Counselor Identity Research Articles

Developing the professional identity of school counsellors in the Asia Pacific: Challenges and ways forward

AbstractBackgroundSchool counselling in the Asia Pacific region has experienced enormous development in the last few decades but faces many serious challenges as counsellors seek to respond to the needs of young people in a complex and fast‐changing environment.AimsThis article aimed to explore the challenges school counsellors face in finding a clear identity and sense of purpose.DiscussionWe outline the antecedents and consequences of a weak counsellor identity. We suggest that the future development of school counselling in the region rests on responding to the challenge of school counsellors finding a clear and robust identity by (1) adopting an ecological perspective and (2) developing culture‐specific, indigenous ways of counselling.ConclusionGiven that the development of school counselling in this region has a long way to go, we briefly sketch some research priorities for the years ahead, which may contribute to the realisation and articulation of a stronger professional identity for school counsellors.

Development of neurofeedback training competencies for counselors: A Delphi study

AbstractA three‐round Delphi method surveyed 17 experts, identifying 108 essential neurofeedback competencies for counselors‐in‐training. This research addresses concerns about the impact of neuro‐informed practices on counselor identity and scope of practice, providing a foundation for incorporating neurofeedback training into counselor education.

Growing grassroots: Counseling student experiences in legislative professional advocacy

ABSTRACT Counselor educators and supervisors have a vital role in promoting legislative professional advocacy (LPA). An interpretative qualitative analysis study of counseling graduate students involved in state-level LPA was conducted. Findings revealed six distinct themes: (1) professional counselor identity, (2) knowledge, attitudes and skills, (3) professional support, (4) power of the group, (5) social justice, and (6) personal impact. Study findings may help counselor educators and supervisors educate, guide, and mentor students, thereby increasing the likelihood of professional counselor LPA.

Exploring the Use of Music to Facilitate Counseling Student Development

ABSTRACT Novice counseling students can have difficulty connecting with foundational course content and developing their new professional counselor identity. In this phenomenological study, researchers explored the use of music as a creative teaching tool to facilitate learning and counselor development among clinical mental health counseling students enrolled in an introductory counseling course. Students reported the use of music deepened their affect, expanded their perspectives about course content, energized them to take responsibility and act, enhanced awareness of creative engagement for teaching and counseling, and facilitated classroom discussions.

수퍼비전을 통한 전문상담교사의 정체성 인식 경험

The purpose of this study was to examine how professional school counselors' recognition of their identity through supervision. Eight participants were interviewed to understand their personal experiences in depth, and the data were analyzed using a repetitive comparative analysis method. The experience of recognizing the identity of professional school counselors through supervision was derived from four categories (Feeling the need for supervision, seeking and trying to help with supervision, recognizing identity in supervision, recognizing identity in daily life after supervision), 14 subcategories, and 35 concepts were derived. The experience of recognizing the identity of professional school counselors' through supervision can be used as a basis for enhancing the supervision accessibility of professional school counselors, establishing identity and developing professionalism.

A Study on the Identity, Cross-Cultural Management Behavior and Career Adjustment Path of Foreign Student Counselors in China Based on Social Role Theory

Counselors for international students are not only professional identities but also social roles, encompassing counselors’ professional responsibilities and expectations, international students’ needs and expectations, as well as the influence of social and cultural environments. Under the guidance of social role theory, this paper first analyzes the current status quo of the identity of foreign student counselors in China and discusses the role conflicts and related work difficulties faced by this profession. Secondly, it explores the relationship between foreign student counselors’ understanding of their careers and their cross-cultural management behavior. Finally, the paper puts forward suggestions for strengthening the relevant system guarantees and providing platform experiences from the perspective of the state to the universities. Additionally, it proposes suggestions for self-empowerment from the perspective of the practitioners, offering a new path to the high-quality development of international students’ education.

심리상담기관을 이용하고 있는 어머니의 남성상담사 인식에 대한 주관성 연구

Objectives This study aimed to investigate the perceptions of mothers utilizing psychological counseling services towards male counselors, exploring subjectivity and characteristics associated with these perceptions.
 Methods For this purpose, a male counselor based in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, visited two psychological counseling centers where he conducted individual in-depth interviews with 10 mothers, resulting in 153 statements. A total of 24 mothers were selected as the P sample, and Q classification was conducted. The col-lected data were analyzed using the QUANL Program.
 Results The research results revealed a total of three types: Type 1, characterized by a 'Positive Perception of Healthy Male Archetype'; Type 2, identified as 'Gender Aversion with Emphasis on Traditional Gender Roles'; and Type 3, manifested as the 'Ambivalent Feelings of Appreciation but Unfamiliarity.
 Conclusions Through the Q methodology, this study aims to find out the subjective perception patterns and char-acteristics of male counselors of mothers using psychological counseling institutions, and to suggest the pro-fessional identity of male counselors working in the counseling field and the direction of counseling education and counseling training process for male counselors.

