DISCIPLINES AND IDEAS IN THE APPLIED SOCIAL SCIENCES 12

First Quarter

THIRD WEEK

I. OBJECTIVES
A. Content Standard
The learners demonstrate an understanding of professionals and practitioners in counseling.

B. Performance Standard
The learners should be able to adequately document and critique the roles, functions, and
competencies of counselors.

C. Learning Competencies/Objectives
2.1 Discuss the roles and functions of counselors.
2.2 Identify specific work areas in which counselors’ work.
2.3 Value rights, responsibilities, and accountabilities of counselors.
2.4 Distinguish between ethical and unethical behaviors among counselors.

II. CONTENT
Topic: Professionals and Practitioners in Counseling

III. LEARNING RESOURCES

A. Reference: Disciplines and Ideas in the Applied Social Sciences (For Senior High
School), Mutya Publishing House Inc. (pp. 21-40)

IV. PROCEDURES

A. Reviewing previous lesson or presenting the new lesson

(Activity 1) Warming Up!

Looking back from the previous discussions, you were able to identify the goals and scopes
of the discipline of counseling and you were enlightened about its principles; thus, you are now
capable of knowing what makes counseling a unique discipline.
Yesterday, at the end of the discussion, you were asked to check the mental health of your
family members as how it is being affected by the current situation. To measure your mastery of
the concepts from the previous discussion, write down the answers of your two (2) family
members and identify which principles of counseling are applicable to properly address their
mental health status. (10 points)

1. Family Relative 1:
(Principle of counseling):
2. Family Relative 2:
(Principle of counseling):

B. Establishing a purpose for the lesson

Specific Learning Objectives:

At the end of the lesson, you are expected:
a. To show understanding of the roles and functions of counselors;
b. To identify specific areas/fields where counselors work;
c. To appreciate the value rights, responsibilities and accountabilities of counselors;
d. And to distinguish between ethical and unethical behavior among counselors.

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 C. Presenting examples/ instances of the new lesson

(Activity 2) Getting to know

Counseling is a reciprocal relationship where both the counselor and the counselee shape
the process. Counselors have great responsibility to ensure that the process is beneficial to the
client. Thus, the personal qualities/characteristics of counselors can enhance or detract from the
helping process and are as essential as specific knowledge or skills.
List down five (5) ideas of the characters of a good counselor on your answer sheet. Out of
your five (5) answers, which do you think is the most important character to become an effective
and good counselor? Explain your answer in five (5) sentences. (10 points)

D. Discussing new concepts and practicing new skills #1

In this part of the lesson, you will be informed about the competencies, roles, and functions
of Counselors, and the specific areas/fields where they practice their profession.

I. What makes a good counselor?

A. Self-Understanding and Self-Awareness- A good counselor should be aware of
his/her needs to be able to be sensitive to the needs of others.
B. Being open-minded- Although stereotypes help people adapt to unpredictable
situations, counselors should be able to understand his/her client’s inner world. That is,
accepting the client just as he/she is.
C. Objectivity- it is safeguarding against developing an inappropriate emotional feeling about
or towards the client.
D. Competence- refers to the counselor’s level of confidence in his/her ability which he/she
demonstrates throughout the counseling process.
E. Trustworthiness – this refers to the counselor’s responsibility and ethical behavior
which is observed in the counseling process.
F. Interpersonal Skills- refers to the compatibility between the client and the counselor.
This means the ability of the counselor to connect and relate to his/her clients.

II. Areas of specialization where counselors work and their corresponding

roles/functions. A counselor’s roles may sometimes include aiding one in coping with a crisis.
Moreover, the counselor’s functions include the use of an integral approach to develop a
well-functioning
individual primarily through:
(a) Helping clients develop to the fullest,
(b) Helping clients plan to utilize his or her potentials to the fullest,
(c) Sharing, applying knowledge related to counseling such as counseling theories, tools
and techniques,
(d) Administering a wide range of human development services.

Areas of Specialization Description Roles/Functions

An area by which the Help to prepare their clients’ in

Career Counselors Counselors provide starting, changing or advancing
consultation, coaching, and their careers by conducting
counseling so that clients sessions.
can explore their interests
and options better.

