counseling
gb/kˈaʊnsəlɪŋ/ us/kˈaʊnsəlɪŋ/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
process
1
professional help for personal problems
talking to a professional to help with problems and feelings
Usage pattern:
[someone] gets/receives counseling (for [something])
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse counseling (support and guidance) with a casual chat with a friend.
Synonyms
therapy (Broader term; often implies treatment by a therapist.)
|
talk therapy (Emphasizes talking as the main method.)
|
guidance (Less clinical; can be professional or informal.)
Antonyms
neglect (Not getting or providing needed support or care.)
Collocations
receive counseling
|go to counseling
|attend counseling
|counseling services
|mental health counseling
|grief counseling
|family counseling
|trauma counseling
|individual counseling
|counseling session
Themes
health
|mental_health
|emotions
|relationships
Examples
- After the accident, she started counseling to manage her anxiety.
- The company offers free counseling services to employees.
- He found counseling helpful when he was going through a divorce.
Learner examples
- I go to counseling once a week.
- Counseling helped me feel better.
Noun
B2
action
2
advice and guidance to someone
helpful advice from a person with experience
Usage pattern:
counseling on/about [topic]
Common mistake:
Counseling is usually more formal and ongoing than a single piece of advice.
Synonyms
guidance (Often suggests direction or help making decisions.)
|
advising (Focuses on giving recommendations; less personal support.)
Antonyms
misguidance (Advice that leads someone in the wrong direction.)
Collocations
provide counseling
|offer counseling
|counseling on debt
|counseling about finances
|counseling for parents
|confidential counseling
|professional counseling
|counseling support
|free counseling
|telephone counseling
Themes
communication
|daily_life
|work
Examples
- The agency provides counseling on budgeting and saving.
- New managers can request counseling from a senior mentor.
- The helpline offers confidential counseling for people in crisis.
Learner examples
- She gave me counseling about my job choices.
Noun
B2
process
3
guidance in school or college
help at school with studies and plans
Usage pattern:
counseling for [students]/[families]
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse a counselor (advisor) with a university lecturer or teacher.
Synonyms
student advising (Often focuses on practical course and program decisions.)
|
guidance counseling (Common term in schools, especially in the US.)
Antonyms
lack of support (Not having guidance available for students.)
Collocations
school counseling
|guidance counseling
|college counseling
|academic counseling
|student counseling
|counseling office
|counseling center
|college admissions counseling
|college counseling program
|career and academic counseling
Themes
education
|work
|youth
Examples
- The school expanded counseling to support students applying to college.
- He scheduled counseling to discuss changing his major.
- Parents asked for counseling about scholarship options.
Learner examples
- I met the counselor for academic counseling.
Noun
B2
process
4
support to overcome addiction
professional help to stop using drugs or alcohol
Usage pattern:
counseling for [addiction]/[substance use]
Common mistake:
This meaning is about treatment and recovery support, not punishment.
Synonyms
rehab support (Less specific; can include medical treatment and structured programs.)
Antonyms
enabling (Behavior that supports continued harmful substance use rather than recovery.)
Collocations
substance abuse counseling
|addiction counseling
|drug counseling
|alcohol counseling
|outpatient counseling
|inpatient counseling
|recovery counseling
|relapse prevention counseling
|court-ordered counseling
|counseling program
Themes
health
|mental_health
|law
|family
Examples
- As part of his probation, he had to complete addiction counseling.
- The clinic offers substance abuse counseling and group meetings.
- She began counseling to help her stay sober.
Learner examples
- He is in counseling for alcohol problems.
Noun
C1
process
5
religious guidance and support
help and advice from a religious leader
Usage pattern:
pastoral counseling for [someone]/[issue]
Common mistake:
Pastoral counseling is not necessarily the same as medical or psychological treatment.
Synonyms
spiritual guidance (Emphasizes faith and beliefs more than problem-solving.)
Antonyms
secular counseling (Counseling not based on religion or spiritual beliefs.)
Collocations
pastoral counseling
|spiritual counseling
|faith-based counseling
|church counseling
|counseling from a pastor
|counseling from a priest
|confidential pastoral counseling
Themes
religion
|mental_health
|relationships
Examples
- They sought pastoral counseling after a difficult loss.
- The church offers counseling for couples and families.
- He preferred spiritual counseling to talk through his concerns.
Learner examples
- She asked her pastor for counseling.
