Professional Settings and Career Choices

Abstract

When talking about professional counselors, you may think about a counselor who works with children in school, one who works with an adult client in a drug and alcohol treatment program, or one who works with a group of women surviving intimate partner violence. The fact is, you are right. There are many types of professional counselors. Each type adopts and performs different roles according to her area of expertise, work setting, and/or interest. For example, you may develop a specific interest in family counseling with families adjusting to a child’s recent mental health diagnosis, whereas a student-peer of yours might develop a specific interest in geriatric counseling. Each type of professional counselor possesses unique characteristics, skill sets, and bases of knowledge. The diversity of roles and settings within the profession afford counselors with a plethora of choices from which to shape their career paths. Although there are differences, counselors still share a core set of skills and knowledge. In 2009, the American Counseling Association (ACA), along with its divisions and related organizations (e.g., American College Counseling Association, International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors, National Career Development Association), initiated the project 20/20: A Vision for the Future of Counseling and proposed Principles for Unifying and Strengthening the Profession (ACA, 2010a).The intent of this multiyear undertaking was to clarify and develop a cohesive counseling identity that could be easily presented to clients, counseling students, and the general public. Professional counselors were clearly defined as those who establish “a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, Chapter 4