Consultation is best described as:

Consultation is best understood as a collaborative process where the consultant provides guidance and support to other professionals, enabling them to effectively assist their clients. The essence of consultation is to empower those who have direct relationships with clients, such as teachers, social workers, or other counselors, by enhancing their skills, knowledge, and strategies.

The description of "Helping the helpers help" accurately captures the core of what consultation aims to achieve. It emphasizes the role of the consultant in facilitating an environment where professionals can refine their practices, improve their understanding of client issues, and ultimately deliver better outcomes for those they serve.

In contrast, the other descriptions fall short of encapsulating the collaborative and supportive nature of consultation. For example, being described as "hands-off with the client" suggests an absence of engagement, which does not align with the interactive and supportive nature of consultation. Additionally, suggesting that consultation is "only applicable in crisis situations" limits its applicability, as effective consultation can occur in a variety of contexts, not just during emergencies. Finally, characterizing it as "a one-way communication process" misrepresents the dynamic nature of consultation, which involves dialogue and mutual input rather than a singular direction of communication.

Therefore, the definition as "Helping the helpers help