Counselor Identity
Counselor Identity and Counselor Careers
The purpose of this paper is to discuss counseling from a professional identity standpoint.as well as the importance of developing a strong counseling identity. The paper will discuss and evaluate at least four forms of counseling. As well as discuss the various career choices one might choose to take upon exiting school with a degree in counseling.
Professional Counseling Identity
In order, for one to counsel from a professional identity, one must understand what a counseling identity is and how it develops over the course of training and experiences. A “professional counseling identity is the view of one’s self as a professional as well as competence as a licensed professional.
This form of identity …show more content…
develops during the doctoral program of the student, and it is said to be continuously evolving along with counselor through experiences and continued education of the clinical (Coppock, 2012). As the expert grows in the knowledge, their identity will continue evolve along with them.
The professional counseling identity will result in the congruence between personal worldview and professional view (Gibson, Dollarhide, & Moss, 2010). Professional counseling identity is a process involving the successful integration of personal attributes, training, education and self-labeling, as a licensed clinician per (Gibson, Dollarhide, & Moss, 2010).
One of the first things any counselor should do is introduce him or herself to the client before explaining the concept of a professional identity to the recipient. During this meeting, it is important to discuss several things with the consumer receiving treatment, for example, what the expectations and desired outcomes. What the counselor’s expectation are of the client and what the counseling process is (Coppock, 2012).
It is important that understand what the counselor does, as well as what licensed counselor does not do. A counselor is not a psychologist or a psychiatrist; counselors cannot prescribe medications. Counselors are trained to work within the scope of their expertise to help resolve emotional and mental issues concerning individuals (Gibson, Dooley, & Kelchner, 2012).
What the key characteristics of a counselor.
These characteristics will develop over the course of the expert’s career. One of these is patience; the client will set the pace the practitioner will create the environment, create the treatment and set the structure. Thereby allowing for trust to be established between the licensed practitioner and the person seeking interventions. A counselor must be an effective listener; the expert should also be self-aware able to conduct self-assessments. Non-judgmental if the client feels that the clinician is judging his or her the client may not want to continue with treatment (Coppock, 2012).
Discrete, competent, empathetic, encouraging and research orientated these are many of the key characteristics and qualities an effective counselor should acquire over the course of training.
A counselor should also possess a level of tolerance of ambiguity. The consumer will know if the licensed person providing the service is not authentic it is important that the counselor is real not only with the person receiving services but also with themselves (Coppock, 2012).
The duties and functions of at least four least four counselor roles. A master’s level clinician operating a private practice should be committed and have compassion for the recipient that is receiving, treatment. A licensed counselor must have a strong support system, of their own as the clinician will be taking on the concerns of others. Mental Health Counselors offer guidance and support for people dealing with mental issues (Coppock, 2012).
Marriage and Family Therapist work with the entire family by offering, guidance, support, evaluate relationship concerns and help guide the consumer in areas of transition (Coppock, 2012). Marriage and Family Therapist duties include helping individuals who are considering divorce, separation, communication issues and just about any area that affects the entire family unit (Coppock, …show more content…
2012).
School counselors meet with both the child and the parents to address any academic, social or emotional problems of the students. School counselor also helps to develop and schedules and help with any concerns the student might have ("Role of The School Counselor," 2017).
Many of the duties of these forms of practitioners seem to intertwine Grief counselors help those families who are dealing with grief; a Grief Counselor can either be a Mental Health Counselor, a clergyman, funeral director, human service worker, Marriage and Family Therapist or school counselor (Kelchner, 2017).
A Grief Counselor’s duties may be something like a Marriage, and Family Therapist who also help with transitioning; much like Marriage and Family Therapist. A Grief Counselor helps the recipient to deal with loss on many different levels, for example, loss of a job, close relationships rather it be by divorce or death Grief Counselors helps anyone who suffers a loss to develop and utilize effective coping skills (Kelchner, 2017). Two career paths. Two of the career paths I am considering upon graduation is Clinical Director and private practice. A Clinical Director’s duties may vary depending on what is job duties are required. Clinical Supervisors are responsible for evaluations of programs, coordination of care, diagnosis, treatment plans and evaluating the progress of the recipient (Hubber & Savage, 2011).
