services workforce in disaster areas. When catastrophes strike
communities, the well-being of children and adults can often be placed in jeopardy
2. Work effectively during disaster recovery efforts. When faced with difficult situations
involving large losses of life, social worker may be called upon to assist law enforcement
personnel in addition to survivors.
3. Social work in the international level. Social work professionals can mobilize effectively
when confronted with disaster in a large scale that may necessitate international aid
operations.
4. Working on a man-made disaster and development. How social principles are applied in
such societal justice and equality, when social work can be at, odds with circumstantial truths
surrounding scenarios such as a war zone.
5. Working in the aftermath. How social work professionals can learn from typical reactions to
traumatic events in order to effectively assess and treat victims and survivors of catastrophe.

SOCIAL WORK FOR CYBERBULLYING VICTIM

Support the young person being bullied. As with other forms of bullying the target of cyberbullying may
be in need of emotional support. Key principles here include reassuring them that they have done the right
thing by telling someone; recognizing that it must have been difficult for them to deal with; and reiterating that
no-one has a right to do that to them.
Offer them advice on online empowerment. It is essential to advise the young person being bullied not to
retaliate in any way or reply angrily to any of the messages or emails. Responding, particularly by showing
anger, is probably what the bully would expect and by refusing to do this, the bully is thrown off guard and
may discontinue their actions. If there is a need to respond, it should be done in an assertive manner, and
with support.
SOME STRATEGIES THAT CAN BE EFFECTIVE, DEPENDING ON THE SITUATION
• If it is a private message, not responding and ignoring bullying behavior is often effective
• If it is public, take action to report, delete or block the post or message
• Ask a friend to come to their assistance and help by standing up for them in a constructive
and assertive way.
Be sure to let the young person know that keeping evidence of the bullying is important, and they can pass
this information on to parents, teachers or even police if necessary.
Reporting and responding to the bullying. Most social networking services have features that allow users
to report and or respond to cyberbullying in constructive ways.
Preventing cyberbullying from re-occurring. Depending on the method the bully is using, there are steps
that can be taken to prevent it from happening in the future. It is important to express to the young person
the need for careful management of the information they share online and with whom. Most online networking
and email sites allow user to set their own level of privacy and security. This can hinder the number of external
emails and messages that come through and can also prevent additional emails to come through once the
user has indicated he does not want them too. This ability to block, delete and filter within networks and email
is something all users should be made aware of when using online technology.
GENERALIZATION:
Social Work focuses on helping people overcome difficult challenges in their life. These include poverty,
addiction, unemployment, disability, abuse, mental illness, and many others. Social Work also places a strong
emphasis on social justice and equality. Social workers provide advice, support and resources to individuals
and families to help them solve their problems. Social workers work with specific groups of clients, including
children, the elderly and families in crisis, and help them to solve the problems they're facing.
Social Work aims to maximize the development of human potential and the fulfillment of human needs,
through an equal commitment to: Working with and enabling people to achieve the best possible levels of
personal and social well-being. Working to achieve social justice through social development and social
change.