What it means
مشاوره (moshâvere) is an Arabic loanword from the root ش-و-ر (sh-w-r), meaning to consult or seek advice. In Persian it covers a wide range of consultative situations: a session with a school counselor, a legal consultation, a quick advice call with a doctor, or formal psychological counseling. It sits one register below رواندرمانی (ravân-darmâni): مشاوره implies advice-giving and conversation, while رواندرمانی implies structured clinical treatment. The person who provides مشاوره is a مشاور (moshâver), meaning advisor or counselor.
How to use it
- مشاوره گرفتم و کلی آروم شدم. (moshâvere gereftam o koli ârom shodam.) “I got some counseling and felt a lot calmer.”
- قبل از تصمیمگیری مشاوره بگیر. (qabl az tasmim-giri moshâvere begir.) “Get advice before making a decision.”
- مرکز مشاوره دانشگاه رایگانه. (markaz-e moshâvere-ye dâneshgâh râygâne.) “The university counseling center is free.”
- با یه مشاور خوب حرف زدم. (bâ ye moshâver-e khob harf zadam.) “I talked to a good counselor.”
Cultural note
مشاوره is a softer, less stigmatized word than رواندرمانی (ravân-darmâni). Many Iranians who would resist the idea of “psychotherapy” are comfortable saying they are seeking مشاوره, which sounds closer to getting a second opinion than going to a therapist. High schools and universities in Iran are required by law to have مشاوره centers on campus, though quality and access vary enormously. In the diaspora, the word is commonly used by Persian-language mental health services to describe their offerings to clients who may be resistant to stronger clinical framing.