Lesson 1: The Development of Counseling and  Cannot be limited to only educational or

Guidance vocational spheres of life.

 It is related to every aspect of life.
GUIDANCE
 Today, guidance is being extensively used in
 Does not focus on the problems of the almost every sphere of man’s activity.
individual but rather on their strengths and  It is not meant for a particular or a special
abilities to solve their problems type of individual rather it is mean for an
independently. individual who may need guidance at any
 The process of acquainting the individual with
stage in his/her life.
various ways, including special training, in
which he may discover his natural Objectives of Guidance
endowments so that he makes a living to his
own best advantage and that of the society. 1. To make the individual aware of his/her
 It is given by one person to another in making inherent potentials, interests, talents, and
choices and adjustments and in solving. capabilities.
 It aims at aiding the recipient in growing in his 2. To help the person develop his/her abilities,
independence and the ability to be interests, and skills in a way that he can make
responsible for himself. a useful contribution to the society according
 It is a service that is universal—not confined to his capacity.
in school or family. It is found in all spheres of 3. To assist the person in a balanced physical,
life. mental, emotional, and social development in
Guidance is define as follows: such a way that he/she gets satisfactorily
adjusted in his milleu.
 Integrated, organize, and creative process 4. To make a person aware of the available
which is useful and applicable in all spheres of educational and vocational opportunities in
life.
keeping with his abilities.
 A process aimed at ensuring the all-around
5. To help the person to make correct
development of the recipient so that they can
interpretation of the fact of a given situation.
solve their problems on themselves.
6. To help the person become capable of solving
 It aids the process of self-discovery in the
recipients and helps them to develop their problems in changing social situations in such
own personality, point of view, and unique a way that he/she renders maximum good to
way of handling problems. himself/herself as well as to the society at
 It is an assistance provided by a professional large.
counselor and in an organized, scientific, and
WHAT TO REMEMBER
professional activity.
a. Guidance is for total development of a
subjects’ personality.
 The recipients of guidance are helped to b. Everybody needs guidance.
understand their own personality and learn to c. Recognizes inherent individual differences.
make optimum use of their potential, d. Is based on the study of an individual and its
interests, and other capabilities. evaluation.
 Helps an individual in adjusting himself in
e. Is cooperative effort.
different situations. In today’s changing
f. Is a lifelong process.
environment, an individual is surrounded by
g. Promotes self-development and inspires self-
myriad problems.
reliance.
 Chief contribution of guidance for a person is
h. Should be imparted by trained persons with
to foster wisdom and insight to tackle his/her
knowledge of human psychology.
problems independently.

