Ethical Issues In Counseling

This paper will provide the reader with a reflection of my professional identity. This will focus on the role of a professional counselor and the differences between a professional counselor and other related professionals. It will also integrate how religious and spiritual beliefs can impact professional counseling. It will summarize my beliefs and values and what I plan to do so that I will not impose my beliefs on clients. Also, I will reflect on what I have learned during this course and how it will impact my future as a counselor.

As I started my college career at Tuskegee University, where I double majored in psychology and English. I was passionate about creating social awareness and helping people, but I was unsure what career I was interested in after graduation. I thought about attending graduate school for Counseling Psychology, but I just was not sure about it. I spoke to a professor in the Counselor Education program at Georgia State University and discussed my interests with her. She suggested I look for a program accredited by Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) School Counseling. I enrolled in the School Counseling program at Clark Atlanta

Erford, B. T. (2014). Becoming a professional counselor: Philosophical, historical, and future considerations. In Orientation to the counseling profession: Advocacy, ethics, and essential professional foundations (2nd ed.) (pp. 1-27). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Inc.

The American Counseling Association is unique in its creation because four separate entities came together with aspirations of providing a stronger platform for its members. These four groups came together in 1952 and were first called The American Personnel and Guidance Association. It went through another name change in 1983 and once again in 1992 in which it was finally called what it is today, the American Counseling Association. They believe that their new name would help establish their principles, show comradery among its members and let others know who they are. Its headquarters are located near Washington D.C. in Virginia, and have members in over 50 countries. It has an extensive base, including 18 sectors and over 56 subdivisions, along with other partnership to further help the organization and its clientele. They have over 56,000 members are is the largest organization for professional counselors,

Counseling is a longstanding profession that has provided care for individuals worldwide. Part of the history of the profession, is the accreditation process that has assisted in unifying counseling along with related fields. The Counsel for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) is the organization that accredits post bachelorette programs in counseling and associated professions, offered by colleges and universities internationally (Welcome, 2014). Some of the purposes held by CACREP include creating excellent programs in counseling and related disciplines, accrediting professional preparation curriculums, and developing standards for preparation programs (Vision, 2014). Without the existence of CACREP, the

When thinking about the field of clinical counseling, I was at first hesitant because I did not want spend time in school for so long. School had always been more of a challenge for me and I was not as confident in going to the next level. once I graduated with my undergraduate degree I applied to Capella. Upon getting accepted and speaking with my enrollment counselor I found goals that where measurable to me. I first let my counselor that I know that I wanted to be done in a two-year time span. With this plan I will be taking two classes a quarter and set to finish in the year 2018.

Currently I am trying to get my certification for counseling, needing only a high school diploma and this certification I will be able to start on my path toward my career. First getting the certification will require me to contact the National Board for Certified Counselors. Once I have met their guidelines and receive the certification I will be able start researching careers that accept entry level certified counselors.

Becoming a counselor was not my first choice career. I have a vivid memory from my childhood, I am unsure at which age, I was coloring an activity worksheet where you were supposed to circle and color what you wanted to be when you grew up. I don’t remember what I chose, but I remember that I circled almost every profession on that coloring sheet. My college career started very similar to that worksheet; I wanted to pursue so many different fields of study that at one point I had planned that I would double major. My eventual goal when I transferred to UNT was to pursue my undergrad studies in Communication Design, but I would go back to school later on in my life and get my degree in Counseling. I had this plan mainly for

Participants for this study were those who attended an annual counseling conference in Columbus, Ohio. A sample size of 70 captured individuals who either held licensure as a counselor or was a counselor-in-training across the state of Ohio. Of the 70 participants, 29 were licensed professional counselors, 23 were school counselors, 16 were counseling students and two individuals did not report their status.

In response to world event during the 19th century counselors began developing and solidifying itself as a distinct profession. During the 1900's, ACA instituted the framework to professionalize counseling by through (a) requiring specialized training (b) adopting national and internal standards, competencies, and credentialing, (c) prescribing a formal code of ethical conduct; (d) sanction and legal recognition at state and national level; and (e) a clear identity of its practitioners as member of a profession. In addition, to these steps to professionalize counseling ACA separated into specialty divisions (vocational guidance, college counseling, and etc.). The largest division became the American Personnel and Guidance Association. The American Personnel and Guidance Association service school counselors, vocational

Ms. Deang is 23-year-old female who is in a Counseling Psychology graduate program at Regis College, MA. She is a full-time graduate student and did not have a specific perspective towards her career. Ms. Deang concern was that she is not independent and struggles with decision-making. Ms. Deang reported that she wants to be a counselor, but needs help with setting goals to pursue her career in counseling. In addition, she hoped to get an insight on the success for being a counselor.

During my years in the studying for my Master’s Degree (accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) I have been thinking of a career in Counseling education. What pushed me into a Doctorate degree is the prospects of jobs and a strong academic standing to perform the job. I have the ambition to one day teach at a university. I had to research on the topic and ask my professors then what this field entitles. At each point, I noted the challenges I will have ahead of me and what I needed to overcome the challenges. I concluded that graduate studies will give me an advantage over others when we are applying for the

My career aspiration of becoming a counselor has been predominantly motivated my desire to help other individuals. Another motivating factor for me is the need for counselors in my community. The socioeconomic class of my community has a significant impact on the residents of the community as well as the resources available to the residents of the community. When thinking about the need for counselors in my area I initially think back to times of loneliness I experienced when I was younger. While

They are also collaborating with teachers and administrators about the best practices and methods to eliminate the achievement gap.They are providing the sets of skills and services to the school system such as in the classroom assisting in teaching kids decision making, getting along with others, and career planning. This profession provides a look at the students' as a whole, the mental, emotional, and physical health. I want to be able to assist children in being whole, happy, and provide them with the skills needed to navigate through life. Although pursuing a Master’s degree in counselor education will require significant commitment, I am now at a place in life where I can apply the skills I have gained from the workforce.

I want to become a counselor to help students just like myself in helping them become aware of the different options they have as students regardless of the daily circumstances they face. I want to share the different options students have whether they are eligible or not in attending a college or university, but as well understand their personal issues such as contributing financially, having to take care of an ill family member and many other factors. Pursuing higher education might not be an option for many students at the current time, but laying out the different options they have such as short term careers or community college is important as we might be the only one’s sharing this important information with them. I want to be able to pursue a counseling degree to come back to my community and provide the adequate