Clientele and Audiences in Counseling

Clientele and
Audiences in
Counselling
Guide Questions:
Who are the individuals and groups who

need counseling? Why? What are their needs
and demands?
COUNSELING AND ITS
CLIENTELE AND AUDIENCE
Counselors deal with a mixture of

people with different concerns and
issues. Through the years, special
counseling populations have
evolved. The special clientele have
been given increasing attention by
the counseling profession due to
frequent occurrences and growing
number of clients.
■ People Who Abuse Drugs
In our society, there are
increasing drug users. Drug abuse is
not just harmful to our physical health
but to our mental health as well. It
cannot be denied that drug addiction
create more social problems and
contribute to social disintegration.
Consequently, more youth victims cry
for help and seek for counselors’
attention.
■ People Who Use Tobacco
Slowly, our population recognizes the
bad effects of tobacco to our health.
However, many people still use and
continue to use tobacco even if it’s deadly.
Users find it difficult to stop smoking. Hence,
smokers who desire to quit tobacco were
added to the list of the counselor’s
audiences
■ People Who Abuse Alcohol
Alcoholism is seen as a disease and
alcoholics find it difficult to stop drinking on
their own. This requires help from a
professional as it requires appropriates
treatment. However, an equally important
paradigm is to look at alcoholism as a
weakness of self-control and self-discipline.
Therefore this requires intervention other
than treatment.
■ Women
Even with the changing role of
women in society, men still
predominantly control purchasing and
decision-making powers. Most men still
have less participation in household
responsibilities and child care. In this
case, women’s advancement is
constrained. What complicates this
situation is the women’s perception
about themselves and the society’s
expectations. Counselors are
responsible in helping women
appreciate their own values, abilities,
aptitudes, and interests and to utilize
these to develop their full potential.
■ Older Adults
The aging population is increasingly
rising and demands more attention.
Retirees who are adjusting to life outside
work feel lost and ignores. Life for them
suddenly loses meaning. A transition
from a busy life to retirement stage must
be instituted. This is a challenge to the
counseling profession. Other aging issues
that require attention of counseling
include loss of a partner, decline of
mental capacity and mobility, increased
loneliness, decline in financial security.
■ People with AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency
syndrome (AIDS) has been labeled as
the most feared disease due to its
incurability. Victims of this disease are
seeking help to improve their quality of
life and to handle their emotional
stress and low self-esteem. Counseling
approach requires sensitivity and
appreciation of the intricacies of the
disease. Counselors may help in
assisting and educating the victim’s
support system.
■ Victims of Abuse
This population represents
victims of domestic violence
characterized by spouse and child
abuses. Spouse abuse is often
associated with poverty, drug abuse
and career disappointments. The
abuse has also become rampant and
has caused psychological damage to
the victims. The counselors are
increasingly being utilized to help the
victims.
■ Gay Men and Lesbian Women
There is a growing number of gays
and lesbians that are coming out.
However, there are still sectors in this
society, including their own families,
that avoid and discriminate them. They
are usually the victims of harassment,
violence, discrimination and isolation.
Gays and lesbians, like other sectors of
the society, suffer from peer denial,
family clash, health uncertainties and
prejudgement. Counseling will focus on
self-awareness, self-acceptance and
understanding.
Counseling and its
Work Settings
Guide Questions:
Where do counselors usually work?

COUNSELING AND ITS WORK
SETTINGS
Counselors are employed in different

work settings such as schools,
community, private sector, mental
facilities, and government. However,
most are deployed in school settings
and mental facilities.
■ Counselors in Schools
■ Counselors in Community Setting
■ Counselors in the Private Sector
■ Counselors in the Government
■ Counselors in Schools
Counseling in schools has grown
rapidly. According to Gibson and Mitchell
(2003), counselors are recognized
especially in the preventive interventions
and developmental stage. There are
counselors from different levels. The
counseling services in the schools is
usually located under the student affairs
program. It is under the supervision of the
Dean of Student Affairs
■ Counselors in Community Setting
This setting refers to employment in
community, agency, and other nonschool
professional situations. Counselors can
be found in community and mental
health agencies, employment and
rehabilitation agencies, correctional
settings, and marriage and family
practice.
■ Counselors in the Private Sectors
This setting refers to counselors who
decided to do full time work as private
practitioners or engage in part-time private
practice while employed by community
agencies. This is feasible if the counselors’
expertise and specialization matches or
relevant to an adequate client population in
the geographic area.
■ Counselors in the Government
Counselors are also present in various
agencies of government or institutions
supported by the government that are into
social welfare, health, and education.
Relevant institutions include public schools,
public hospitals, public social welfare
agencies such as that for the youth,
children, and the aging.

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Clientele and Audiences in Counseling

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Clientele and

Who are the individuals and groups who

Counselors deal with a mixture of

Where do counselors usually work?

Counselors are employed in different

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