In developmental counseling, what is the first step of the problem-solving process?

In developmental counseling, identifying the problem is crucial as it sets the foundation for the entire problem-solving process. This initial step involves clearly defining what the client is facing, ensuring that both the counselor and the client have a mutual understanding of the issue at hand. By focusing on the specific problem, it allows for a targeted approach to finding solutions that are relevant and effective.

Once the problem is identified, the process can move forward to gathering information, generating possible solutions, and analyzing those solutions. Each of these subsequent steps relies on having a well-defined problem as their starting point. Without proper identification, addressing the wrong issue or misunderstanding the context can lead to ineffective solutions and a lack of progress in the counseling process.