Professional Counseling Identity: Final Reflection
This quarter is my first in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, and the fact that I have been able to take this class in Professional Counseling Identity my first quarter seems like kismet. The class has been a fantastic overview of the counseling profession and has solidified for me many of the requirements needed to become a licensed professional. Throughout the quarter I have seen myself and others in class grow in our professionalism, and l have come to understand my own values and motivations better; I have also become increasingly aware of my biases. I could never contain everything I learned in class in this paper; however, here I reflect on some of the salient ideas that I have gleaned over the course of the quarter.
I enjoyed the class readings, especially Corey and Corey (2011), which was written from the perspective of two working counselors. Our first week’s reading assignments were exclusively from this
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The ACA was formed in 1992 as an advocate for the profession (Nasser-McMillan, 2011, p. 14). To further my professional development, I joined the ACA in the second week of class. This action was a concrete way for me to demonstrate my commitment to my role as a professional. The class research into the myriad divisions of the ACA demonstrated the extent to which the association supports and advocates for the counseling profession. I especially enjoyed my research into the Association for Adult Development and Aging (AADA), which I presented to the class. I am personally interested in the issues that come up in the aging process, and hope to work with these issues in my future practice. I was happy to read that the AADA is actively advocating for Medicare to include mental health coverage, knowing the high prevalence of mental health issues among older adults (AADA,
The American Counseling Association is the largest professional counselor association in the world and serves over 56,000 helpers by providing resources and tools to utilize for best practices in the counseling field (ACA, n.d.). As an ACA member, professional counselors have access to professional journals, webinars, forums and other mediums that can strengthen and enhance helping skills and best practices. It would be of great advantage for both graduate students training in a counseling field, as well as professional counselors working in their field to take advantage of the being a member of the ACA.
A common struggle for counselors can sometimes be to find the right balance between “the demands or managed mental health requirements and obligations to clients” (Braun & Cox, 2005, p.426). Often times counselors may be t...
Hanna, F. J., & Bemak, F. (1997). The quest for identity in the counseling profession. Counselor Education and Supervision, 36(3), 194. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.library.capella.edu/docview/201301734?accountid=27965
One theme of the book that stands out is the counselor as a person and a professional. It is impossible to completely separate one’s personal and professional lives. Each person brings to the table certain characteristics of themselves and this could include such things as values, personality traits and experiences. A great point that Corey, Corey, and Callahan (2010) make is to seek personal therapy. Talking with colleagues or a therapist will keep counselors on their toes and allow them to work out any issues that may arise. This could also prevent counselors from getting into a bad situation. Another good point made in this book was counter transference. Therapists are going to have an opinion and some reactions are going to show through. It is not easy to hide one’s emotions, but a good therapist will keep the objective in sight and keep moving forward. After all, the help counselors are providing is for the client.
Professional identity is the result of a developmental process that facilitates individuals to reach an understanding of their profession in conjunction with their own self-concept, enabling them to articulate their role, philosophy, and approach to others within and outside of their chosen. As counselors engage in this individually unique growth process, it is hoped that the counseling profession as a whole will be strengthened as its practitioners and educators reach a heightened sense of purpose and a synergistic collective identity, an identity which is still developing within the profession. The term collective identity refers to having shared goals, resources, and aspirations for the profession. In order for individuals to build a personal relationship with their chosen occupation, it is important for a clear foundation to be established. To build this foundation, a professional philosophy must be constructed which clarifies and distinguishes one’s profession from other similar vocations; in this instance, other mental health fields. In counseling, this foundation is thought to be created by establishing clear professional expectations through licensure, streamlined educational programming, professional organizations, and ethical standards that build on an underlying professional philosophy. This article will review current literature and research on professional identity in the counseling field. This review will then be presented in relation to the external evaluation of success within counseling and counselor education and how this evaluation is influenced and internally understood through one’s gender role beliefs and associated societal expectations.
4.1 Demonstrates use of professional standards and the Code of Ethics to inform safe nursing care as applicable.
It is a privilege to interview veteran therapists who are exiting the counseling arena after a long career in the profession. I was honored to shadow Lea Keylon, a seasoned counselor, who on the eve of retirement set aside time for a student interview. The enlightening interview opened my understanding to the importance of proper diagnostic coding for insurance reimbursements, the financial struggles of private practice, and the poignant effect of forensic counseling on therapist (L. Keylon, personal communication, March 26, 2010). Lea was eager to share her counseling accounts; however, the excitement of retirement planning could be seen in her demeanor. Private practice requires self-discipline, constant research for legislative changes, peer support and consultation, time management, tenacity, and patience. The encounter with Lea impressed the importance to surround myself with colleagues that are enthusiastic about learning and continuing education opportunities, to hire assistance for time-consuming administrative task, and adequately assess a proper caseload that will sustain my counseling practice and without avoid counselor burn out (L. Keylon, personal communication, March 26, 2010).
