Counseling (for treatment of a medical condition)

Counseling is a field contained within applied psychology that utilizes not only psychology principles, but incorporates the behavioral sciences, human resources techniques, clinical, and school psychology as well. Counseling is primarily considered a service provided by a professional with special qualifications that uses psychological and behavioral science to improve the lives of clients by focusing on the decisions they make and planning improved roles in their social environments. The emphasis is on improving the lives of the clients and to catalyze development for the individual by seizing on opportunity for improvement through better decision making. In addition to improving decision making skills, counseling deals with overcoming difficulties with environmental factors through improved resource utilization or modification. Counseling attempts to be relevant for all individuals as opposed to clinical psychology which has a more specific focus.

For more information visit the American Counseling Association at www.counseling.org/about-us/about-aca