Counseling — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective verb /ˈkau̇n(t)-s(ə-)liŋ/ coun·sel·ing

Meaning & Definition of Counseling

Counseling (noun)

  1. 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 (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in compassion, feeling

    similar: comforting, consolation, consoling, reassurance, solace, solacing, commiseration, compassion, condolence, feeling, sympathy, humanity, kindheartedness, kindliness, kindness, mercy, pity

Counseling (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in advisory, consulting

    similar: advisory, consultative, consulting, hortative, recommendatory, admonishing, admonitory, cautionary, cautioning, exemplary, monitory, premonitory, warning, aiding, assisting, helping, didactic, moralistic, moralizing

Counseling (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

    similar: advising, confabbing, confabulating, conferring, consulting, parleying, treating
    related: arguing, bandying, batting (around), chewing over, debating, deliberating, discussing, disputing, hashing (over), kicking around, mooting, palavering, talking, talking over, ventilating, rehashing, coaching, guiding, tutoring, recommending, suggesting, directing, referring (to)

  2. 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"

    similar: coaching, guiding, leading, mentoring, piloting, shepherding, showing, tutoring, walking through
    related: godfathering, directing, engineering, steering, swaying, accompanying, attending, chaperoning, convoying, escorting, seeing, squiring, overseeing, superintending, supervising, drilling, training, briefing, enlightening, informing, instructing, schooling, teaching, inculcating, indoctrinating, cultivating, fostering, nurturing

  3. to give advice to

    "perhaps a psychologist would be better qualified to counsel you"

    similar: adjuring, admonishing, advising
    related: alerting, cautioning, forewarning, warning, briefing, clueing (in), filling in, informing, telling, wising (up), coaching, directing, guiding, instructing, leading, mentoring, shepherding, showing, teaching, tutoring, piloting, steering, acquainting, apprising, familiarizing, convincing, encouraging, inducing, persuading, talking (into), begging, exhorting, imploring, prevailing (upon), urging, proposing, recommending, suggesting

  4. 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"

    similar: advising, recommending, suggesting
    related: advocating, backing, championing, espousing, favoring, supporting, exhorting, urging, advancing, offering, proposing, submitting

Related Entry: Counsel (verb)

Counsel is a different word from Counseling. The synonyms below are for counsel, not for counseling.

  1. 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"

    similar: advise, confab, confabulate, confer, consult, parley, treat
    related: argue, bandy, bat (around), chew over, debate, deliberate, discuss, dispute, hash (over), kick around, moot, palaver, talk, talk over, ventilate, rehash, coach, guide, tutor, recommend, suggest, direct, refer (to)

  2. 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"

    similar: coach, guide, lead, mentor, pilot, shepherd, show, tutor, walk through
    related: godfather, direct, engineer, steer, sway, accompany, attend, chaperone, convoy, escort, see, squire, oversee, superintend, supervise, drill, train, brief, enlighten, inform, instruct, school, teach, inculcate, indoctrinate, cultivate, foster, nurture

  3. to give advice to

    "perhaps a psychologist would be better qualified to counsel you"

    similar: adjure, admonish, advise
    related: alert, caution, forewarn, warn, brief, clue (in), fill in, inform, tell, wise (up), coach, direct, guide, instruct, lead, mentor, shepherd, show, teach, tutor, pilot, steer, acquaint, apprise, familiarize, convince, encourage, induce, persuade, talk (into), beg, exhort, implore, prevail (upon), urge, propose, recommend, suggest

  4. 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"

    similar: advise, recommend, suggest
    related: advocate, back, champion, espouse, favor, support, exhort, urge, advance, offer, propose, submit

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Counseling

The most common words with a similar meaning to Counseling:

comforting, consolation, consoling, reassurance, solace, solacing, commiseration, compassion, condolence, feeling, sympathy, humanity, kindheartedness, kindliness, kindness, mercy, pity, advisory, consultative, consulting, hortative, recommendatory, admonishing, admonitory, cautionary, cautioning, exemplary, monitory, premonitory, warning, aiding, assisting, helping, didactic, moralistic, moralizing, advising, confabbing, confabulating, conferring

Related Words for Counseling

arguing, bandying, batting (around), chewing over, debating, deliberating, discussing, disputing, hashing (over), kicking around, mooting, palavering, talking, talking over, ventilating, rehashing, directing, referring (to), godfathering, engineering, steering, swaying, accompanying, attending, chaperoning, convoying, escorting, seeing, squiring, overseeing

Origin & Etymology of Counseling

First known use: 1927

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Counseling

Words & Phrases Containing Counseling

genetic counseling, marriage counseling

Frequently Asked Questions about Counseling

What does "Counseling" mean?

"Counseling" means 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. As an a noun, an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: 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. It has 6 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Counseling"?

Other words for "Counseling" include comforting, consolation, consoling, reassurance, solace, solacing, commiseration and compassion. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Counseling" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Counseling"?

There are 128 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Counseling". Common alternatives include comforting, consolation, consoling, reassurance, solace, solacing, commiseration, compassion, condolence and feeling.

How do you use "Counseling" in a sentence?

Examples of "Counseling" in a sentence: "concerned parents counseling about the problem of substance abuse in their community"; "every year the admissions officer counsels thousands of students about the process of applying to college"; "perhaps a psychologist would be better qualified to counsel you".

Is "Counseling" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Counseling" can be used as a noun, an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Counseling" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Counseling" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Counseling"?

"Counseling" is pronounced /ˈkau̇n(t)-s(ə-)liŋ/ and divided into syllables as coun·sel·ing.

What is the origin of the word "Counseling"?

First known use: 1927.