The counselor accomplishes the above by expressing empathy, developing discrepancies, going along with resistance and supporting self-efficacy. Moreover, the counselor guides the client toward a solution that will lead to permanent posi...
The elderly represents a large amount of the population in our society and continues to grow each day. As the population grows, it is important to meet the demands and resolve the challenges that we encounter in regards to the overall quality of health and well-being of the elderly. Mental health of the elderly is a major issue but majority of the time goes unnoticed and untreated by caregivers and loved ones. About 20 percent of adults 55 and older are suffering from some type of mental health disorder, and one in three elderly adults do not receive any type of treatment (The State of Mental Health, 2008). Those suffering from mental illness are hesitant to seek out help or any type of treatment because of the stigma, services and cost for care that then comes with mental health disorders. Mental health issues that affect elderly include dementia, delirium, and psychosis. Some of the most common conditions include anxiety, mood disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder and cognitive impairment such as Alzheimer’s disease. Mental health is essential to the
This mission is accomplished by promoting development of professional counselors, advancing the profession, and using it to encourage respect for human dignity and diversity. The American Counseling Association functions on the contributions of ACA members and other donors. This foundation gives monetary support to those in the counseling profession through grants and scholarships. Members are encouraged to become donors to the foundation (American Counseling Association, 2016).
After pondering over the specific meaning behind professional identity and how I should answer this question, I realized that my professional identity is how I perceive myself within my occupational context. I was also going to mention some exact words that described me, however, I believe that a professional identity is not permanent. It is a concept that continues developing throughout our lives. I would like to refer to my professional identity as a process that is constantly influenced by my professors and their teaching style, by my interactions with my peers, and by the way I communicate with others. One of the things that I think is really important to me as a counselor in training, which I learned in my Master’s program, is the ability to empathize with people who come with a problem. I think empathy is a key element in the helping profession, and I enjoy learning how to do it the best possible way. Another factor that is very important to me is providing a sense of autonomy to clients and create an environment for them to feel safe to express what they are going through in life.
Taking the techniques of counseling class was a great course that contributed to my evolution as a perspective therapist. Certain skills I already possess such as, great communication, being empathetic, and open to learning. However, throughout the class I learned different therapy policies such as confidentiality, attending skills, and self-awareness. Having knowledge of these basic practices and skills has contributed to me becoming well rounded, self- aware, and a competent perspective counselor. I have made moderate progress towards the learning goals I established for myself in the beginning of the semester. During the beginning of the semester I anticipated learning different counseling approaches, becoming culturally competent, and learning how to be more confident. Throughout the course not much was mentioned about theoretical approaches and how to incorporate the framework into therapy. Nonetheless, the content that I learned allowed me to be more culturally competent, self-aware, and confident. To be culturally competent, it is essential to know basic background information about a client before assisting them. It is imperative to know basic information about a client such as age, sex, and nationality to determine how to assist the individual. Not knowing certain information may contribute to unethical work and a disservice to the
Family counseling has gained a title to become most ornately worked specialized services in the united states. Professional counseling services are devoted to provide understanding counseling avails which
A counselor is defined as a person trained to give guidance on personal, social, or psychological problems. Professional counselors help to identify goals and potential solutions to problems which cause emotional or social interruptions. Counseling also improves communication, strengthens self-esteem, and promotes behavior change in relations to mental health. Counseling enables us to appreciate how we are in healthy relationships and safe environments due to some of the bad things others experience. Counseling helps clients understand and clarify their views on life and learn to reach their goals through making wise choices. In most counseling situations, the client is experiencing personal issues such as low self-esteem,
Within the individual psychology relationship the counselor has several roles that they hold. The counselor establishes an egalitarian relationship, working as teachers in their relationships. They model, teach, and assess areas of the client’s life such as how Ana grew up the middle child and her ways of responding and functioning. The counselor’s role is also to direct and encourage Ana, being warm and human, and admitting their own mistakes when necessary (Gladding, 2005; Murdock, 2013).