Some Mental Health Counselors may decide to work with a specific population. Some of the duties of a Mental Health Counselor operating within a private practice include diagnosing and treating mental illness. Mental health Counselors are also responsible developing client-centered treatment plans as well as helping clients learn and implement effective coping skills. Mental Health Counselors conduct research and help clients understand and cope with traumatic events (Shallcross, 2011).
Evaluation of the professional setting considered after graduation.
Clinical Directors are a form of higher management; a Clinical Director is responsible for the assessment and implementation of certain programs and overseeing the supervision of staff. The role of a Clinical Director may vary depending on the mental health agency; Clinical Directors help keep the programs running smooth they are essential to the effectiveness and success of a mental health agency ("Clinical Director Job Description," 2013).
The idea of going into private practice as a mental health counselor after graduation can be a very exciting idea for one to consider. Operating in a private practice means that you are your own boss, you can choose whatever special population you would like to work with (Shallcross, 2011).
You will have a private space in which to work and treat individuals in need; this may be comforting to an individual who is seeking intervention. Some may require smaller settings or environments, for example, some clients do not do well in group settings or crowds (Shallcross,
2011).
Operating in private practice also means that the counselor can decide how many clients he or she sees and the hours of operation, this can be a benefit to someone who has a family or other responsibilities. Which will allow the clinician to decrease the or alter the hours they want to work during times of the year or for the holiday seasons (Shallcross, 2011).
Conclusion
During the assessment of the professional identity and career choices upon graduation, I have concluded that being a counselor is not only about understanding the issues that clients present with, but it is also about knowing one’s self. It is my belief that to be an effective counselor one must learn to accept and acknowledge truths within their self (Hubber & Savage, 2011).
However difficult this may be I believe that you cannot truly help someone else if you cannot look in their mirror and acknowledge the truth about the person looking back at you. For one to teach one must first know how to be taught (Hubber & Savage, 2011).
The purpose of this paper is to discuss counseling from a professional identity standpoint.as well as the importance of developing a strong counseling identity. The paper will discuss and evaluate at least four forms of counseling. As well as discuss the various career choices one might choose to take upon exiting school with a degree in counseling.
Professional Counseling Identity
In order, for one to counsel from a professional identity, one must understand what a counseling identity is and how it develops over the course of training and experiences. A “professional counseling identity is the view of one’s self as a professional as well as competence as a licensed professional.
This form of identity …show more content…
develops during the doctoral program of the student, and it is said to be continuously evolving along with counselor through experiences and continued education of the clinical (Coppock, 2012). As the expert grows in the knowledge, their identity will continue evolve along with them.
The professional counseling identity will result in the congruence between personal worldview and professional view (Gibson, Dollarhide, & Moss, 2010). Professional counseling identity is a process involving the successful integration of personal attributes, training, education and self-labeling, as a licensed clinician per (Gibson, Dollarhide, & Moss, 2010).
One of the first things any counselor should do is introduce him or herself to the client before explaining the concept of a professional identity to the recipient. During this meeting, it is important to discuss several things with the consumer receiving treatment, for example, what the expectations and desired outcomes. What the counselor’s expectation are of the client and what the counseling process is (Coppock, 2012).
It is important that understand what the counselor does, as well as what licensed counselor does not do. A counselor is not a psychologist or a psychiatrist; counselors cannot prescribe medications. Counselors are trained to work within the scope of their expertise to help resolve emotional and mental issues concerning individuals (Gibson, Dooley, & Kelchner, 2012).
What the key characteristics of a counselor.
These characteristics will develop over the course of the expert’s career. One of these is patience; the client will set the pace the practitioner will create the environment, create the treatment and set the structure. Thereby allowing for trust to be established between the licensed practitioner and the person seeking interventions. A counselor must be an effective listener; the expert should also be self-aware able to conduct self-assessments. Non-judgmental if the client feels that the clinician is judging his or her the client may not want to continue with treatment (Coppock, 2012).
