Online Class: Counseling Psychology 101

Professional counselors need a strong foundation to prepare them for entering the profession of counseling.  If you are seeking a program to enhance your skills, or just want to learn more about the career, this Introduction to Counseling course will give you great insight toward reaching your educational goals.

Introduction to Counseling offers an inside view of core counseling techniques and approaches, and opportunities for counseling professionals to understand the complex role client diversity plays in their work. When the ailment can't be measured by numbers on the thermometer, that's when a counselor's work begins.

History and Current Trends in Counseling

If you are currently exploring the idea of becoming a counselor, good for you. The many myths about counseling are rooted in some outdated ideas. It is not a place where people visit aged men with beards who determine whether they are sane or insane. It is not a place where you recline on a sofa, babble about what is troubling you, and hear only uh huh from the person sitting in the chair. Counseling is a place to get support with indecision, stress, job opportunities, marital problems, learning disabilities, and the list goes on and on.

The history of counseling dates back to the early 20^th century when Frank Parsons coined the term vocational guidance to describe a method for the selection of an occupation for Boston Public Schools.

The ravages of two world wars necessitated helping students and veterans with more than just choosing jobs. Clinical services were introduced while WWII was still in progress. It was not until the 1940s that Carl Roger's writings underscored the value of counseling students in schools.

The 1960s focused primarily on school counseling, dedicated to young children who had learning disabilities until it was made available for all students. Before the 1900s, most counseling was in the form of advice or information until Clifford Beers influenced the field of psychiatry and psychology by writing books related to his own mental illness.

By the 1990s, the American School Counseling Association recognized the need to change from reactive services to proactive and preventative programs.

Since then, the counseling professional interacts in institutional, community, business, and educational environments. Today, as a profession, counseling is characterized by codes of ethics, competency standards, accreditation guidelines, licenses, certification, and other standards of education. Nowadays, there seems to be a counselor to help a person with just about anything, from childbirth to setting up college and retirement funds.

Counseling is not only professional help for people with major problems or a crutch for people who are too weak to handle life. Counseling is many things to different people.

• A place where client and counselor team up to make positive changes in the client's dealings with life.
• A vehicle for people who decide to face their challenges directly.
• A way to maintain relationships by working on the difficulties that threaten them.
• Counseling helps people overcome grief, anger, confusion, and rejection.

The Nature of a Counselor's Work

Counselors assist people with family, personal, educational, mental health, and career problems. Depending on a counselor's occupational specialty, the nature of the work can vary. 

The most standard definition of counselor as a therapist refers to professionally addressing the issues of those with emotional difficulties or mental health concerns. The role of counselor is to act as a guide, giving advice mostly in an academic way. Most therapists believe that the client should be the one who attains self-realization through guidance and personal choices. You might know the old saying about those who ask for advice and when given, the advice tends to be ignored. Therapists or counselors usually nudge the client to conclusions about any problems they may have. Once this occurs, suggestions may be made to help with certain issues.

Of course, there are exceptions to the rule and a counselor must urge the patient who is threatening to do harm to themselves or others to take a certain action. In most states, a counselor is empowered to report cases of abuse. These troubled clients are then referred to a counselor specifically trained in assisting in a particular area.

Other types of counselors are academic advisors or school counselors. For elementary and secondary schools, counselors are usually licensed therapists. College counselors function more as academic or career counselors, advising students on courses necessary to obtain a degree. School counselors at all levels help students to understand and deal with social, behavioral, and personal problems. The student is provided with the life skills needed to deal with problems before they worsen and then provided personal, social, and academic growth counseling.

Not all counselors are licensed as therapists. Ministers, priests, and rabbis have some training in psychology and may be licensed therapists as well; however, most states do not require licensing. Clergymen or clergywomen may do premarital counseling, individual counseling, or marriage counseling. In addition, they may advise individuals on spiritual matters and perform grief counseling.

If a counselor is licensed to practice in California and decides to move to Nevada, he or she may be required to be certified by the Nevada Board (possibly retake an exam or complete a certain number of credit hours). Being a counselor in any field is not a "slam dunk," but it can be a lasting and rewarding career.

Job Outlook and Growth Prospects

Counseling organizations also offer certification in certain counseling specialties. Having certification may enhance job prospects. Check with national associations or local and state governments for counseling associations within your particular state. Education and training prerequisites for counselors are often very detailed and vary by state and specialty.