While counseling often aims to assist clients with their mental or emotional wellness, neither of those aspects are relevant without other elements such as physical or financial wellness (Newman & Newman, 2018). It is like a domino effect - if one element of overall wellness is lacking, others will topple as well.

An effective illustration of this idea is Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, shown above.

Resilience is the ability of a person to cope with life's struggles - expected struggles as well as extenuating circumstances (Newman & Newman, 2018).

When a person's needs are not being met - when their level of wellness is at a low point - they gain resilience. Having increased resilience from these times of hardship allows for a person to feel confident in their ability to deal with other hardships that may follow. With increased resilience and a better ability to cope, a person has a better chance of maintaining and sustaining their basic needs during times when other needs - psychological, etc. - are not being met.

By maintaining their own physical and mental health, a counselor upholds their duties to their clients and to the profession of counseling. As the parable states, "one cannot pour from an empty cup". If a counselor finds themselves depleted in any way, they must address this before being able to provide ethical counseling to their clients (ACA, 2014).

Counselors recognize the importance of basic needs and how they affect psychological needs. For example, a person experiencing being unhoused will likely not feel confident or a sense of belonging. How can a counselor help?

While the United States is not necessarily brimming with sufficient resources for the unhoused, a counselor may direct an unhoused client to whichever resources are available. Shelters, housing assistance, or other case workers are examples of possible resources.

Additionally, a counselor with a client who is experiencing a major financial setback may offer ways of continuing treatment so that the client won't have to feel as though their financial challenges have prevented them from continuing counseling. Offering sessions at a lower rate than normal for a temporary amount of time or offering rates on a sliding scale according to a client's ability to pay are ways to help a client that are not ethical violations (ACA, 2014).

A counselor can also walk a client through the options that are available to them - "do you have a friend you could stay with?" "how about I give you a list of local food banks?" "let's put in a couple job applications together while you're here."

A child cannot care for themselves. Until later adolescence, a child is almost entirely dependent on a caregiver to meet their needs. They have to believe the person caring for them will do their best to provide shelter, sustenance, and warmth. When this doesn't happen, the child experiences various detriments relating to their psychosocial & cognitive development.

Clark, Jenna. The Effects of and Interventions for Trauma on Child and Adolescent Development. Liberty University. 2021.

Newman, B. & Newman, P.. Development Through Life: A Psychosocial Approach. Cengage Learning. 2018.