Introducing the field of counseling in a complex, multicultural society, this text is based on a phenomenological, psychosocial, life-span developmental approach, whereby counselors help persons work through situational, developmental transitions and conflicts within a multicultural, social context. Ageism. Productive aging. Grief. Loss. Intergenerational issues. Needs of caretakers. Feminist approaches. Life-span cognitive development. Emotional intelligence. Spiritual development. Substance abuse clients. Joint school-community crises prevention and intervention programs. Depression. Addictions. Theories and techniques. Practice and process. Appropriate as an introduction to counseling.