The Professional and

Practitioners in the
Discipline of
Counseling
Roles of Guidance Counselors
 To assist the person or persons (client) in
realizing a change in behavior or attitude, to
assist them to seek achievement of goals,
assist them to find help, and in some cases,
the role of counselors includes the teaching
of social skills, effective communication,
spiritual guidance, decision- making and
career choices.
Functions of Guidance
Counselor
the Philippine Republic Act No. 9258 (sec. 2-3)
defines a guidance counselor as a natural
person who has been professionally registered
and licensed by a legitimate state entity and by
virtue of specialized training to perform the
functions of guidance and counseling. The
guidance counselor’s functions include the use
of an integrated approach to develop a well-
functioning individual primarily through:
1. Helping a client develop potentials to the
fullest;
2. Helping a client plan to utilize his or her
potentials to fullest;
3. Helping a client plan his or her future in
accordance with his and her abilities,
interest, and needs;
4. Sharing and applying knowledge related to
counseling theories, tools and techniques
and;
5. Administering a wide range of human
development services.
Competencies of GC’s
1. Guidance Counselors have an ability to
administer and maintain career guidance
and counseling program.
2. Guidance Counselors are capable career
advocates.
3. GC’s can facilitate conduct of career
advocacy in collaboration with career
advocates and peer facilitators.
Other Competencies; FOUNDATION
SKILLS

1. Attending and
Listening
2. Reflective skills
3. Probing Skills
4 Common Skills in
Applied Social Science
1. Communication
2. Motivational Skills
3. Problem- Solving Skills
4. Conflict resolution
skills
Areas of Specialization
where Counselors Work
1. Child development and counseling
 As area of specialization includes parent

education, preschool counseling, early child

education, elementary school counseling,
child counseling in mental health agencies,
and counseling with battered and abused
children and their families.
2. Adolescent development and counseling
 As area of specialization covers middle and

high school counseling, psychological

education, career development specialist,
adolescent counseling in mental health
agencies, youth work in residential facility
and youth probation officer.
3. Gerontology (the aged)
 Area of specialization is considered the

fastest growing field and essentially involves

counseling of older citizens
4. Marital relationship counseling
 Includes premarital counseling, marriage
counseling , sex education, sexual
dysfunction counseling and divorce
mediation.
5. Health
 Health as an area of specialization offers
possibility for nutrition counseling, exercise
and health education, nurse-counseling
rehabilitation counseling, stress management
counseling, holistic health counseling,
anorexia or bulimia counseling and genetic
counseling.
6. CAREER/LIFESTYLE
 Area of specialization career and lifestyle
counseling includes guidance on choices and
decision-making pertaining to career or
lifestyle, guidance on career development.
7. College University
 Offer the following opportunities; college
student counseling, student activities,
student personnel work, residential hall or
dormitory.
8. Drugs
 As areas of specialization has several options
such as substance abuse counseling, alcohol
counseling, drug counseling, stop smoking
program manager, and crisis intervention
counseling.
9 Consultation
 Consultation as an area of specialization
covers agency and corporate consulting,
organizational development director,
industrial psychology specialist and training
manager.
10. Business and Industry
 Areas of specialization include training and
development personnel, quality and work-life
or quality circles manager, employee
assistance programs manager, employee
career development officer, affirmative
action, or equal opportunity specialist.
11. Other specialist
 Other specialist may include phobia
counseling, agoraphobia, self-management,
intra- personal management, interpersonal
relationships management, and grief
counseling.
Career Opportunities for
Counselors
1. Educational and school counselors
2. Vocational or Career counselor
3. Marriage and family counselors
4. Addictions and behavioral counselors
5. Mental health counselors
6. Rehabilitation counselors
7. Genetics Counselors
Rights, Responsibilities, and
Accountabilities of Counselors
Counselors are protected.
They are governed by
scientific theories, practices
and processes as well as
professional standard and
ethics
Code of Ethics of Counselors
Counselors must observe
confidentially all the times.
Counselors live and work in

accordance with the

professional standards of
conduct set forth for the
practice of Guidance and
Counseling
 Counselors should not do harm to
their client.
 Counselors should be people of

high moral standing.

 Counselor must respect the

dignity, integrity, an welfare of

these client.
 Counselors must works in ways

that promote clients control over

their own lives.
 Counselors must respect client ability to
make decisions and engage in personal
change in the light of client own beliefs
and values
 Counselors must protect the client

interests
 Counselors involves special relationship

of trust, safeguarded and promote by

setting and monitoring appropriate
boundaries in the relationship.
 Counselors have a sensible regard for

the social context of their work.

Ethical Standards;
1. Respect for the right
and dignity of the client
2. Competence
3. Responsibility
4. Integrity