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Unit 13: Types of Counseling: Directive Counseling

In Directive approach the counselor plays an important role. A major goal is to replace the Notes
emotional behaviour of the individual with deliberately rationale behaviour. Although he avoids
dictatorial advice. This approach is also know as counselor-centered. Under this process the
counselor plans the counseling process, his work is to analyze the problem, identify the triggers
identify the exact nature of the problem and provide various options.
Williamson was a great profounder of this kind of approach as he stated that this approach is
good to address the problems relating to educational and vocational adjustment. This type of
counseling is a concept where educational and vocational guidance relate to the personality
dynamics and interpersonal relationship. This type of counseling is more useful where the
individual wants information and advice for choice of a career. This approach does not focus its
attention on personality development as such.

13.1 Directive Approach : Concept

The authoritarian point of view is largely associated with the work of Sigmund Freud. According
to the (Directive psychoanalytic theory) the client is ignorant and unaware of the reasons for his
difficulties or suffering which are deeply embedded in the unconscious. The client is, therefore,
helpless and it is the therapist who has to play the role of interpreting the material for him/her.
The psychological difficulties, according to psychoanalysis, are explained as phenomena that are
strictly psychologically determined. This principle is known as psychological determinism.

13.2 Process of Directive Approach
As the name itself implies this approach envisages a more active role for the counselor. The
counselor employs varying degrees of direction to help the counselee to reach sound solutions.
Also, through his own specialised knowledge and experience in scientific diagnosis and
interpretation of data, counselees are helped to reach earlier solutions for their problems.
According to Frederick Thorne, the proponent of this approach, the need for direction by the
counselor is inversely proportional to the individual counselee’s potentialities for self-regulation.
Though the basic responsibility for reaching the solution is primarily with the counselor as the
counseling proceeds. Counselees are encouraged more and more to take up increased responsibility
for self-direction. This approach presupposes a more personalised relation with the counselee
where the counselor strives to identify psychologically with the counselee so that he can be
understood better.

Counseling Steps
Directive counseling involves six stages. They are as follows :
(a) Analysis: This involves collecting from various sources the data needed for an adequate
understanding of the client. This include administration of psychological tests, etc. However,
such testing and form filling should not come between the counselor and counselee and its
importance should be limited to the extend that it gives a better idea about the counselee.

(b) Synthesis: This refers to summarising and organising the data so obtained, as to reveal the
assets, liabilities, adjustments and maladjustments of the counsellee. This includes of the
data obtained through psychological testing also.

(c) Diagnosis: This stage is concerned with formulating conclusions regarding the nature and
the course of the problems exhibited by the student. Drawing conclusions from the results
of psychological testing, administration of questionnaires etc. are done here.
(d) Prognosis: This refers to predicting the future course of development of the counselee’s
problem in the light of conclusions as made earlier.

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