Introduction It is difficult to precisely define the word counseling, and yet nurses are frequently involved in that process, whether it is done in some phase of a crisis or a s a segment of routine health care. The editors believe the ingredients of the counseling process include education, anticipatory guidance, appropriate referrals, and listening as well a s the many intangibles which are present In a nurse-patient(s) interaction. On the one hand, there are very few areas of practice which do not require a nurse to utilize those skills essential in such an endeavor. On the other hand, frequently it is an item of low priority on the list of nursing activities. It is difficult to comprehend how nurses can stress the importance of optimum health while ignoring the effects of emotions on physical well-being and vice-versa.

There are some commonalities in counseling which need elaboration. First of all, there are at least two participants in such a session, the client and the nurse. The numbers can and often do vary. In one situation an entire family may be involved, in another it may be a school-age child, while in a third, it may be a group of adolescents. Second, there is a goal, a purpose for such an involvement. These goals also vary and depend on a number of factors. However, generally they focus on improving adjustments which may need to be made, on functioning at higher levels, on attaining greater satisfaction. Third and last, the process of counseling is one of learning-learning about oneself, understanding what is happening at this point in time, and, ultimately, identifymg realistic, attainable goals which will allow the client to be a more productive, more effective member of a family, community, and society.

attempt to provide total care to their patients. Certain skills and specific knowledge are basic components of the endeavor-if counseling is to be therapeutic and if clients are to be helped.

The problem areas selected are topics of importance in child care. Because there is a lack of appropriate articles in the literature which would assist the nurse in counseling patients and families, we have selected counseling as the subject of this publication. Nursing interventions have been identified by the respective authors in order to provide readers with helpful information and various methodologies which have been successfully employed by these experts.

Nurses enter into such social interactions daily as they

Gladys M. Scipien Martha Underwood Barnard

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