COUNSELING IN SOCIAL WORK: THEORETICAL AND ETHICAL ASPECTS

Abstract

Introduction. This article reviews domestic research on counseling in social work. The topic is highly relevant due to the rapid increase in the number of people facing difficult life circumstances or stressful conditions who require professional support to manage these challenges. Purpose and objectives of the article. The aim of this study is to examine the theoretical and ethical aspects of counseling in social work. Results. The theoretical analysis indicates that counseling in social work is currently understood by scholars both as a social service, a form of social assistance, a methodology, and a set of interventions, among other interpretations. It has been shown that counseling in social work constitutes a type of professional assistance provided by nearly every social worker when working with individuals in crisis or challenging life circumstances. It is emphasized that counseling in social work is based on a collaborative process between the social worker and the client, aimed at addressing problems by achieving established goals while taking into account the client’s needs, abilities, and resources. The counseling process includes providing information, assisting the client in analyzing the causes of the problematic situation, identifying areas of conflict, and exploring potential solutions or strategies to overcome difficult life circumstances or crises. Attention is also given to the analysis of the system of requirements and principles – general, professional, and ethical – outlined in regulatory documents, including codes of professional ethics for social workers, which guide the conduct of social work practitioners in their counseling activities.