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

Her work included providing social services such as access to employment counselling and health care to low-income, minority residents in central Pennsylvania. — Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2026

The parents also allegedly knew their son had mental health problems and was a threat to others but did not properly address the issues by putting him into counseling or therapy. — Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2026

Verb

The Lambs moved to Eugene, Oregon, where Jerry Lamb went back to school to earn a master’s degree in counseling psychology. — Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Offer him the option of couples counseling so your issues can be mediated. — Abigail Van Buren, Mercury News, 24 Aug. 2026