Nondirectional Approach

The nondirectional approach to counseling is one in which it is incumbent on the counselor to listen, with minimal input, to what the client has to say without seeming to pass judgement or giving advice, thus allowing the client to steer the discussion. In this style of counseling the counselor essentially acts as a type of "backstop" that permits the client to freely discuss their issues and to come to conclusions and resolutions for themselves.

For instance, if a person is having a problem at work the client would be free to vocalize about their relationship with their boss and co-workers, their duties, their ambitions for the future, and other job-related matters. By focusing on these matters and by vocalizing their feelings without input from the counselor they are able to sort through their feelings and identify aspects of their life and work where changes need to be made.