Counseling Client Characteristics

Study Notes

Counseling aims to describe client characteristics and those receiving services from various counseling professions.
Clients seek guidance and support to change behaviors or attitudes, or to fulfill life goals.

Clients have diverse needs based on their individual contexts.
Counseling professionals must utilize specific methods to address each client's unique requirements.
Understanding the client's perspective is crucial for effective counseling. Client experiences and viewpoints are vital in developing an effective counseling plan.

Voluntary Client: Individuals willingly seek assistance from a counselor due to unmanageable problems or difficulties.
Involuntary Client: Individuals need help but don't seek it due to beliefs they can manage problems or lack awareness of resources.
Clientele: Individuals receiving services from a counseling professional.
Counseling: Guiding clients, especially by trained professionals, to resolve personal, social, or psychological problems.

Reality: The truthful and objective view of a condition or situation.
Client: The person receiving services from a therapist or mental health professional.
Counselor: Mental health professionals who help people with physical, emotional, and mental health problems to improve their well-being, alleviate anxiety and resolve crises.
Audience: Groups or individuals receiving services from various counseling professions.

Neurotic: Long-term tendency toward a negative state with frequent negative emotions like sadness, guilt, envy, anger, and anxiety.
Psychotic: More severe mental illness causing abnormal thinking and perceptions.
Personality Disorder: Long-term pattern of unhealthy thinking and behaviors that cause problems in relationships and work.

Definition: A personality trait marked by a long-term tendency to be in a negative or anxious emotional state.
Effects: People with high neuroticism are more prone to experiencing negative emotions like anxiety, sadness, and anger.
Treatment: Therapy and medication are common treatments.

Clients differ in their needs, perspectives, and contexts.
Understanding these differences is essential for providing optimal counseling. The pyramid structure (Diversity, Needs, Perspectives, Context) indicates a hierarchical relationship.

Students: Seek help with academics, stress, and relationships.
Workers: Seek help with work, stress, and relationships.
Families: Seek help with communication, conflict, and child-rearing challenges.