Counselors’ Perceptions of Competencies in the Treatment of Children with Autism

The development of competencies specific to specialized populations is a growing area of interest in the counseling profession. The rise of rates of autism spectrum disorder in children in the United States has garnered the attention of service providers advocating for the advancement of practice to promote comprehensive, quality care to this underserved population. In an extension of these efforts, this phenomenological investigation examined counselors’ competencies in treating autism in children. Analysis of in-depth interviews with 14 counselors resulted in the identification of four themes: (a) Exposure to Autism, (b) Autism Knowledge, (c) Intervention Services, and (d) Counselor Identity. Contributions to promote services for this population in clinical practice and counselor education are discussed.

A Phenomenological Study of Federally Funded School Counselor Educators’ Non-Dual Educator-Counselor and Antiracist School Counselor Identity

A Phenomenological Study of Federally Funded School Counselor Educators’ Non-Dual Educator-Counselor and Antiracist School Counselor Identity

Professional Identity Development of Novice Family Counselors in the Field of Social and InterpersonalRelations: AQualitative Study

Aim: The present study was conducted with the aim of qualitatively investigating the growth of career identity of novice family counselors in the context of social and interpersonal relationships. Methods: In terms of methodology, this research was carried out with a qualitative approach and grounded theory method (data base). The study population included 12 family counselors in Tehran with inclusion criteria in the first 6 months of 1401 (Persian calendar), who were selected and participated in the research using the purposeful sampling method. A semi-structured interview was used to collect data. The data obtained from the interviews were analyzed using the method of constant comparative analysis of Strauss and Corbin (2014) in three stages of open, central and selective coding. Findings: The results showed that the career identity growth of new family counselors has the main themes of importance of job, commitment and job centrality, job attachment, pure and practical aspects of consulting identity, and professional orientation in the job. This course shows that for a family counselor at the beginning of his development, counseling becomes twice important and later becomes the central core of his identity. Finally, a consultant tries to advance to the stage of becoming a professional. Conclusion: The identity of counselors is mainly interpersonal in nature. Striving for social well-being and responsibility towards the community is the center of gravity of the occupational identity of family counselors.

Structural invariance of the Global Wellness Model: A national sample

AbstractTotal wellness (combined physical and mental health) is an integral element in the professional identity of counselors. Counselors need wellness‐based models with corresponding screening tools to measure their clients’ wellness. A number of sociodemographic disparities in mental and physical wellness exist among US adults. While a number of wellness models exist (e.g., Global Wellness Model), the literature is missing a model that has been tested for invariance (equivalent meaning) across extant wellness‐based sociodemographic variables. Invariance testing is a crucial next step in this line of research, as it is not appropriate to apply a model in practice if the meaning of the model's latent trait differs between subgroups of the population. Results demonstrated that the Global Wellness Model was invariant by gender, ethnicity, help‐seeking history, income, and education among a national sample (N = 772) of US adults. Results also revealed sociodemographic differences in Global Wellness by income and help‐seeking history.

The influence of professional identity on perceptions of substance use harm reduction among professional counselors

AbstractHarm reduction (HR) approaches to substance use show promising efficacy, but limited research exists exploring professional counselors’ perceptions of HR. An online survey gathered data from 395 substance use providers, including 128 professional counselors. In measuring HR acceptance, t‐tests compared this sample to prior samples, an analysis of variance compared counselors to other providers, and multiple regression explored the influence of counselor identity factors. Empathic responsiveness and positive social justice attitudes were predictors of HR acceptance. Counselors’ perceptions of HR were similar to other providers. Results indicated that counselor identity influences HR perceptions, with implications for practice and training considered.

상담사 전문직 정체성 형성을 위한 교육방안 제안

Objectives The purpose of this study is to propose educational approaches for the development of professional identity in counseling based on reflective practice. Specifically, the research questions are: First, how does the development process of professional identity occur in counseling? Second, what are the reflective practice-based educational approaches to formulating professional identity in counseling? Methods The purposes of this study analyzed previous research on professional identity to identify its components, and extracted commonalities through studies on developmental experiences. The developmental process of professional identity in counseling was diagrammed, and educational approaches were proposed based on reflective practice. Results First, professional identity is formed by integrating understanding and motivation towards the profession, practical experience and training, difficulties in adapting to the field, and personal and professional experiences. Second, to overcome the difficulties experienced in the development process of professional identity, it has been confirmed that individuals exhibit personal reflective abilities and make efforts such as peer interaction and supervision. Third, as an educational approach to forming professional identity, it is proposed to explicitly state professional identity and reflective learning within the teaching objectives and learning goals of counseling courses. Conclusions This study proposes practical and reflective educational approaches for the formation of professional identity in counseling, in order to reassess the role of counselors and strengthen their abilities as experts responsible for the mental health of a society. Through this, it is expected to provide implications for clarifying and restructuring educational objectives and learning goals that solidify the identity of counselors.