Legal Bases of Guidance

SCOPE OF GUIDANCE
  Education Act of 1982 conflicts, and personality issues (such as
o Students have the right to school dependency or inadequacy in working with
guidance and counseling services for others).
making decisions and selecting the  Psychotherapy, especially analytically based
alternatives in the fields of work therapy, has emphasized (a) the past more
suited to their potentials. than the present, (b) insight more than
 Article 14, Section 3 of the 1987 Constitution change.
o All education institutions shall  Has also been more of a process associated
inculcate patriotism and nationalism. (wala natiwas)
 Republic Act 9258: Guidance and Counseling
Act of 2004
o Article 1, Section 1 Psychotherapy Counseling
 This act shall be known as the Focuses more on Focuses on helping
‘Guidance and Counseling Act personality change. people to use existing
of 2004’ resources for coping
o Section 2: Declaration of Policy with life better.
 It is hereby a declared policy Listens more and More on listening.
of the state to promote the engage in less
improvement, advancement, informing, advising,
and protection of the and listening.
guidance and counseling Deals more severe Less severe
professional, ethical, relevant disturbance. disturbances.
efficient and effective More medical terms.
guidance and counseling Use the same theoretical models.
services for the development Stress the need to value clients as a person.
and enrichment of individuals
and group lives.
Counseling and Psychotherapy
 The state recognizes the
important role of guidance  A process that involves a trained person who
counselors in nation-building practices the artful application of scientifically
and promotes the sustained derived principles for establishing (wala
development of a reservoir of natiwas)
guidance counselors whose
Guidance and Counseling
competence have been
determined by honest and  Focuses on helping people make important
credible licensure choices that affect their lives
examinations and whose  It is a profession that involves the use of an
standards of professional integral approach to the development of well-
practice and services are functioning individual primarily by helping
world-class and regulatory him/her to utilize his/her potentials to the
measures, programs and fullest and plan his/her future in accordance
activities that foster their with his/her abilities, interests, and needs.
continuing professional - RA 9258
development.
Counseling
Psychotherapy
 As a profession grew out of the progressive
 Traditionally focused on serious problems guidance movement (wala natiwas)
associated with intrapsychic disorders
(delusions, or hallucinations), internal Characteristics of Counseling
 a. The process of counseling is related to two  Should possess the characteristics of a
individuals—the client or the counselee and counselor.
the counselor.
Personal Characteristics of an Effective Counselor
b. In counseling, the counselor and the
counselee/client have a face-to-face contact. 1. Have an identity.
c. Solution of the problems is arrived through 2. Respect and appreciate themselves.
mutual discussion. 3. Are open to change.
d. The counselor, being a trained person, finds 4. Make choices that are life oriented.
out the problem and its importance in his 5. Authentic, sincere, and honest.
counselees’ life through his skillful 6. Have a sense of humor.
questioning. 7. Make mistakes and are willing to accept
e. The counselor, through the process of them.
counseling, makes the student vomit facts. 8. Generally live in the present.
f. Counseling is the active part of the entire 9. Appreciate the influence of culture.
process of guidance. 10. Have a sincere interest in the welfare of
g. Counseling is a learning-oriented process. others.
h. Counseling helps individuals’ behavioral 11. Possess effective interpersonal skills.
problems in which emotions and motivations 12. Become deeply involve in their work and
are the main factors. derived meaning from it.
i. Counseling helps the individuals in 13. Passionate.
overcoming or removing those inabilities and 14. Maintain healthy boundaries.
weaknesses which come in the way of their
Things a Counselor Brings to Counseling
learning process.
j. Counseling is both an educational and a  A communicated genuine desire to be helpful
vocational service. to clients.
k. Counseling focuses on an individual’s  A demonstrated acceptance and respect for
problems. clients.
l. Counseling is based on an interview.  An ability to and understand clients’
m. The process of counseling is a mutual effort. psychological pain from their perspective.
n. Counseling is possible only by a qualified and  Excellent therapeutic communication skills.
trained individual.  Training that is sufficient to help clients you
o. Counseling is possible in a cordial and are asked to see.
cooperative environment.  Your personal strengths and weaknesses.
p. In counseling, effort is made to provide an
The Counselor’s Values and the Therapeutic Process
opportunity to the individual to understand
and solve his own problem.  Two positions:
o Personal value is right and directs
Guidance Counselor
client towards these values.
 A natural person who has been registered and o Keep values out themselves—
issued valid Certificate of Registration (COR) immobilize self.
and a valid professional identification card by  (Do not impose your personal values to your
the Professional Regulatory Board of client.)
Guidance and Counseling and Professional
Regulation Commission (PRC) in accordance What should the Counselors do?
with this Act and by virtue of specialized  Role: Create a climate wherein client can
training performs for a fee, salary, or other evaluate themselves.
forms of compensation, the functions of  Task: Assist client to find answers most
guidance and counseling under Section 3 of congruent with their own values.
RA 9258.
  Function: Help the client evaluate their  Stay abreast of developments in ethical
behavior. practice.
 Reflect on the impact your values have on
Issues Faced by Beginning Counselors
your practice.
1. Dealing with our anxieties.  Be willing to engage in honest self-
2. Being ourselves and disclosing our examination (must be self-aware).
experiences.
3. Avoiding perfectionism.
4. Be honest about our limitation.  As helping professionals, we have the
5. Understanding silence responsibilities to work actively toward
6. Dealing with demands from clients. expanding our own self-awareness and
7. Dealing with clients who lack commitment. learning to recognize areas of prejudice and
8. Tolerating ambiguity. vulnerability.
9. Avoiding losing ourselves in our clients.  If certain problem areas surface and old
10. Developing a sense of humor. conflicts become reactivated, we have an
11. Sharing responsibility with client. ethical obligation to do whatever it takes to
12. Declining to give advice. avoid harming our clients.
13. Defining your role as a counselor.
Putting client’s needs before your own.
14. Learning to use techniques appropriately.
15. Developing your own counseling style.  Useful question to frequently ask yourself.
16. Staying vital as a person and a professional. o ‘Whose needs are being met in this
relationship, my client’s or my own?’
Counselee
 An ethical problem exists when we meet our
 Experiencing personal pain in some degree. needs, in either obvious or subtle ways, at the
 Choose to seek help. expense of your client’s needs.
 Their personal issues may affect behavior in
Less obviously harmful personal needs that can be
counseling.
get in the way of creating growth producing
Characteristics of a Human Client relationship

