What is a function of assessment in counseling?

• A. Diagnosing clients
• B. Informing clients and stakeholders
• C. Planning interventions
• D. Scheduling classes

Answer: (C)

Assessment in counseling is used to gather information about a client’s symptoms, functioning, strengths, and context so that the treatment plan can be shaped. Planning interventions is the best function because the findings from assessment directly guide which strategies to use, what goals to pursue, and how progress will be measured. For example, if evaluation shows significant avoidance and distress in social situations, the chosen plan would likely include exposure techniques, cognitive restructuring, and skills training to reduce those symptoms. Informing clients and stakeholders is an important byproduct of assessment, and diagnoses may appear in some settings, but the heart of assessment in counseling is turning information into a concrete, evidence-based plan of action. Scheduling classes isn’t a function of counseling assessment.