Discrete, competent, empathetic, encouraging and research orientated these are many of the key characteristics and qualities an effective counselor should acquire over the course of training.
A counselor should also possess a level of tolerance of ambiguity. The consumer will know if the licensed person providing the service is not authentic it is important that the counselor is real not only with the person receiving services but also with themselves (Coppock, 2012).
The duties and functions of at least four least four counselor roles. A master’s level clinician operating a private practice should be committed and have compassion for the recipient that is receiving, treatment. A licensed counselor must have a strong support system, of their own as the clinician will be taking on the concerns of others. Mental Health Counselors offer guidance and support for people dealing with mental issues (Coppock, 2012).
Marriage and Family Therapist work with the entire family by offering, guidance, support, evaluate relationship concerns and help guide the consumer in areas of transition (Coppock, 2012). Marriage and Family Therapist duties include helping individuals who are considering divorce, separation, communication issues and just about any area that affects the entire family unit (Coppock, …show more content…
2012).
School counselors meet with both the child and the parents to address any academic, social or emotional problems of the students. School counselor also helps to develop and schedules and help with any concerns the student might have ("Role of The School Counselor," 2017).
Many of the duties of these forms of practitioners seem to intertwine Grief counselors help those families who are dealing with grief; a Grief Counselor can either be a Mental Health Counselor, a clergyman, funeral director, human service worker, Marriage and Family Therapist or school counselor (Kelchner, 2017).
A Grief Counselor’s duties may be something like a Marriage, and Family Therapist who also help with transitioning; much like Marriage and Family Therapist. A Grief Counselor helps the recipient to deal with loss on many different levels, for example, loss of a job, close relationships rather it be by divorce or death Grief Counselors helps anyone who suffers a loss to develop and utilize effective coping skills (Kelchner, 2017). Two career paths. Two of the career paths I am considering upon graduation is Clinical Director and private practice. A Clinical Director’s duties may vary depending on what is job duties are required. Clinical Supervisors are responsible for evaluations of programs, coordination of care, diagnosis, treatment plans and evaluating the progress of the recipient (Hubber & Savage, 2011).
Some Mental Health Counselors may decide to work with a specific population. Some of the duties of a Mental Health Counselor operating within a private practice include diagnosing and treating mental illness. Mental health Counselors are also responsible developing client-centered treatment plans as well as helping clients learn and implement effective coping skills. Mental Health Counselors conduct research and help clients understand and cope with traumatic events (Shallcross, 2011).
Evaluation of the professional setting considered after graduation.
Clinical Directors are a form of higher management; a Clinical Director is responsible for the assessment and implementation of certain programs and overseeing the supervision of staff. The role of a Clinical Director may vary depending on the mental health agency; Clinical Directors help keep the programs running smooth they are essential to the effectiveness and success of a mental health agency ("Clinical Director Job Description," 2013).
The idea of going into private practice as a mental health counselor after graduation can be a very exciting idea for one to consider. Operating in a private practice means that you are your own boss, you can choose whatever special population you would like to work with (Shallcross, 2011).
You will have a private space in which to work and treat individuals in need; this may be comforting to an individual who is seeking intervention. Some may require smaller settings or environments, for example, some clients do not do well in group settings or crowds (Shallcross,
2011).
Operating in private practice also means that the counselor can decide how many clients he or she sees and the hours of operation, this can be a benefit to someone who has a family or other responsibilities. Which will allow the clinician to decrease the or alter the hours they want to work during times of the year or for the holiday seasons (Shallcross, 2011).
Conclusion
During the assessment of the professional identity and career choices upon graduation, I have concluded that being a counselor is not only about understanding the issues that clients present with, but it is also about knowing one’s self. It is my belief that to be an effective counselor one must learn to accept and acknowledge truths within their self (Hubber & Savage, 2011).
However difficult this may be I believe that you cannot truly help someone else if you cannot look in their mirror and acknowledge the truth about the person looking back at you. For one to teach one must first know how to be taught (Hubber & Savage, 2011).