The Counseling Profession
Last Updated: 06/02/2008
Professional mental health counselors facilitate the growth and development of individuals, families, and groups. The helping relationship is the cornerstone of counseling and psychotherapy. Professional counselors practice in a range of settings, including outpatient, inpatient, and community mental health agencies, individual and group private practice, and similar settings where counseling and mental health services are provided. Counseling is distinct from other mental health professions such as psychology, social work, psychiatry, and psychiatric nursing. The focus of counseling is on an individual's inherent strength and the ability to harness strengths to enhance wellbeing. Those students seeking to become professional counselors should be well informed and adept at blending self-awareness, human growth and lifespan development with knowledge to ensure meaningful interactions with their clients and colleagues. This approach to counseling has the breadth to address a variety of issues that may arise in psychotherapy, including, but not limited to:
anxiety, depression, and other mental and emotional changes
family and interpersonal concerns
substance abuse and other addictions
adaptation to disability and illness
sexual abuse and domestic violence
eating disorders
career development and enhancement
management of job stress and role strain
grieving loss.
