Sison, Joyce Louise C.

Industrial Counseling

January 13, 2014

4BES2

Counseling and Other Interventions

In todays business, human capital is given more importance for it brings growth in
the company. Thus, organizations help in the individual life of the human capital through
counseling, psychotherapy, coaching and mentoring. These interventions can actually
benefit both the associates and organizations by improving their potentials. However,
such confusion and misconception arise as to how they are being applied and seen.

One popular type of intervention used in industrial setting is counseling. As Yates

(2011) perceives counseling, it delves into the past of the clients issues and reasons
behind his present condition. Feroce Coaching adds that counseling deals with healing
emotional pain or conflict of individuals or between two people. Moreover, it focuses on
the feelings and personal problems. It is the therapist who is responsible for the process
and outcome. The treatment used is by understanding and resolving the past of the
client.

Furthermore, counseling in business is providing advice to your employees

(Robertson, 2010). It is when a staff member receives disciplinary action and is counseled
on their behavior. For instance, an employee having an in-depth conversations about
personal issues and an expert tries to provide guidance makes counseling.

Psychotherapy is another intervention defined as a resource for patients with

mental disorders (Schnell and Herpertsz, 2011). It is only provided and practiced by
registered and licensed psychotherapists, psychologists and even physicians. Frequent
life threatening conditions like severe depressive episodes, depressions, bipolar disorder
need immediate treatment with psychotherapy. Zittoun (2011) defines psychotherapy as
an approach that invites people to express their experience through drawing, acting,
singing or speaking.

Yates (2011) claims that both coaching and mentoring share a common theme
which is to help individuals improve either themselves, their performance or how to reach
their full potential. Both can be formal or informal and is a positive relationship between a
staff member and the client. However, differences still arise in distinguishing the two .
Roberston (2010) clears the distinction between two interventions most commonly used
in industrial setting.
Coaching does not have something to do with ones past but only focuses on the
present and future performance. In the office, a coach avoids providing advice. He uses
listening and powerful questioning techniques to understand the employees. His job is to
question the person to help them find and seize opportunities for themselves. Coaching
also focuses on unlocking the employees inner wisdom so that they can solve their own
problems with. Unlike coaching, mentoring provides advice and solutions and tells what
they think the other person should do. Coaching and mentoring can be practiced by
authorized employees as long as they use their wisdom and knowledgeable on particular
topics.

Generally, counseling, psychotherapy, coaching and mentoring are interventions

practiced in the office. Such help the human capital and the business in return. It is true
that there are common misconceptions among the aforementioned interventions.
However, they almost have the same theme which is to provide help to the individuals.
These interventions differ only in terms of approach and application.
Examples of concerns that need managers counseling techniques:
1. Two employees having sexual affair in the office
2. Work relationship problems between a team leader and team members
3. An employee who broke up with his partner that leads to counter-productivity
4. An employee who consistently steals office supplies and brings them at home
5. Career counseling that deals with what kind of work environment employees prefer
and seem ideal for them

References

Robertson, Juliette. (2010 Sept 14). Coaching Employees vc Mentoring, Coaching,

Counseling or Training. Retrieved January 7, 2015, from http://articlesbase.com
Schnell, K., & Herpertz, S. C. (2011). Psychotherapy in psychiatry: The current
situation and future directions in germany.European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical
Neuroscience, 261, 129-34. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00406-011-0257-8
Yates, Louise. (2011 May 07). The Difference Between Coaching, Counseling And
Mentoring. Retrieved January 7, 2015, from http://articlesbase.com
Zittoun, T. (2011). Meaning and Change in Psychotherapy. Integrative
Psychological & Behavioral Science, 45(3), 325-334. doi:10.1007/s12124-011-9166-7