Advocacy and Counseling

[Date of Submission]

Advocacy and Counseling

Introduction

Advocacy and Counseling are often considered to go hand in hand by general laymen, however that is not true. Both these two things are different from one. People often confuse the two to be synonymous because they do not consider these two to be separate roles (Brown et al, 2010). In my opinion the definition of Advocacy and Counseling are as follows.

Advocacy: Advocacy means to aid an individual or group of people in speaking up for them. It endeavors to ensure that the people's voices are heard and their consent is considered when making decisions regarding them. The Advocacy Services strive to represent young adults, families and the elderly and make sure that they opinions are considered.

Counseling: Counseling means helping individuals or families in making changes in their lives by 'talking' to them or hearing them out however, without providing any particular advice. The individual is able to interact with a counselor in a supportive, safe and warm environment, in full confidence. It aims to help people in dealing with bereavement, stress, relationship issues and depression.

Helping people make changes in their lives or getting over a traumatic event in their lives comes under the category of counseling, while, advocacy means championing for the individual's right of voicing their opinions in any matter. Not all people in the world are confident enough to make themselves heard, stand their ground and prove their point. Often individuals are unable to express their opinions because of particular circumstances. It is these times when the advocacy services are recruited or required, to help the individual in securing their rights.

Discussion

Counselor's are individual who are attentive, skillful, empathic and accepting of the individuality of the client. Advocate is responsible for fighting for the oppressed and going head to head against the parties that are bent on excluding or exploiting their client (Roysircar, 2009). Often these two professions go hand in hand so much that the difference between them is almost erased. For instance, it is the nurse's duty to provide counseling to the patients while at the same time fighting for their rights, needs and wants.

Even when I become a specialized professional in my field I expect that both counseling and advocacy will go hand in hand. In spite of being different from one another they are both complimentary to one another. Any counselor no matter which area of specialization he/she might possess, does both counseling and the advocacy for their patients because they are responsible for the well being of their client/patients.

Advocacy benefits the care provided for children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families in any specialist area by making sure that the interests and preferences of the client or patient are being addressed in all matters (Moe and Diltz, 2010). For the matter of children, if one talks about orphans, the most society will do is provide them with a stable family till they can grow up, however, it is the job of their children counselor to advocate the child's ...