Key Differences

Know the Differences & Comparisons

Difference Between Guidance and Counseling

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guidance vs counselingWhile in guidance the focus is made on listening to the problem, on which ready-made solution is given by the expert. Counseling aims at discussing and understanding the problem, advising and empowering him to take a decision concerning his/her career or life goals in one-to-one sessions.

Psychology is a discipline that studies human behaviour and mind. It attempts to ask questions about the reason behind an individual’s behaviour and thinking. Two important concepts of psychology, which people do not easily discern are guidance and counseling because both seek to find out the solutions for problems and works for human development. Learning the differences between guidance and counseling might help you in choosing the right method for you.

Content: Guidance Vs Counseling

  1. Comparison Chart
  2. Definition
  3. Key Differences
  4. Conclusion

Comparison Chart

Basis for ComparisonGuidanceCounseling
MeaningGuidance refers to an advice or a relevant piece of information provided by a superior, to resolve a problem or overcome from difficulty.Counseling refers to a professional advice given by a counselor to an individual to help him in overcoming from personal or psychological problems.
NaturePreventiveRemedial and Curative
ApproachComprehensive and ExtrovertedIn-depth and Introverted
What it does?It assists the person in choosing the best alternative.It tends to change the perspective, to help him get the solution by himself or herself.
Deals withEducation and career related issues.Personal and socio-psychoological issues.
Provided byAny person superior or expertA person who possesses high level of skill and professional training.
PrivacyOpen and less private.Confidential
ModeOne to one or one to manyOne to one
Decision makingBy guide.By the client.

Definition of Guidance

Guidance is a kind of advice or help given to the individual’s especially students, on matters like choosing a course of study or career, work or preparing for vocation, from a person who is superior in the respective field or an expert. It is the process of guiding, supervising or directing a person for a particular course of action.

The process aims at making students or individuals aware of the rightness or wrongness of their choices and importance of their decision, on which their future depends. It is a service that assists students in selecting the most appropriate course for them, to discover and develop their psychological and educational abilities and ambitions. Guidance results in self-development and helps a person to plan his present and future wisely.

Definition of Counseling

The term counseling is defined as a talking therapy, in which a person (client) discusses freely his/her problems and share feelings, with the counselor, who advises or helps the client in dealing with the problems. It aims at discussing those problems which are related to personal or socio- psychological issues, causing emotional pain or mental instability that makes you feel uneasy. The counselor listens the problems of the client with empathy and discusses it, in a confidential environment. It is not a one day process, but there are many sessions.

Counseling is not just giving advice or making a judgement, but helping the client to see clearly the root of problems and identify the potential solutions to the issues. The counselor also changes the viewpoint of the client, to help him take the right decision or choose a course of action. It will also help the client to remain intuitive and positive in the future.

Key Differences Between Guidance and Counseling

The significant differences between guidance and counseling are given in the following points:

  1. Advice or a relevant piece of information given by a superior, to resolve a problem or overcome from difficulty, is known as guidance. Counseling refers to a professional advice given by a counselor to an individual to help him in overcoming from personal or psychological problems.
  2. Guidance is preventive in nature, whereas counseling tends to be healing, curative or remedial.
  3. Guidance assists the person in choosing the best alternative. But counseling, tends to change the perspective, to help him get the solution by himself or herself.
  4. Guidance is a comprehensive process; that has an external approach. On the other hand, counseling focuses on the in-depth and inward analysis of the problem, until client understands and overcome it completely.
  5. Guidance is taken on education and career related issues whereas counseling is taken when the problem is related to personal and socio-psychological issues.
  6. Guidance is given by a guide who can be any person superior or an expert in a particular field. As opposed to counseling, which is provided by counselors, who possess a high level of skill and undergone through professional training.
  7. Guidance can be open and so the level of privacy is less. Unlike counseling, wherein complete secrecy is maintained.
  8. Guidance can be given to an individual or group of individuals at a time. On the contrary, counseling is always one to one.
  9. In the guidance, the guide takes the decision for the client. In contrast to counseling, where the counselor empowers the client to take decisions on his own.

Conclusion

Therefore, after reviewing the above-given points, it is clear that guidance and counseling are two different terms. The guidance aims at giving solutions while counseling aims at finding problems, working over it and then resolving it. However, both the process attempts to solve the problems of the  client whereby the participation of both client and the expert should be there.

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Comments

  5. DENIS KIETI says

    this is quite amazing, your instincts may not know how much you have helped me but your conscience will live to remember. thanks guys

    Reply

  14. kapasa mwenya says

    According to my view, your pieces of writing is summarized enough and contains every well-outlined difference, it helped me in my BA(SP) presentation. Therefore it is very useful indeed.

    Reply

    • Surbhi S says

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  19. Rethabile Sejojo says

    The way your explained these concepts is really helpful, you tried by all means to make it to be as easy as possible. Thank you very much , i found it very helpful for my course.

    Reply

  22. Atokolo Kashim says

    The information given is really comprehensive and understandable. It help me out of my research work. Thanks so mush, I am highly appreciated.

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  39. Elijah Jacob Ozigi says

    I really find it helpful, because I couldn’t even use the text book I bought for my assignment again. Thank you so much, keep the good work.

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