Noun
technical
C1
process
6
medical advice about inherited risks
medical counseling about genes and inherited illness
Usage pattern:
genetic counseling for [condition]/before [test]
Common mistake:
Genetic counseling is not the same as genetic testing; it includes explanation and decision support.
Synonyms
genetic consultation (More general; may not emphasize ongoing counseling and support.)
Antonyms
uninformed decision-making (Choosing without understanding medical risks and options.)
Collocations
genetic counseling
|prenatal counseling
|pre-test counseling
|post-test counseling
|genetic risk counseling
|carrier screening counseling
|counseling appointment
Themes
health
|medicine
|family
Examples
- They were referred for genetic counseling before starting IVF.
- Genetic counseling helped her interpret the test results.
- The doctor recommended counseling to discuss inherited cancer risk.
Learner examples
- We had genetic counseling at the hospital.
Noun
legal
C1
action
7
urging or encouraging wrongdoing
in law: encouraging someone to do a crime
Usage pattern:
counseling [a crime]/counseling [someone] to [do something illegal]
Common mistake:
This is a legal sense of counsel, not psychological counseling.
Synonyms
incitement (Usually emphasizes provoking others, often publicly.)
|
solicitation (Often means asking someone to commit a crime.)
Antonyms
deterrence (Action that discourages someone from committing wrongdoing.)
Collocations
counseling a crime
|counseling an offense
|counseling violence
|counseling fraud
|charged with counseling
|alleged counseling
Themes
law
|crime
Examples
- The statute covers counseling violence as well as carrying it out.
- Prosecutors argued that his messages amounted to counseling an offense.
- The judge found no evidence of counseling anyone to break the law.
Grammar
Dictionary form
counseling
IPA
GB/kˈaʊnsəlɪŋ/
US/kˈaʊnsəlɪŋ/
Syllables & stress
coun - sel - ing (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (coun)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: counseling
- Plural: counseling
Word family
Core family
counsel
verb B2
counselor
noun
Related words
counselling
noun B2
counsellor
noun B1
Advanced or less common
counselee
noun
Expressions
career counseling
1/kɚˈɪɹ kˈaʊnsəlɪŋ/
fixed phrase
guidance about jobs and careers
help with choosing and finding a job
Examples
- The university offers career counseling for graduating seniors.
- Career counseling helped her decide to switch fields.
- He booked career counseling to improve his resume and interview skills.
counseling session
1/kˈaʊnsəlɪŋ sˈɛʃən/
fixed phrase
one scheduled counseling meeting
one meeting with a counselor
Examples
- I have a counseling session this afternoon.
- The first counseling session focused on setting goals.
- He missed a counseling session and had to reschedule.
couples counseling
1/kˈʌpəlz kˈaʊnsəlɪŋ/
fixed phrase
therapy for relationship problems
counseling to help a couple
Examples
- They started couples counseling to work on trust issues.
- Couples counseling helped them communicate without shouting.
- Her partner refused to go to couples counseling.
go to counseling
1/ɡˈoʊ tə kˈaʊnsəlɪŋ/
fixed phrase
attend counseling appointments
to meet a counselor for help
Examples
- I decided to go to counseling after my panic attacks got worse.
- They went to counseling together to talk through their issues.
- He doesn’t want anyone at work to know he goes to counseling.
in counseling
1/ˈɪn kˈaʊnsəlɪŋ/
fixed phrase
currently receiving counseling
having counseling now
Examples
- She’s been in counseling since last year.
- While he was in counseling, he learned healthier coping skills.
- They kept the fact that he was in counseling private.
marriage counseling
1/mˈɛɹɪd͡ʒ kˈaʊnsəlɪŋ/
fixed phrase
therapy for married couples
counseling to help a marriage
Examples
- They tried marriage counseling after years of arguments.
- Marriage counseling can help couples rebuild trust.
- He suggested marriage counseling instead of separating.
premarital counseling
1/pɹimˈɛɹətəl kˈaʊnsəlɪŋ/
fixed phrase
counseling before getting married
counseling before a wedding
Examples
- They signed up for premarital counseling through their church.
- Premarital counseling helped them talk about money and family plans.
- Some couples choose premarital counseling even if they feel confident.
seek counseling
1/sˈik kˈaʊnsəlɪŋ/
fixed phrase
try to get professional help
to look for counseling and start it
Examples
- If you feel overwhelmed, seek counseling from a licensed professional.
- Many students seek counseling during exam season.
- He finally sought counseling for his anger.