Chapter 1:

The Discipline of Counseling

Disciplines and Ideas in Applied Social Sciences
1. The Discipline of Counseling

1.1 Counseling
1.1.1 Definitions
1.1.2 Goals
1.1.3 Scope
1.1.4 Core values
1.1.5 Principle
1.1.3 Scope
Scope of Counseling
The wide ranges of human problems create a
widened scope and field of counseling. Broadly, the
scope of counseling includes:
1. Individual counseling
2. Marital and premarital counseling,
3. Family counseling, and
4. Community counseling.
Scope of Counseling
Individual Counseling
Individual counseling (sometimes called
psychotherapy, talk therapy, or treatment) is a process
through which clients work one-on-one with a trained
mental health clinician in a safe, caring, and confidential
environment. Counseling allows individuals to explore
their feelings, beliefs, and behaviors, work through
challenging or influential memories, identify aspects of
their lives that they would like to change, better
understand themselves and others, set personal goals,
and work toward desired change.
Scope of Counseling
Marital and Premarital Counseling
Premarital counseling is a specialized type of therapy
that helps couples prepare for marriage, while Marriage
counseling helps couples of all types recognize and
resolve conflicts and improve their relationships. Through
marriage counseling, you can make thoughtful decisions
about rebuilding and strengthening your relationship or
going your separate ways.
Scope of Counseling
Family counseling
Family therapy is a type of psychological counseling
(psychotherapy) that can help family members improve
communication and resolve conflicts. This type of
counseling can help you improve troubled relationships
with your partner, children or other family members. You
may address specific issues such as marital or financial
problems, conflict between parents and children, or the
impact of substance abuse or a mental illness on the
entire family.
Scope of Counseling
Community Counseling
Community counseling is a form of counseling in
which different counselors work with families, individuals,
couples and also communities in one or the other way.
Community-counseling is generally conducted to
prevent a problem and assist in setting prevention
programs in different communities. The community
counselors also advocate different social changes to
assist their patients and clients at the large. Community
counseling is actually a different form of counseling in
which not only people are taught about different right or
wrong things but there also shown the right ways so that
they can live their life peacefully and happily.
Scope of Counseling
A more focused subject matter related to scope of
counseling is the 4757-15 Scope of Practice for Licensed
Professional Counselors. It contains the rights and
responsibilities of licensed counselors including the
following:
 Scope of Counseling
Licensed Professional Counselors may for a fee, salary, or other considerations
1. Afford counseling services to individuals, groups, organizations, or the general public
compromising of: application of clinical counseling principles, methods, or procedures to assist
individuals in realizing effective personal, social, educational, or career development and
adjustment.

2. “apply clinical counseling principles, methods , and procedures “, means an approach to

counseling that emphasizes the counselor’s role in systematically assisting clients through all
of the following: assessing and analyzing emotional conditions , exploring possible solutions,
and developing and providing treatment plan for mental and emotional adjustment or
development. It may include counseling, appraisal, consulting, supervision, administration, and
referral.

3. Engage in the diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders when under the
supervision of a professional clinical counselor, psychologist, psychiatrists, independent
marriage and family therapist, or independent social worker.

4. Provide training supervision for students and registered counselor trainees when services are
within their scope of practice, which does not include supervision of the diagnosis and
treatment of mental and emotional disorders.
Source: http:codes.ohio.gov/oac/4757-15
BlackBoard Activity

Go to:
“Week 1” -------“Concept Notes” -------
“Comprehension Check 3”
Answer the questions in 10-15 minutes.