The field of psychology is very broad; it is divided into different subfields. There are various techniques that are utilized in treating different psychological disorders, such as the psychopharmacological treatment and the psychotherapy treatment. Psychopharmacological treatment includes prescription drugs which help cure the psychological disorder of a patient. On the other hand, psychotherapy treatment involves consultation or counseling sessions with a psychiatrist or psychologist in with regard to their psychological dilemma (Rygh and Sanderson 7-8).
Counseling and consultation are two techniques utilized in psychotherapy. The terms are often interchangeably used, but they are completely different. Counseling deals with a person’s need for advice from another person. Counseling as a profession is not solely practiced in a clinical setting but is also applied to social relationships and interactions. More often than not, counseling involves problems that are normally encountered by people rather than mental disorders. The counselor’s advice deals with functions and role played by individuals, decisions to be made, and actions to be taken.
It focuses on the objective of helping other people in resolving their problems. Thus, the counselor takes the role of a “problem solver” who renders advice and guidance and helps other people to make rational decisions (Richmond). Effective counseling is a two way process. The client and the counselor invest cooperative efforts in resolving the client’s dilemma. The client also practices commitment in performing difficult decisions. It is essential that the patient and the counselor establish a relationship that is founded on definite goals and objectives.
The relationship should allow the client to be true to his or her feelings and thoughts. An effective counseling will help the client make positive changes in his or her life and alter undesirable behaviors (Ponton). Consultation, on the other hand, is the kind of established relationship between the consultant and the consultee. The relationship is more objective and unemotional as compared to the relationship of counselor and the client which is more personal and emotional. The target of the consultation process is to solve problems in relation to professional functioning (Vacc and Loesch 98).
The relationship in consultation is a “sound working relationship” that deals with concrete objectives that need to be attained (Lopez and Rasmussen 124). The relationship established is not “as psychologically intimate and services are indirectly provided” (Lopez and Rasmussen 124). Training workshop is a type of consultation wherein traditional and conventional educational methods are utilized to render information and enhance skills as a form of prevention (Vacc and Loesch 98). It is essential to distinguish consultation from counseling in order to determine what a person exactly needs.
The differentiation of the two techniques can help a person choose the appropriate service that he or she needs which can aid him or her in his or her psychological dilemmas. These types of psychological techniques will also help the clients make sound and reasonable decisions, recognize and improve their unpleasant behaviors, and make righteous actions as answers to their problems.
Works Cited
Lopez, Shane J. and Heather N. Rasmussen. “Counseling. ” Encyclopedia of School Psychology. Ed. Steven W. Lee. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage Publications, Inc. , 2005. 123–127. Ponton, Lynn.
“Characteristics of Effective Counseling. ” PsychCentral. 17 February 2006. 1 September 2008 <http://psychcentral. com/lib/2006/characteristics-of-effective-counseling/>. Richmond, Raymond Lloyd. “Psychology: Clinical and Counseling- and Licensure. ” A Guide to Psychology and its Practice. 2008. 1 September 2008 <http://www. guidetopsychology. com/cln_cns. htm>. Rygh, Jayne L. and William C. Sanderson. Treating Generalized Anxiety Disorder. New York, NY: The Guilford Press, 2004. Vacc, Nicolas A. and Larry C. Loesch. Professional Orientation to Counseling. Philadelphia: Brunner- Routledge, 2000.A