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 An area by which the Use training to identify, analyze
Child Abuse Counselors counselors’ focus is to and address symptoms of child
apply therapy that will abuse and provide therapy to
encourage (abused) help the child overcome his/her
children to speak their awful ordeal.
minds in a safe and
comfortable environment.

Domestic Violence An area by which the Help victims of domestic abuse

Counselors/ Violence counselor provide therapy to deal with and overcome their
Against Women and to clients for them to traumatic experiences through
Children understand their traumatic counseling.
experiences

Licensed therapists who Help people to cope with the

Grief Counselors help people to cope with grief and sense of loss that
grief and adversity in life, usually follows death of a loved
so that the client could one, a divorce, or a tragic life
continue to become a experience.
productive citizen.

An area by which there is a Help to address issues on

Marriage and Family need for a counselor to marriage and family life. To
Counselors intervene between a direct the couple and/or family
married couple to make a about the possible options for a
wise and better decision healthy relationship.
about saving the marriage
and family.

An area by which the Help the client to lessen and

Mental Health Counselors counselor provides release the stress that burdens
counseling for individuals one’s mental health.
who encounter problems
that trouble their mental
health

Counselors who are Help the learners to have a

School Counselors stationed in schools and balanced lifestyle while living a
are responsible for the student-life in a multi-tasking
learner’s educational life world. Help also to shape career
welfare. paths of learners.

Trained to handle clients Help the clients to think

Suicide intervention with depression and positively and continue to live
Counselors suicidal issues. fulfilling and rewarding lives
through sessions of counseling.

Process Questions:
After knowing the roles, functions, competencies and the areas of specialization where
counselors are working, and perhaps you have seen or encountered some of these in our
school and community, let these ideas sink into your consciousness, reflect and answer the
following guide questions. (10 points)

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 1. What thoughts or realizations have come to your mind after knowing the crucial role of
counselors in the society?
2. Which three (3) areas of specialization where counselors work do you think your
personality suits you to become in the near future? Why?

E. Discussing new concepts and practicing new skills #2

Counseling is a relationship that involves a moral responsibility for both the counselor
and the client. In line with these, guidelines are needed so each one knows the extent and limits
of this therapeutic relationship. The counselor should always remember that he/she has an
ethical obligation to the client and to the society in general.

1. Rights and Responsibilities of Clients and Counselors

a. Rights of Clients.
a.1. Right of informed consent. This right demands that clients be given enough
information to make informed choices about entering and /or continuing the counselor-client
relationship.
a.2. Minor’s Rights. Minors have to get parental consent before entering counseling.
The exceptions, however, are in cases involving substance abuse, child abuse and crisis
matters that usually involve the family.
a.3. Right to a Referral. When the counselor believes that he/she is not qualified to
handle the case, it is his/her prerogative to refer the client to another who can provide the
utmost help.
b. Duty to Warn and Protect.
Two significant duties/responsibilities of a counselor:
b.1. The duty to protect other people from potentially dangerous clients
b.2. The duty to protect clients from themselves

2. The Ethical Principles and Ethical Issues in Counseling

It is of utmost importance that a counselor strictly adheres to the ethics of counseling. There
is a set of Ethical principles that aids the counselor whenever practicing the profession and
when facing a counseling dilemma.

a. Respect for Autonomy. This refers to the freedom of clients to choose their own
direction. Respecting that the client has the ability to make choices free from constraints.
b. Non-maleficence. Means “to do no harm.” Referring to the techniques used by the
counselor. It is the responsibility of the counselor to avoid utilizing interventions that
could potentially harm the client.
c. Beneficence. The responsibility of the counselor to do good and to contribute to the
welfare of the client.
d. Justice. Means to act in a fair manner. It is expected that counselors will act in a non-
discriminatory manner to individuals and groups.
e. Fidelity. Deals with the trusting relationship that should exist between the counselor
and the client.
Being aware of the good and bad practices in counseling is essential for both the
counselor and the client. Carelessness in this regard can lead to a serious consequence.

