Once students understand the problems and decide to work toward a solution, the counselor will suggest treatment options, including referral if the problem is one requiring medical support and intervention. While counselors will almost always try to answer questions raised about the process, sometimes they will first attempt to understand fully the presenting concern to assure that they are providing the information that the student needs most. This is the counselor's attempt to clarify rather than avoid the issue. Ideally, counseling ends when the student and the counselor agree that the progress is satisfactory or when the counselor determines that an alternative form of intervention is needed and options have been discussed and explored so that a plan for obtaining further intervention can be developed. Sometimes counseling ends when a student decides that he or she is not ready to work on a problem with a counselor at that particular time.
Students choose the paths they wish to explore.
The guide cannot know the paths students find most satisfying, but can tell some things about the territory, point out the dangerous curves and poisonous plants, and sometimes carry the baggage awhile when clients are tired.