Counseling may be developmental, preventive or crisis-oriented. Counselors using a developmental approach to school counseling recognize that human development is characterized by stages containing different psychosocial crises and different developmental tasks. High school students are predominantly in the early adolescent stage, characterized by rapid physical changes, significant conceptual maturity, and a heightened sensitivity to peer approval. During this stage it is essential that educators diagnose individual learning styles and generate an educational environment that provides for varied learning styles. Traditionally, diagnosis has been viewed as an important counseling function. A thorough knowledge of the student's individual learning style can facilitate the diagnostic process in counseling. Learning style is the manner in which elements from five basic stimuli (environmental, emotional, sociological, physical, and psychological) affect a person's ability to perceive, interact with, and respond to the learning environment. Research suggests that matching teaching styles and counseling techniques to students' learning styles can lead to improved student achievement and attitudes. In addition to developing a counseling program that is responsive to individual learning styles, the school counselor should function as a consultant to teachers, parents and administrators regarding learning styles. (JAC)