Content area
Full text
The author presents evidence that supports Professional Counseling as a national, professional organization. The history of the profession will be briefly delineated followed by the component parts of professional identity relevant for professional counselors. The future challenges for the counseling profession will be discussed and implications for future articulation of the national counselor identity will be considered.
The search for an identity among the human service professions has been a rallying point for Professional Counselors and Counselor Educators (Hanna & Bemak, 1997). This search includes an understanding of the critical issues that help make the profession similar to and different from other professions. Some researchers believe that the counseling profession has established itself as a national profession (Feit & Lloyd, 1990; Ritchie, 1990); however, some researchers believe that the development of a professional identity remains one of the major struggles for the profession (Nelson & Jackson, 2003; Remley & Herlihy, 2010).
The essence of this paper is to argue for the relevance of a professional identity for the counseling profession. The author will present evidence that supports the development and establishment of a professional identity for the counseling profession. Also, information will be provided that relates to the challenges that come with the establishment of this identity as well as the implications for future work with counselors- in-training and with educators who are becoming increasingly aware of the significance of the profession.
Professional Counseling Defined
Counselors today are continually bombarded with questions about what they do and how they define themselves, In 2008, the American Counseling Association adopted a definition that focused on the counseling process and that incorporated mental health, psychological, and human development principles (Remley & Herlihy, 2010, p.51)
Consensus definition of Professional Counseling.
Counseling is a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families, and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals.
This definition serves as the impetus for the development of a broader understanding of the counseling profession. The American Counseling Association believes that the essence of the profession is the strengthening of its identity. As a result of this understanding, ACA participated in 20/20: A Vision for the Future of Counseling with 30 other association and organizations (American Counseling Association).
20/20: A Vision for the Future...