School counselor leadership: A theoretical and empirical review

Entering the 21st century, the leadership role of teachers is in the spotlight in primary to secondary education. Similarly, the leadership of school counselors began to be voiced. Changes in the orientation of guidance and counseling resulted in a shift in the role of the school counselor as one of the implementers in guidance and counseling management. School counselors exercise a leadership role in developing and organizing guidance and counseling programs. This study aims to describe and how the leadership of school counselors theoretically and empirically. The analysis method uses a literature review with four stages: identification, screening, suitability, and inclusion. The primary data sources are obtained from academic reference books and previous research on teacher leadership, guidance and counseling over the past five years that have been published in reputable journals in the Scopus database. The results showed that school counselor leadership in the last five years carried several themes, such as testing the effectiveness of leadership training interventions, the relationship of leadership with personality attributes, the design of leadership training frameworks, the relationship of counseling leadership with professional counselor identity, and school counselor leadership in the context of ethnicity. The results of this study are expected to provide a broader picture of future research opportunities on the topic of school counselor leadership.

Analysis on the Problems and Countermeasures of the Professional Development of College Counselors

The team of college counselors is an important component of the framework of China's higher education system. In order to enhance the professional identity of college counselors, overcome the dilemma of unclear career positioning and future development, and explore a better path to achieve their professional development, the management team should do a good job in checking the selection and employment of counselors, optimize their onboarding training mode, clarify the boundaries of job responsibilities, and strengthen professional psychological identity. At the same time, counselors should also improve their professional abilities and knowledge level, and better engage in moral education work. This article proposes countermeasures and suggestions for the professional development of counselors, in order to provide reference for their professional development.

Integration of addiction recovery and professional identities for counselor trainees

AbstractCounselor trainees in recovery from substance use often have a foundational recovery identity; they also develop a professional counselor identity through their training. This study utilized narrative inquiry to explore the integration of professional identity and recovery identity. Resonant threads and narrative tensions emerged from the storied experiences of participants.

Counseling Research as Caring

This study models counseling research as a social action process highlighting multicultural counselor identity. Seven co-researcher/participants engaged in a community-based reflexive contemplative practice group which aimed at dismantling the power imbalance that normally exists between researchers and participants, and to remain cognizant of the insidious nature of white supremacy. The data collected represents the content and process reflections on participating in this group which invited contemplation about identity on many different levels. Several themes emerged from data as implications for counseling research. Considering research as caring on clinical practice and future research is also discussed.

Developing a Clinical Counselor Identity: An Interview with Courtnee Reis, MS, LPCC

The role and function of a professional clinical counselor require a breadth of knowledge and skill. But it is more than just knowing a theory or how to implement an intervention; clinical counselors need to develop a counselor identity that is centered on cultural sensitivity, cultural humility, and social justice. Regardless of the types of services clinical counselors are offering, whether it’s individual counseling, group counseling, art therapy, or psychosocial evaluations, who we are as a profession needs to be expressed in every aspect of our work. The guiding principle of ethical practice should be the platform on which our identity as counselors is built upon. I had the opportunity to interview Courtnee Reis, a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in California who provides services to clients from diverse backgrounds drawing upon post-modern narrative therapy and strengths-based practices. Her work demonstrates the ever-growing need to provide competent and ethical services while holding space for each of our clients to live a meaningful, productive, and beneficial life. The following is an account of our interview.

Professional counselors in training perceptions of forgiveness and wellness

ABSTRACT This exploratory study examined professional counselor identity through the relationship between wellness and forgiveness in counselors in training (N=72). Participants perceived themselves as experiencing high levels of wellness on the 5F-Wel. The Creative Self and Essential Self predicted HFS-Situations, and the Creative Self accounted for HFS-Others and HFS Total. Implications for counselor education are discussed.

The critical need for professional advocacy: A call to the counseling profession to value professional counselor identity

ABSTRACT Decades of advocacy have established Counseling as a valuable profession through Counseling accreditation, credentialing, licensure, and scholarship that reflect Counseling values, ethics, philosophical orientation, skills, and roles. In 2022, Counselors became recognized Medicare providers and anticipated inter-state practice through the Counseling Compact. We encourage Professional Counselors to foresee unintended consequences of new opportunities, protect Professional Counselor Identity and transprofessional collaborations, and remain vigilant to not lose the hard-earned privilege to uniquely serve as Professional Counselors.