counseling
noun
coun·sel·ing ˈkau̇n(t)-s(ə-)liŋ 
variants or counselling
: professional guidance of the individual by utilizing psychological methods especially in collecting case history data, using various techniques of the personal interview, and testing interests and aptitudes
career counseling for high schoolers
counseling for drug addicts
Example Sentences
She is receiving counseling to cope with the death of her husband. The college offers career counseling.
Recent Examples on the Web There are lots of ways to take care of yourself mentally—whether that means scheduling counseling sessions at your campus health center or finding your people in a slam poetry club. 
Kirsten Nunez, SELF, 15 Sep. 2022 To help its 35,000+ staffers with their mental health and diminish job stress, the firm introduced ten free annual counseling sessions, camera-free Friday meetings, and urges later-morning meeting schedules. Diane Herbst, Peoplemag, 31 Aug. 2022 Andrews decided to meet with record labels to see if any would be willing to purchase a day of counseling sessions for their artist roster. Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 30 Aug. 2022 Through it, team members will continue to have access to our existing Life365 offering, which provides online tools in combination with five free mental health counseling sessions—both in-person and virtual. Paolo Confino, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2022 The center also provided 3,765 counseling sessions, and crisis hotline counselors responded to 5,304 calls. Emily Alvarenga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 July 2022 Encouraging improvements have been made, and organizations are offering benefits like discounts on mental health apps, free counseling sessions, wellness stipends, emotional health classes and more. Stephen Baer, Forbes, 29 June 2022 The company also offers complimentary nutrition counseling sessions. Stefani Sassos, Ms, Rdn, Cso, Cdn, Nasm-cpt, Good Housekeeping, 16 June 2022 Wysocki and her co-workers are attending daily counseling sessions to cope with the grief. Andrea Salcedo, Washington Post, 20 May 2022 See More
Kirsten Nunez, SELF, 15 Sep. 2022 To help its 35,000+ staffers with their mental health and diminish job stress, the firm introduced ten free annual counseling sessions, camera-free Friday meetings, and urges later-morning meeting schedules. Diane Herbst, Peoplemag, 31 Aug. 2022 Andrews decided to meet with record labels to see if any would be willing to purchase a day of counseling sessions for their artist roster. Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 30 Aug. 2022 Through it, team members will continue to have access to our existing Life365 offering, which provides online tools in combination with five free mental health counseling sessions—both in-person and virtual. Paolo Confino, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2022 The center also provided 3,765 counseling sessions, and crisis hotline counselors responded to 5,304 calls. Emily Alvarenga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 July 2022 Encouraging improvements have been made, and organizations are offering benefits like discounts on mental health apps, free counseling sessions, wellness stipends, emotional health classes and more. Stephen Baer, Forbes, 29 June 2022 The company also offers complimentary nutrition counseling sessions. Stefani Sassos, Ms, Rdn, Cso, Cdn, Nasm-cpt, Good Housekeeping, 16 June 2022 Wysocki and her co-workers are attending daily counseling sessions to cope with the grief. Andrea Salcedo, Washington Post, 20 May 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
see counsel entry 1
First Known Use
1927, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing counseling
Medical Definition
counseling
noun
coun·sel·ing
: professional guidance of the individual by utilizing psychological methods especially in collecting case history data, using various techniques of the personal interview, and testing interests and aptitudes
counseling 1 of 3
noun
variants or counselling
as in reassurance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- reassurance
- consoling
- comforting
- solace
- consolation
- compassion
- sympathy
- solacing
- commiseration
- condolence
- mercy
- feeling
- kindness
- humanity
- pity
- kindliness
- kindheartedness
counseling
2 of 3adjective
variants or counselling
as in consulting
Synonyms & Similar Words
- consulting
- advisory
- consultative
- warning
- assisting
- admonishing
- aiding
- cautioning
- cautionary
- admonitory
- hortative
- recommendatory
- premonitory
- moralizing
- monitory
- didactic
- moralistic
- exemplary
- helping
counseling
3 of 3verb
variants or counselling
1
as in talking
to exchange viewpoints or seek advice for the purpose of finding a solution to a problem concerned parents counseling about the problem of substance abuse in their community Synonyms & Similar Words
- consulting
- talking
- discussing
- advising
- coaching
- conferring
- parleying
- arguing
- treating
- confabbing
- tutoring
- confabulating
- ventilating
- debating
- talking over
- deliberating
- chewing over
- bandying
- guiding
- mooting
- rehashing
- disputing
- recommending
- palavering
- hashing (over)
- suggesting
- batting (around)
- kicking around
- directing
- referring (to)
2
as in coaching
to give advice and instruction to (someone) regarding the course or process to be followed every year the admissions officer counsels thousands of students about the process of applying to college Synonyms & Similar Words
- coaching
- mentoring
- tutoring
- teaching
- shepherding
- informing
- guiding
- piloting
- walking through
- engineering
- leading
- training
- showing
- schooling
- escorting
- steering
- supervising
- attending
- accompanying
- briefing
- drilling
- godfathering
- enlightening
- chaperoning
- convoying
- instructing
- superintending
- overseeing
- directing
- swaying
- fostering
- nurturing
- indoctrinating
- inculcating
- squiring
- seeing
- cultivating
3
as in teaching
to give advice to perhaps a psychologist would be better qualified to counsel you Synonyms & Similar Words
- teaching
- advising
- tutoring
- coaching
- informing
- mentoring
- convincing
- admonishing
- warning
- telling
- adjuring
- proposing
- steering
- persuading
- shepherding
- cautioning
- recommending
- briefing
- alerting
- forewarning
- guiding
- suggesting
- instructing
- inducing
- begging
- piloting
- filling in
- encouraging
- leading
- urging
- imploring
- apprising
- exhorting
- showing
- directing
- familiarizing
- directing
- cluing (in)
- acquainting
- clueing (in)
- wising (up)
- talking (into)
- prevailing (upon)
4
as in advising
to put (something) forward as one's choice for a wise or proper course of action I would counsel caution and deliberation in this sensitive matter Synonyms & Similar Words
- advising
- recommending
- suggesting
- advocating
- urging
- offering
- supporting
- backing
- proposing
- championing
- favoring
- submitting
- exhorting
- espousing
- advancing
- encyclicals
- encyclics
- encyclopaedia
- encyclopaedia, encyclopaedic
- encyclopaedias
- encyclopaediast
- encyclopaedism
- encyclopaedisms
- encyclopaedist
- encyclopaedists
- encyclopedia
- encyclopedias
- encyclopediast
- encyclopedic
- encyclopedically
- encyclopedism
- encyclopedisms
- encyclopedist
- encyclopedists
- encyrtid
- Encyrtidae
- encyst
- encystations
- encysted
- encysting