In the rapidly changing era, children, teenagers and young adults not only face challenges from their

studies and fast-paced living, but also adjustment challenges to changes in family structure and
interpersonal relationship. Effective student guidance and counseling services can improve the sense of
belonging of students in schools, develop their problem solving skill and help them make appropriate
decisions as responsible persons in the society. Guidance and counseling services for students at all
levels of education should therefore be an integral component of the educational mission.

An example of vocational guidance is a meeting with a consultant who helps people figure out what a
good job would be for them based on their skills and qualifications.

Difference between Guidance and Counseling

GUIDANCE VS COUNSELING
While 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.

Meaning
Guidance refers to guide 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 in overcoming from
personal or psychological problems.
Provided by
Any person superior or expert. A person who possesses high level of skill and professional training.
Privacy
Open and less private. Confidential

Definition of Counseling
The term counselling 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.
Even a simple situation where elder siblings guide younger siblings shows how guidance can happen.
What Does Counselling Mean
Counselling refers to the professional advice given by a counsellor based on personal or psychology
related problems of the individuals. In brief, counselling is a form of psychological guidance for an
individual. Therefore, unlike general guidance one can receive, counselling is mostly meant to help
people deal with their mental issues. Similarly, to become a professional counsellor, one should have
extensive academic knowledge and training in the field of psychology and a natural predisposition to
help people.
Practice
Anyone who has better experience and knowledge can give effective guidance to others. However, to
give counselling, one should be a professional counsellor with a recognized license to practice as a
counsellor.