1. Human needs help and care.  The need for control and power.
2. Human has the greatest potential for growth  The need to be nurturing and helpful.
and development.  The need to change others in the direction of
3. Human has the highest level of our own values.
communication skills.  The need for feeling adequate: particularly
4. Human manipulates and are manipulated by when it becomes overly important that the
their environment. client confirm our competence.
5. Humans are the only living organism that  The need to be respected and appreciated.
understand past and future times.
Ethical Decision-Making
6. Human has the ability to reason and gain
insights.  Apply the ethics codes of your profession to
the many practical problems you face.
Ethical Issues in Counseling Practice
 Professionals are expected to exercise
Ethical Practice prudent judgment.
 Learning about the resources from which you
o Is what a professional can form as a sound
can draw when you are dealt (wala natiwas)
basis for making ethical decisions.
 Consult with colleagues. The Role of Ethics Codes as a Catalyst for Improving
 Keep oneself informed about laws affecting Practice
your practice.
 Keep up to date in your specialty field.
 1. Educate counseling practitioners and the Challenge of Fulfilling the Spirit of Informed Consent
general public about the responsibilities of
 To strike a balance between giving clients too
the profession.
much information and giving them too little.
2. Provide a basis for accountability.
3. Ethic codes can provide a basis for reflecting Informed consent can be…
on and improving your professional practice.
 Oral
Code of Ethics for Counselors  Written
 Combination (Oral and Written)
 Unfortunate trends in ethics codes
 Many practitioners are so anxious to avoid Dimensions of Confidentiality
becoming embroiled in a lawsuit that they
Confidentiality
gear their practices mainly toward fulfilling
legal minimums rather than thinking of what  An ethical concept, the legal duty of
is right for their clients. therapists not to disclose information about a
client.
Some Steps in Making Ethical Decisions
 Central to developing a trusting and
 Identify the problem or dilemma. productive client-therapist relationship.
 Identify the potential issues.  No genuine therapy can occur unless clients
 Look at the relevant ethics codes for general trust in the privacy of their revelations.
guidance on the matter.  Counselors have an ethical and legal
 Consider the applicable laws and regulations, responsibility to discuss the nature and
and determine how they may have a bearing purpose of confidentiality with their clients
on an ethical dilemma. early in the counseling process.
 Seek consultation from more than one source
Privileged Communication
to obtain various perspectives on the dilemma
and document in the client’s record what  A legal concept that generally bars the
suggestions you received from this disclosure of confidential communications
consultation. (wala natiwas)
 Brainstorm various possible courses of action.
Circumstances in which Information must legally be
 Enumerate the consequences of various
Reported by Counselors
decisions, and reflect on the implications of
each course of action for your client. 1. When the therapist believes a client under the
 Decide on what appears to be the best age of 16 is the victim of incest, rape, child
possible course of action. abuse, or some other crime.
2. When the therapist determines that the client
The Right of Informed Consent
needs hospitalization.
Informed Consent 3. When information is made an issue in a court
action.
 An ethical and legal requirement that is an
4. When clients request that their records be
integral part of the therapeutic process.
released to them or to a third party.
 Involves the right (wala natiwas)
Ethical Issues in the Assessment Process
Aspects of the Informed Consent Process
The Role of Assessment and Diagnosis in Counseling
1. Goals and responsibilities.
2. Limitations and exceptions to confidentiality. Assessment
3. Legal and ethical parameters.
 Consists of evaluating relevant factors in a
4. Fees, services, length of process.
client’s life to identify themes for further
5. Benefits, risks, and the responsibility to be
exploration on the counseling process.
discussed with the therapist’s colleagues.
Diagnosis
  The purpose of diagnosis in counseling and
psychotherapy is to identify the disturbances
in a client’s present behavior and lifestyle.

Diagnosis may include;

1. An explanation of the causes of the client’s

difficulties
2. An account of how these problems developed
over time.
3. Classification of any disorders, a specification
of preferred treatment procedure.
4. An estimate of the chances for a successful
resolution.