What is a counselor?

Question

I need help... I have some personal issues and I asked my mom for a counselor... but what exactly is a counselor? Is it a person I tell my problems to and they tell me how to fix it? Please don't laugh at me for asking this question! I really need help and it is serious. If you had some of the problems I have, you wouldn't want people laughing at a question you asked.

Answer 1

Counselor is a psychologist who analyzes the psychic problems and suggests remedy. He or she also monitors the progress of her counseling on the patient. He/she is a sort of psychological consultant for the patient.

Answer 2

Counselors have many functions. They are licensed by the state in which they work after getting at least a master's degree in college.

A counselor will first ask you questions about your background and current situation and then listen to you talk about what's on your mind. Sometimes he'll offer suggestions on what you can do to deal with your problems. Sometimes he might offer a different perspective, say, from the point of view of a person you might be having trouble with. At other times he might act as a coach and try to build up your confidence or motivation to reach a goal (such as asking someone out on a date, applying for a job, speaking up to someone who bullies you). Other times he may just be your personal cheerleader.

Sometime a counselor will challenge you by playing devil's advocate.

Counseling will not work if you don't like the counselor's methods. Some counselors act as though they think they are God and are always right. (You want to avoid these guys.) Others are more empathetic and personable and engage in give-and-take with clients, treating clients as equals while merely providing a different take on things.

You may need to see several counselors before finding the one you're most comfortable with. Respectable counselors won't take it personally if you decide they aren't a good fit for you; they should be willing to refer you to other counselors upon request.

Answer 3

A counselor is a person who has been to school (do not see anyone who has not) to learn about mental, emotional, stressful situations and events and learned how to handle them and how to teach you to handle things.Just a person who you might need to talk with when things do not feel right. They are there for you, they can not tell anyone what you tell them unless you are going to hurt yourself or another person and sometimes they must speak in court when there is a case, this is unusual. They listen, they talked, they offer advise, give homework sometimes and if they think that you need medication they will send you to a psychiatrist who is a doctor and can prescribe. Counselors can be life savers. Make sure you like your counselor or maybe I should say trust and feel comfortable. They have heard a lot of things so you can feel comfortable telling them anything. You sound like you need some help-please get it. if you are in school ask the school nurse or counselor if they know any good ones. If you feel comfortable enough ask friends if they have one to recommend or ask you doctor. Whatever you do get the help you seem to desperately need. Nobody will laugh at you. There are millions of people who see counselors and these counselors are there to help you.

Answer 4

A counselor is someone who is not a doctor but has special training in talking to people and helping them with their problems. Your school guidance counselor is one type of counselor. Many social workers are counselors. A priest or rabbi can be a spiritual counselor. There are even counselors who just help people find out what they'd be good at for a career.

When you have personal problems, trouble at home, or are feeling bad and need to talk to someone, you most likely would want to see a social worker. Social workers who counsel are usually called counselors or therapists. Again, they are not doctors, but they know how to talk to people who have issues and suggest ways to resolve them. They may refer you to a doctor if they feel you need extra help to resolve your problems. They will have the letters CSW or MSW after their names.

Answer 5

Yes a counselor help you deal with you problem, and it all depends how long you have to stay with them if your problems are really big all small, I was with one for about 5 years or more she help me a lot to deal with all my problems a good counselor
should be someone you like and someone that will listen to what you have to say, someone that you can trust,

God bless you

Answer 6

basically, you pretty much tell them about your life and they tell you different ways to deal with your problems and why you might be thinking a certain way. they can also explain why other people treat you a certain way and things like that. they are also supposed to be patient and supportive, kind of like a friend. don't be ashamed, i think that every person in the world could benefit from a counselor because they can really change the way you think about your life.

Answer 7

In my state, a counselor is defined by STATUTE. It's a very nebulous term. There need to be standards and protocols enacted by your state before you can call someone a counselor. The same is true for the term "therapist." Please consult your state's statutes. You should be able to find all fifty states' statutes on www.findlaw.com

My state has several different types of counselors or therapists but the only ones that need to be licensed, I believe, are (1) vocational therapists/counselors, (2) drug therapists/counselors, or (3) marriage therapists/counselors.

You need to check your state-specific rules; for you question, Yahoo! Answers is not detailed and comprehensive enough.

Answer 8

generally people who are professionally trained in the fields of psychology can give guidance and counseling.according to BRODIN, COUNSELING AS THE PROCESS OF AIDING THE INDIVIDUAL TO SOLVE HIS PROBLEMS THROUGH THE MEDIUM OF INTERVIEW.to solve minor problems one need not consult a counselor, one can seek advice from ones close, best Friends, parents.,teachers. if the problem is such a big one ,it is better to consult a good counselor, who is well qualified, in the field of psychology. there are two types of counseling, direct and indirect counseling. the counselor,by establishing rapport ,solve your personal problems.he will make you self-sufficient,self dependent,self directed .he will instill confidence in you and you will become a person who can efficiently deal with any sort of problem you face in your life. in counseling, the counselor seeks information from you to find out the root cause of your problem and the questions put by him/her may not be regarded as probing into your privacy.no person do laugh at you .at the cost of repetition, i put it in simple words, what a counselor does. he listens to your problems sympathetically and guide you how to solve them..

Answer 9

thats right - a counselor is most valueable for something called "unconditional positive regard" - no matter what you say, they will not judge you or think poorly of you. they can help you think of ways to solve problems that you possibly hand't thought of. this the person you can tell anything too, its all confidential of course. t

Answer 10

very simply, someone you pay to listen and make suggestions.
a true friend will do the same without pay.
love you and support you.
everyone as personal issues, how you deal with those issues, what you pay a counselor for. I have paid $$$, they directed me to free programs, leave a donation, friends you gain help you, they laugh with you, not at you.
sharing our experiences, gives the best lessons. in short, love yourself and you won't need a counselor. need help, I think you need unconditional love. learn to give and receive.
good luck in your expedition.