Characteristics of People Seeking Counseling
Seeking Counseling
We all have our rough days. For some, it may be a recent job loss that causes misery. For others, they might be approaching their last days on Earth and that causes all sorts of anxiety. In these two scenarios, and many more, people may turn to counseling, a situation where a professional helps a client or patient understand and potentially solve his problem by way of advice, instruction, or opinion. This lesson seeks to identify the many different characteristics of people seeking counseling.
Work, Family, and Community
Let's meet a few people along our way. Jackie is a mother of two who recently lost her job. Unemployment is one reason for a person to seek out professional counselling. But Jackie also has another issue to contend with; that of family violence. Her husband is abusive towards her and her kids physically, mentally, and emotionally. Such abuse, not just in Jackie's case, is another important possible reason for a person to seek out professional guidance.
Jackie's oldest son Craig is now out of the house, but he is subject to constant harassment in his community because he is a homosexual. In fact, he was brutally beaten on more than one occasion because of this. Victims of violence, even outside the home, are also in need of counseling in order to recover from post-traumatic stress related issues.
Socioeconomic Status, Age, and Development
Community violence tends to run high in areas that have a low socioeconomic status, such as where Josh lives. Josh is a senior living on a fixed income in a poor neighborhood. He doesn't have the same means of transportation or access to counseling services as in some better off neighborhoods. Because his access to counseling services is limited and he is on a tight budget when it comes to traveling somewhere far away for treatment, he is less likely to receive the counseling he needs. Since Josh is a senior, he may need counseling in preparation for end of life activities. That's an example of counseling related to age and developmental transitions in life, two factors for why people seek counseling.
Similarly, younger individuals, such as adolescents, may have their own needs for counseling services as they may struggle with how their body is growing and changing and how others respond to these changes, such as their peers. Meaning, if their peers poke fun at their changing body during puberty, such an adolescent may require counseling if it greatly affects him or her.
Gender, Race/Ethnicity, and Culture
Counseling services may also need to be extended to people like Brad. Brad was born female, but is undergoing hormonal therapy and sex reassignment surgery in order to more fully fit how he sees himself and not how he was born. A great part of this transition may be mental health counseling.
Brad's friend, Michelle, is an African American who lives and works in a predominantly poor Caucasian neighborhood. On a daily basis, she struggles with ignorant comments about her race. At times, it really gets to her and she relies on counseling in order to help her deal with such unfortunate circumstances.
Fatimah is a new immigrant to the U.S. from Syria. The way she dresses is very different from where she lives and her culture doesn't fit into the American mainstream culture. She finds it very difficult to adjust to life in the U.S. and seeks counseling to help her to better transition to life in the U.S. and outside of her cultural norm.
Finally, like Josh, Bill is an elderly man. He has unfortunately been diagnosed with diabetes and needs to not only adjust his dietary and exercise habits, but also deal with the mental and emotional challenges that await him as he deals with this disorder. Chronic (long-term) illness is one other potential cause for people to seek out counseling.
Lesson Summary
As you can tell, there are a lot of different characteristics of people seeking counseling. Counseling, a situation where a professional, such as a psychologist, gives advice, instruction, and opinion, in order to help his client understand and deal with his problem in a healthy and constructive way.
Reasons for why people may seek counseling include:
- Socioeconomic or unemployment reasons
- Race, cultural, or gender based issues
- Domestic or community violence
- Age or developmental transition related concerns
- Medical issues, such as chronic illness
To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
Create your account
Register to view this lesson
Unlock Your Education
See for yourself why 30 million people use Study.com
Become a Study.com member and start learning now.
Become a MemberAlready a member? Log In
BackCharacteristics of People Seeking Counseling
Related Study Materials
- Computer Science: Help and Review
- General History Lessons
- General Science Lessons
- TExES Science of Teaching Reading (293): Practice & Study Guide
- Next Gen NCLEX-PN Study Guide & Practice
- Musical Instrument Instruction
- Choral Instruction
- Curriculum & Assessment in Music Education
- Strategies for Music Instruction
- Introduction to War
- How to Pass the CDA Test
- What is the CDA Test?
- IAAP CAP Test Day Preparation
- ILTS Test Score Information
- IAAP CAP Registration Information
- IAAP CAP Test Retake Policy
- IAAP CAP Test Score Information
Latest Courses
- Role of the Skin in Homeostasis & Immunity
- Hijab: Definition and Relation to Islam
- Primary Source: The Treaty of Paris
- Ammit: Mythology, Hieroglyphics & Facts
- Foreign Tax Credits for Businesses: Eligibility & Deductability
- One Day When I Was Lost Summary
- Veterinary Plan of Action for Primates
- Quiz & Worksheet - Porfiry Petrovich in Crime and Punishment
- Quiz & Worksheet - Positions, Planes & Cavities Terms in Anatomy
- Quiz & Worksheet - Reconciling Subledger & General Ledger for Accounts Payable & Accrued Liabilities
- Quiz & Worksheet - What is RNA Editing?
- Flashcards - Real Estate Marketing Basics
- Flashcards - Promotional Marketing in Real Estate
- Grammar Games
- Parts of Speech Worksheets
Latest Lessons
- Philosophy 101: Intro to Philosophy
- Quantitative Analysis
- GACE Middle Grades Reading (012): Practice & Study Guide
- 12th Grade English: Tutoring Solution
- CLEP Humanities: Study Guide & Test Prep
- ORELA Math: Functions
- Decimals, Percents & Ratios
- Quiz & Worksheet - Interpreting Figures of Speech in Context
- Quiz & Worksheet - Logical Thinking Process
- Quiz & Worksheet - Types of Sensory Memory
- Quiz & Worksheet - Types of Fishing Techniques & Impact on Ecosystems
- Quiz & Worksheet - Nekton
Popular Courses
- Primates: Definition, Evolution & Characteristics
- Saxophone: Types & History
- Unrest in Vietnam During the Eisenhower Years: Learning Objectives & Activities
- Science Fiction Picture Books
- Fun Math Games for 3rd Grade
- What are the NYS Regents Exams Locations?
- Mechanical Engineering Scholarships for High School Seniors
- Common Core Standards & English Language Learners
- Best Way to Learn Spanish
- 4th Grade Word Walls
- What's the Common Core Framework?
- In-School Resources for Teacher Professional Development
Popular Lessons
Math
Social Sciences
Science
Business
Humanities
Education
History
Art and Design
Tech and Engineering
- Tech and Engineering - Videos
- Tech and Engineering - Quizzes
- Tech and Engineering - Questions & Answers