counselling him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "counselling him" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of providing guidance or support to someone, typically in a professional or therapeutic context. Example: "After the incident, she took the time to counselling him about his feelings and how to cope with the situation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Weldon and her husband divorced after he fell under the spell of a therapist-slash-astrologer who was counselling him.

The New Yorker

I spent a year essentially counselling him weekly about his greatest worry, the build-up of fluff inside the tumble drier.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Earlier in the hearing, Dr Hartzenberg, who described herself as an expert in trauma counselling, said she first met Pistorius on February 25 last year, 11 days after the death of Ms Steenkamp, and had been counselling him since then.

Independent

The other question many in Ireland are now asking is, "Just how good has Bertie Ahern been?" No doubt Cecelia Ahern is counselling him, as she did me, "If bad things happen, still be hopeful".

Independent

He anointed as Muse one young woman after another, even as a concerned friend was counselling him to get a better fitting set of dentures before setting out on his next lecture tour.

The New Yorker

They surfed together often, and Mark started taking an interest in Edwin's welfare: counselling him about how to get along in the United States, encouraging him to go to college.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Ravitz counselled him to lower his voice.

The New Yorker

"Spend time with the booksellers," one friend had counseled him.

The New York Times - Books

Burnitz counseled him on how to handle New York's pressures.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. Barak counseled him to draw from his experience.

The New York Times

As Sir Endymion counsels him: "You are yet very young...

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "counselling him", ensure the context clearly indicates the type of guidance being offered, whether it's therapeutic, advisory, or simply supportive. For greater clarity, consider specifying the focus of the counselling, such as "counselling him on financial matters" or "counselling him through grief".

Common error

Avoid using "counselling him" when the context involves direct instruction or commands. "Counselling" implies guidance and support, not dictatorial orders. Instead, consider terms like "instructing him" or "directing him" if the situation involves giving specific commands.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "counselling him" functions as a gerund phrase, where "counselling" acts as a verb form functioning as a noun, describing the action of providing counsel or guidance to "him". Ludwig confirms the phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

5%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "counselling him" is a grammatically correct and usable gerund phrase that describes the act of providing guidance, advice, or therapy to someone. As Ludwig confirms, its register is typically neutral and appears most frequently in news and media contexts. When using the phrase, it is important to ensure that the context clearly indicates the type of guidance being offered and to avoid using it when referring to direct instruction or commands. While "counseling him" (American English) and "counselling him" (British English) are interchangeable, consistency in spelling should be maintained throughout a given piece of writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

advising him

Replaces "counselling" with the more general term "advising", focusing on giving advice rather than therapeutic guidance.

guiding him

Similar to "advising", but emphasizes direction and support along a path.

mentoring him

Suggests a longer-term, more involved relationship where guidance is provided based on experience.

offering him counsel

A more formal way of saying "counselling him", using the noun form of "counsel".

providing him therapy

Focuses specifically on therapeutic intervention, which may be more specific than general counselling.

giving him advice

Replaces "counselling" with a more straightforward term focusing on practical suggestions.

supporting him through therapy

Focuses on providing moral support during a therapy process.

helping him cope

Highlights the aspect of assisting someone in managing difficulties or challenges.

rehabilitating him

Rehabilitation is a form of counseling that helps people with medical, addiction, and emotional problems.

aiding him in recovery

Suggests he is recovering from some problem and the counseling aids in the recovery.

FAQs

What does "counselling him" mean?

The phrase "counselling him" refers to the act of providing guidance, advice, and support to someone, often in a therapeutic or advisory context. It suggests a process of helping someone understand and resolve their problems or make informed decisions.

What are some alternatives to "counselling him"?

You can use alternatives like "advising him", "guiding him", or "mentoring him" depending on the specific context and the nature of the guidance being provided.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "counselling him"?

It's appropriate when someone is providing support and guidance to help another person navigate challenges, make decisions, or improve their well-being. This could be in a professional therapeutic setting, or in an informal context like friends giving one another advice. But remember that the type of counseling should be well explained.

Is "counseling him" the same as "counselling him"?

Yes, "counseling him" and "counselling him" are the same. The former is the American English spelling, while the latter is the British English spelling.