Philosophical Foundations
Philosophical Foundations of Counseling
There are several key philosophical ideals and historical events that have informed the foundations of counseling. Erford (2014) discusses various perspectives that comprise the philosophical foundations of mental health counseling. These perspectives include wellness, developmental, empowerment. These perspectives came about due to the shift from an agricultural to an industrial based economy (Erford, 2014). The wellness perspective evolved into a counseling approach that assists clients with their physical, mental, and social state of a person being. The development perspective includes a counselor understanding that a client have normal, abnormal or transitory responses to events and change (Erford, …show more content…
2014). Also, the empowerment perspective includes the counselor viewing the relationship with the client as equal, thereby fostering self-advocacy and independence. Overall, these key philosophies comprise the values and belief of the counseling profession.
Historical Foundations of Counseling
The historical foundations of counseling began with vocation and career exploration. These concepts are associated with Jane Addams, Jesse Davis, and Frank Parsons (Aubrey, 1977; Erford, 2014). The need for this type of counseling grew out of the industrial age, during the 1900’s, with the need for counselors to assist clients with connecting their knowledge of self to the types of careers they might wish to enter (Aubrey, 1977; Erford, 2014). There was also a focus on character development and students ability to problem solve for personal growth.
Carl Rodgers ushered client-centered counseling in during the 1950’s (Aubrey, 1977). Vocational counseling was no longer a model that fit with the needs of society. Aubrey (1977) and Bradley (1978) state that Rogers created a major shift in the counseling field; and, research, theory, counseling techniques and counseling organizations began became more defined and focused upon. Alfred Adler ushered in the concept of group counseling and E.G. Williamson introduced clinical counseling which combined occupational choice with personality traits (Erford, 2014).
During the 1940’s to1960’s, Bradley (1978) states that counseling began to define itself more as a field of professionals, and counseling began to focus on the development of the total person (Aubrey, 1977). After the 1970’s, the counseling field went on to further develop its professional identity. The 20/20 committee, composed of various counseling organizations, went on to establish a standardized code of ethics and liability coverage; continuing education for further development of counselors; licensure requirements at the state level; and competencies that address multicultural competencies for various communities (Kaplan, 2002; Kaplan & Gladding, 2011).
Impact of historical and philosophical foundations of counseling on current trends and professional issues in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
As time progressed, issues around diversity, socio-economic status and a counselor’s personal bias became important issues to address in the profession; and the American Counseling Association was formed after many varied iterations and name changes (Erford, 2014).
Furthermore, the counseling profession continues to develop and adjust to a changing society. These historical events continue to shape current trends and professional issues in clinical mental health counseling. Multiculturalism and diversity continue to impact counselor education, training, theories and interventions (Erford, 2014). Technology and evidence-based practices and outcomes are current trends impacting the knowledge counselors have access to; and both have a direct impact on the client. The challenges and dialogue surrounding managed care impacts services administered and provided. Recent historical events have also impacted counselor-in-training and professional aspects of the profession. Gatekeeping is essential in order to protect the public from counselors-in-training that are not a good fit for the profession while mentoring and leadership training is able to nurture those students who enter and can benefit from these types of experiences. Finally, the current trends and issues include advocacy for and on the behalf of counselors and clients; and continued effort is needed so that a basic level of cohesiveness does not splinter the various counseling specializations (Erford,
2014).
There are several key philosophical ideals and historical events that have informed the foundations of counseling. Erford (2014) discusses various perspectives that comprise the philosophical foundations of mental health counseling. These perspectives include wellness, developmental, empowerment. These perspectives came about due to the shift from an agricultural to an industrial based economy (Erford, 2014). The wellness perspective evolved into a counseling approach that assists clients with their physical, mental, and social state of a person being. The development perspective includes a counselor understanding that a client have normal, abnormal or transitory responses to events and change (Erford, …show more content…
2014). Also, the empowerment perspective includes the counselor viewing the relationship with the client as equal, thereby fostering self-advocacy and independence. Overall, these key philosophies comprise the values and belief of the counseling profession.
Historical Foundations of Counseling
The historical foundations of counseling began with vocation and career exploration. These concepts are associated with Jane Addams, Jesse Davis, and Frank Parsons (Aubrey, 1977; Erford, 2014). The need for this type of counseling grew out of the industrial age, during the 1900’s, with the need for counselors to assist clients with connecting their knowledge of self to the types of careers they might wish to enter (Aubrey, 1977; Erford, 2014). There was also a focus on character development and students ability to problem solve for personal growth.
Carl Rodgers ushered client-centered counseling in during the 1950’s (Aubrey, 1977). Vocational counseling was no longer a model that fit with the needs of society. Aubrey (1977) and Bradley (1978) state that Rogers created a major shift in the counseling field; and, research, theory, counseling techniques and counseling organizations began became more defined and focused upon. Alfred Adler ushered in the concept of group counseling and E.G. Williamson introduced clinical counseling which combined occupational choice with personality traits (Erford, 2014).
During the 1940’s to1960’s, Bradley (1978) states that counseling began to define itself more as a field of professionals, and counseling began to focus on the development of the total person (Aubrey, 1977). After the 1970’s, the counseling field went on to further develop its professional identity. The 20/20 committee, composed of various counseling organizations, went on to establish a standardized code of ethics and liability coverage; continuing education for further development of counselors; licensure requirements at the state level; and competencies that address multicultural competencies for various communities (Kaplan, 2002; Kaplan & Gladding, 2011).
Impact of historical and philosophical foundations of counseling on current trends and professional issues in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
As time progressed, issues around diversity, socio-economic status and a counselor’s personal bias became important issues to address in the profession; and the American Counseling Association was formed after many varied iterations and name changes (Erford, 2014).
Furthermore, the counseling profession continues to develop and adjust to a changing society. These historical events continue to shape current trends and professional issues in clinical mental health counseling. Multiculturalism and diversity continue to impact counselor education, training, theories and interventions (Erford, 2014). Technology and evidence-based practices and outcomes are current trends impacting the knowledge counselors have access to; and both have a direct impact on the client. The challenges and dialogue surrounding managed care impacts services administered and provided. Recent historical events have also impacted counselor-in-training and professional aspects of the profession. Gatekeeping is essential in order to protect the public from counselors-in-training that are not a good fit for the profession while mentoring and leadership training is able to nurture those students who enter and can benefit from these types of experiences. Finally, the current trends and issues include advocacy for and on the behalf of counselors and clients; and continued effort is needed so that a basic level of cohesiveness does not splinter the various counseling specializations (Erford,
2014).