Synonyms of counseling

counseling 1 of 3

noun

variants or counselling

as in reassurance

Related Words

• reassurance
• comforting
• consolation
• solace
• consoling
• compassion
• sympathy
• solacing
• condolence
• commiseration
• feeling
• mercy
• humanity
• kindness
• pity
• kindliness
• kindheartedness

counseling

2 of 3

adjective

variants or counselling

as in consulting

Related Words

• consulting
• advisory
• consultative
• recommendatory
• assisting
• hortative
• warning
• cautionary
• admonitory
• admonishing
• monitory
• premonitory
• exemplary
• aiding
• helping
• didactic
• cautioning
• moralistic
• moralizing

counseling

3 of 3

verb

variants or counselling

present participle of counsel

1

as in conferring

to exchange viewpoints or seek advice for the purpose of finding a solution to a problem

concerned parents counseling about the problem of substance abuse in their community

Synonyms & Similar Words

• consulting
• conferring
• discussing
• talking
• advising
• treating
• confabbing
• parleying
• coaching
• confabulating
• arguing
• tutoring
• ventilating
• debating
• deliberating
• talking over
• hashing (over)
• batting (around)
• guiding
• rehashing
• disputing
• recommending
• chewing over
• bandying
• referring (to)
• suggesting
• mooting
• kicking around
• palavering
• directing

2

as in guiding

to give advice and instruction to (someone) regarding the course or process to be followed

every year the admissions officer counsels thousands of students about the process of applying to college

Synonyms & Similar Words

• guiding
• coaching
• tutoring
• teaching
• mentoring
• showing
• training
• leading
• accompanying
• steering
• shepherding
• informing
• walking through
• piloting
• escorting
• supervising
• engineering
• attending
• schooling
• chaperoning
• drilling
• briefing
• directing
• godfathering
• overseeing
• instructing
• convoying
• enlightening
• swaying
• superintending
• seeing
• fostering
• nurturing
• inculcating
• indoctrinating
• squiring
• cultivating

3

as in advising

to give advice to

perhaps a psychologist would be better qualified to counsel you

Synonyms & Similar Words

• advising
• teaching
• warning
• coaching
• admonishing
• convincing
• telling
• informing
• encouraging
• mentoring
• tutoring
• adjuring
• guiding
• urging
• cautioning
• briefing
• alerting
• persuading
• shepherding
• instructing
• begging
• steering
• filling in
• talking (into)
• leading
• forewarning
• piloting
• inducing
• imploring
• recommending
• prevailing (upon)
• proposing
• exhorting
• directing
• familiarizing
• showing
• suggesting
• acquainting
• apprising
• clueing (in)
• wising (up)

4

as in suggesting

to put (something) forward as one's choice for a wise or proper course of action

I would counsel caution and deliberation in this sensitive matter

Synonyms & Similar Words

• suggesting
• recommending
• advising
• advocating
• urging
• proposing
• offering
• supporting
• backing
• favoring
• championing
• submitting
• exhorting
• espousing
• advancing

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of counseling

Noun

This is why benefits counseling is often one of the most valuable services available through the Ticket to Work Program, even after someone has already started working. — Diane Winiarski, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026

Everyone knows that negotiations between warring parties can stall, couples counseling can fail and bitter disputes can extend into generational family feuds. — Deborah Mower, The Conversation, 2 July 2026

Verb

But the unit commander was required to seek input from medical and religious representatives, while also counseling the service member on the potential impact on their ability to deploy. — ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026

The 91-year-old therapist began her career during the Vietnam War by counseling relatives of soldiers missing in action. — Chelsea Bailey, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2026