Process Question:
1. What measures the goodness of a counselor’s action? Knowing that counseling is a
helping relationship, give 3 things that will put that relationship in bad shape and explain
your answer. (10 points)

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 Below are ethical issues in which all who engage in any form of counseling must be
aware of:
1. Social and Personal Relationship with Clients. Refers to the balance between a friendship
and a therapeutic relationship between the counselor and the client.
2. Touching as Part of the Counseling Relationship. Touching may cause malice during the
counseling session, thus, these must be observed about the appropriateness of ‘touching’
during the session: (a) when counseling socially and emotionally immature clients, (b) when
counseling people in crisis, (c) when giving emotional support, (d) when greeting a client or at
the end of a session.
3. Sexual Contact with Clients. A major ethical issue. Totally wrong and a violation to the
integrity of counselor-client relationship.
4. Suicidal Clients. Counselors should take any suicidal threats seriously. Counselors may
forego the issues of confidentiality to ensure that the client’s life is not put at risk.
5. Confidentiality. Both a legal and an ethical issue. The counselor should let the client know
the extent of confidentiality in the relationship. The following are the circumstances that allow
for the reporting of information gathered from sessions: (a) when clients are perceived to be a
danger to themselves and others, (b) when the therapist believes that a client who is a minor
has been a victim of rape, incest, child abuse, or some other crime, (c) when the counselor
determines that the client needs hospitalization, and (d) when information is made an issue in a
court case.

F. Developing Mastery (Leads to formative assessment

3) (Activity 3) Let’s Appraise!

After learning the important matters about becoming a good counselor, you will now appraise
each situation to know whether one is ethical and the other is unethical.
Direction: Write E if the statement is ethical or follows the ethical principles of counseling;
write UE if the statement is unethical or does not follow the ethical principles of counseling. (10
points)

1. Counselor X is discussing to his class the case of his/her client without filtering the
client’s name and other essential matters.
2. The Counselor called the attention of the mother of a grade 5 learner before starting
a counseling session.
3. There is no wrong in touching the client during the counseling session.
4. In all cases, the counselor could use any techniques regardless if it could harm the
client.
5. Respect for autonomy means respecting the freedom of choice of the client.
6. Counselors can break the confidentiality of one’s case in some circumstances.
7. To be emotionally attached and build a romantic relationship with the client is not
allowed in the profession of a counselor.
8. The welfare of the counselor is the priority in the counseling sessions.
9. Counselors must inform the clients about their rights before entering the counseling
program.
10. The counselor does not seek help from the other competent counselors even
though he/she is not capable of handling the case.

G. Finding practical applications of concepts and skills in daily

living (Activity 4) Skills Check

Weighing all the concepts discussed during this lesson, you are now challenged to put them
into application in the real world.
As a student of Humanities and Social Sciences who is currently studying the discipline of
counseling, in what ways do you think you could help to somehow lessen the burden of those

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 people undergoing emotional stress brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic? What are your
concrete plans of actions to realize your ideas? Give 5 ways. (10 points)
Criteria:
Content - 5
Clarity of ideas - 3
Organization of thoughts - 2
10pts

H. Making generalization and abstractions about the lesson

(Activity 5) Wrapping Up
We started the lesson with the mental health status of your family and ending it with the
ethical principles of counseling. To wrap this lesson, what are your thoughts, now, about this
statement? Explain your answer in 5 sentences. (5 points)

I. Evaluating learning

(Activity 6) Stepping Forward

Instruction:
a. Write a 1-page reflection paper of not more than 20 sentences but not less
than 10 sentences about the topic: The crucial role that a counselor could
do during this challenging time. (20 points)
b. The reflection paper could be computerized or handwritten.
Criteria:
Content - 10
Clarity of ideas - 5
Organization of thoughts - 5
20pts

J. Additional activities for application or remediation

Assignment
Try to remember your earlier years at Pampanga High School, what were your previous
ideas about the roles and functions of your School guidance counselor/s that were clarified after
learning this lesson?

You can write your answer in this way:

Before, my ideas of the roles and functions of our School guidance/counselors are…
Now that I am clarified, my ideas are...

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