What Are the Principles & Practices of Counseling?

Therapy and counseling services are wide and varied. However, like all professionals, all licensed counselors have certain rules, procedures and practices that they must follow in order to be ethical, productive and appropriate in their jobs. The sensitive nature of most counseling services requires discretion, trust, and professionalism.

Confidentiality

• One of the main principles of counseling is confidentiality. This means that a counselor cannot divulge the content of therapy sessions to anyone under most circumstances. Usually, the only exceptions to this rule are when patients confess an immediate likelihood that they will harm themselves or someone else, or when a minor is at risk for physical abuse. In cases like these, the counselor is legally obligated to report the likelihood of violence to the authorities. Depending on the type of violence, the report may be made to the police, child protective services or a mental institution where a self-harming person can be (temporarily) involuntarily committed.

Validation

• One of the common practices of counseling is the art of validation. This means affirming that what a patient says is worthwhile. It means assuring patients that they have a right to their feelings -- not necessarily agreeing with them. For instance, if a patient says, "I'm mad at my brother for being late today," a therapist might validate her by saying, "I can understand how that would be frustrating."

Coping Skills

• Teaching patients alternate coping skills is another practice in counseling. Often, patients come to therapy with maladaptive coping skills, such as drinking, abusing drugs or co-dependency. It's the counselor's job to help them learn and practice coping skills that do not have negative consequences. Examples of coping skills might be as simple as calling a friend, taking a warm bath or exercising.

Relationship

• A key principle in counseling is that the relationship be a professional one. It may be easy for therapist and patient to see themselves as having a personal relationship because the content of their discussions is so intimate. But a skilled therapist knows how to guide the encounters so the two parties maintain an emotional distance. Many professional organizations discourage therapists from having personal relationships with clients (for example, being golf buddies) outside the therapeutic arena. Sexual relationships, under any circumstances, are unethical on the part of the counselor.