Effective Physical Functioning: A Precondition for the Helping Process

Abstract

Within the human resource development model, there is an emphasis on operationalizing and developing the counselor's physical, intellectual, and emotional skills necessary to deliver an effective helping process. Until recently, there has been little discussion of physical functioning. However, within this model physical fitness is viewed as a key factor of counselor functioning. A review of the literature reveals that fitness is related to several physical, intellectual, and emotional factors that can have a bearing on counselor and client functioning. The review also relates the development of fitness to the development of other intellectual and emotional factors. Implications for the training of counselors on fitness and for the importance of physical programs as they relate to the helping process are explored.