counseling

noun

coun·​sel·​ing ˈkau̇n(t)-s(ə-)liŋ 

variants or counselling

: professional guidance of the individual by utilizing psychological methods especially in collecting case history data, using various techniques of the personal interview, and testing interests and aptitudes

career counseling for high schoolers

counseling for drug addicts

Examples of counseling in a Sentence

She is receiving counseling to cope with the death of her husband.

The college offers career counseling.

Recent Examples on the Web

Majors must continue with mental health counseling and therapy and provide the court with updates on treatment, with his first compliance date on Sept. 13. —Caitlin Huston, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Apr. 2024

The program, started in 1989, today handles about 20% of the mental health calls for the city of around 180,000 by dispatching teams of specialists trained in counseling and de-escalation. —Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2024

In one case, a student in Rhode Island was suspended for talking back to her teachers; the discipline record notes that her mother had recently died and the student might need counseling. —Sarah Butrymowicz, USA TODAY, 31 Mar. 2024

Not consistently making vaccine counseling reimbursable, unlike, say, nutritional counseling, disincentivizes health care providers to spend the time needed. —Saad B. Omer, The Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2024

Regulations at the state level can be even more stringent, often mandating a minimum number of counseling sessions as a condition of participating in treatment. —Lev Facher, STAT, 26 Mar. 2024

Police officials called for Butte County Sheriff’s Office chaplains to offer counseling services to the students, including those who witnessed the incident. —Rosalio Ahumada, Sacramento Bee, 26 Mar. 2024

Caldwell has worked on restoring the space in the four years he’s owned it between the Justice and Dignity Center’s food distribution and counseling programs. —Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 25 Mar. 2024

Information has been shared with our families and staff about counseling and grief support that will be available during this difficult time. —Fox19 Digital Staff and Ken Brown, The Enquirer, 25 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see counsel entry 1

First Known Use

1927, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing counseling

• genetic counseling
• marriage counseling

Medical Definition

counseling

noun

coun·​sel·​ing

: professional guidance of the individual by utilizing psychological methods especially in collecting case history data, using various techniques of the personal interview, and testing interests and aptitudes