| Guidance | Counseling | Psychotherapy |
| Short-term- H | Long-term - A | |
| Modify behavior – A | Personally reconstruction - A | |
| Surface issues – H | Deep-seated issues - A | |
| Here and now - S | There and then- A | |
| Preventive - S | Restorative - A | |
| Conscious - H | Unconscious - A | |
| Helper-centered -A | Helpee-centered -S |
Discussion
Agency/clinical mental health counselors, school counselors, and counselors in higher education settings have differences in their lines of operation. The mental health counselor works with clients in helping them overcome personal problems such as stress, depression, suicidal thoughts, anger, addiction or relational issues. They can work in hospitals or in private practice depending on one’s preference. Through providing psychotherapy assessment and diagnosis, mental health counselors facilitate the process of crisis management and treatment of substance abuse. All through, these counselors handle the client’s documentation and records and use them in collaborative efforts with other professionals. As with all counselors, effective interpersonal skills are mandatory in this specialty, without forgetting effective listening skills, speaking skills, organizational skills and compassion. Due to the multifaceted nature of mental health issues, mental health counselors provide a holistic approach in treating their clients. This specialty area is more likely to be psychotherapy.
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On the other hand, school counselors deal with students in a school setting. They possess distinctive skills and qualifications specifically tailored to addressing personal, social, academic, and career development needs within the student fraternity. The work of a school counselor is distinguished by the emphasis on developmental phases in the growth of students, including the tasks, needs, and interests associated with the phases. As such, school counselors play a crucial part in maximizing student success. Integrating advocacy, leadership, and cooperation, school counselors support fairness and accessibility to opportunities as well as effective learning experiences for every student. Furthermore, school counselors promote a safe environment for learning and make efforts towards safeguarding the rights of everyone within the school community. Working together with other stakeholders, school counselors support student success and look into the students’ needs using programs of prevention and intervention which form part of the broad school counseling program. This specialty area is more likely to be practicing guidance.
As regards counselors in higher education settings, the major role involves advocating for the students’ needs. In their line of work, they operate in counseling centers that constantly scrutinize their procedures and policies to guarantee that they encompass the varying needs and requirements of students in higher education settings. To a large extent, the counseling centers serve as mental health centers with the task of providing a range of mental health services to students. The scope of their work covers within the centers focuses on mental health and wellbeing as seen through outreaches on mental health, personalized and group psychotherapy, as well as services on mental health crisis. This specialty area is more likely to be counseling.
Various Counselling Theories
Psychodynamic/Psychoanalysis Theory- fits in psychotherapy as it applies unconscious approaches.
Behavioral Theory- fits in practice guidance as it seeks to change undesirable and destructive behaviors.
Cognitive Theory- fits in counselling as it is concerned with solving problems such as addiction.
Humanistic Approach Theory- fits in the practice guidance as it majors on helping individuals attain their utmost potential.
Holistic/Integrative Therapy- fits in psychotherapy as it integrates different approaches and psychotherapy tools towards a specific problem facing a specific client.
