counseling

1 of 2

noun

coun·​sel·​ing ˈkau̇n(t)-s(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce counseling (audio)
variants or counselling
Synonyms of counseling
: 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
career counseling for high schoolers
counseling for drug addicts

counseling

2 of 2

present participle of counsel entry 2

Examples of counseling in a Sentence

Noun She is receiving counseling to cope with the death of her husband. The college offers career counseling.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The request also includes crisis counseling, disaster care management, disaster unemployment assistance, and disaster legal services. — Jesse Sarles, CBS News, 23 Aug. 2026 If you’re already enrolled in school, look for student loan counseling resources for additional information. — Amy Deyoung, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2026 The counselor, Katherine Smith, said at that earlier hearing that her counseling sessions with the teen did not involve discussions of Miller. — John Lynch, Arkansas Online, 21 Aug. 2026 This would include behavioral interventions, counseling and treatment of coexisting mental health or substance-use disorders that could help reduce or stop cannabis use. — Omer Awan, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for counseling

Word History

Etymology

Noun

see counsel entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1927, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of counseling was in 1927

Phrases Containing counseling

Browse Nearby Words

counselee
counseling
counsellor seal
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Counseling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counseling. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

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Medical Definition

counseling

noun
coun·​sel·​ing
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on counseling

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for counseling

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about counseling

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