**The Author: Rollo May**

Rollo May (1909–1994) was one of the leading figures in existential psychology. He developed an approach that connects human experience with the search for meaning. He believed that psychological and intellectual counseling could help individuals confront existential anxiety, take responsibility for their decisions, and achieve self-fulfillment.

**Book Content**

In *The Art of Counseling*, May views counseling as a **participatory process**, where the awareness of the counselee meets the expertise of the counselor. Rather than providing ready-made solutions, counseling helps the individual discover their own potential and inner resources. For May, true counseling is not about imposing authority but about stimulating thought and creating a dialogical space where individuals can reach freer and more mature decisions.

**Main Chapters of the Book**

1. **The Nature of Counseling**

   May discusses the meaning of counseling, emphasizing its role as a tool for awareness and personal growth, and explaining that humans are always in search of meaning.

2. **The Counselor–Counselee Relationship**

   He highlights the importance of trust and a genuine human connection that transcends rigid instructions.

3. **The Ethics of Counseling**

   This chapter outlines the ethical principles that must guide counseling, such as confidentiality, honesty, and mutual respect.

4. **Obstacles to Counseling**

   May addresses the challenges that can hinder counseling, such as poor listening, authoritarian attitudes from the counselor, or hesitation from the counselee.

5. **Counseling and Personal Growth**

   He stresses that the ultimate aim of counseling is not just to solve immediate problems but to enhance the individual’s self-awareness and increase their ability to take responsibility and make free choices.

6. **Counseling as an Art**

   The book concludes by emphasizing that counseling is not a rigid technique but an art requiring wisdom, humanity, and insight, because it deals with the most complex aspect of existence: the self and its search for meaning.

**Conclusion**

*The Art of Counseling* stands as a valuable reference for anyone interested in psychology, social work, or human relationships in general. Through this work, Rollo May offers an existential vision of counseling as a journey of self-discovery rather than simply seeking advice. He affirms that the highest role of the counselor is to help the counselee see their own path more clearly.