How to Sign “Counselor” in American Sign Language

The short answer

In American Sign Language (ASL), “counselor” is commonly signed as two parts: the sign for ADVISE or COUNSEL, followed by the person marker. The person marker is a short ending that turns an action into “someone who does it,” much like the “-or” or “-er” ending in English. So the sign reads roughly as “advise + person.”

This guide describes ASL, which is used in the United States and parts of Canada. Other sign languages, such as British Sign Language, use different signs, so if you are signing with someone outside ASL, check the sign in their language.

Make sure you mean “counselor”

A few similar-sounding English words lead to different signs, so it helps to confirm which meaning you need before you learn the sign:

• Counselor: someone who gives advice or guidance, such as a school counselor, career counselor or mental health counselor. This is the sign described here.
• Councilor: a member of a council, such as a city council. This is a different word with a different meaning, so the counselor sign does not fit.
• Legal counsel: in legal settings, “counsel” usually means a lawyer, and ASL has a separate sign for lawyer.

How to sign “counselor” step by step

The steps below use “dominant hand” for the hand you write with and “non-dominant hand” for your other hand. Left-handed signers simply mirror the description.

• 1. Hold your non-dominant hand flat in front of your body, palm facing down and fingers together.
• 2. Shape your dominant hand into a flattened O: fingertips bunched together and touching the thumb.
• 3. Rest those bunched fingertips on the back of your non-dominant hand.
• 4. Move the dominant hand forward and slightly down off the back of the other hand, spreading the fingers open as it moves. This completes ADVISE or COUNSEL; the opening motion suggests advice going out to someone.
• 5. Add the person marker: hold both hands flat with palms facing each other, about shoulder width apart, and move them straight down along the sides of your body together.

Signed smoothly, the two parts flow into one sign that means “counselor.” Without the person marker, the first part alone means the action of advising or counseling rather than the person.

How to check that you are signing it correctly

A written description can only take you so far, because sign language depends on movement, timing and facial expression. These checks help confirm your version:

• Handshape: your dominant hand starts bunched (flattened O) and ends open with fingers spread.
• Contact: the bunched fingertips start on the back of your non-dominant hand, not the palm.
• Direction: the advising movement goes outward, away from your body.
• Ending: the person marker moves downward with both palms facing each other, not facing your body.
• Comparison: watch a video of a fluent or Deaf signer in a reputable ASL dictionary and compare your movement side by side, for example in a mirror.

The most reliable check is feedback from a fluent signer, such as a Deaf community member, an ASL teacher or an interpreter. They can tell you whether your sign is clear and whether a different version is preferred where you live.

Limitations and alternatives

This guide was not checked against a specific dictionary entry or video source, and ASL varies by region, community and age group. Some signers may use a different variant, and particular roles, such as a therapist, may have their own signs. Treat the description above as a common form and confirm it with a fluent signer or a dictionary video before relying on it in an important conversation.

If you are unsure of the sign in the moment, fingerspelling C-O-U-N-S-E-L-O-R is a clear and widely understood fallback. Once a conversation is underway, signers often fingerspell a word once and then agree on a sign to use for the rest of the exchange.