The following article was inspired by Robert Fulghum’s All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten . ***** All I really need to know I learned in practicum. Practicum was just the beginning of a rewarding career that includes lifetime learning, giving of self, acceptance when a client
Tag: Professional Issues
Professional Issues
There are lots of “what ifs” that come with being a professional counselor. What if a client invites you to his or her wedding or graduation party? Should you go? What if you’re one of only a few counselors in a rural area, and a client turns out to be
When it comes to mental health care, how does your home state rank? The advocacy organization Mental Health America (MHA) recently compiled a state-by-state ranking of mental health indicators nationwide. The 50-page report exposes disparities across the United States, not only in the availability of mental health services but also
For many counselor clinicians, opening a private practice is the epitome of “living the dream.” After all, you get to be your own boss, set your own hours and control how much you get paid. On the surface, it sounds wonderful. But moving into private practice requires extensive planning as
The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) has announced that after January 1, 2022, individuals applying for the National Certified Counselor (NCC) credential must hold their degree from a counselor education program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). NBCC is an independent credentialing organization
We have all taken seminars, classes and workshops focused on the importance of self-care. These forums generally highlight the importance of taking care of ourselves outside of work. We talk about the importance of finding balance, taking spin classes, kickboxing or engaging in hobbies such as drumming or knitting. But
The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), often referred to as the “psychiatric bible,” occupies a mandatory spot on the bookshelves of many counselors. The American Psychiatric Association released this most recent version of the DSM in May 2013, after more than 12 years
Receiving supervision is an experience common to all counselors. Some view it as little more than an experience to be endured — another box to be ticked off the list in pursuit of a counseling degree or counselor licensure. Perhaps that’s because securing the proper supervision can be a frustrating, time-consuming
The 20/20 Building Blocks to Portability Project recently concluded with widespread endorsement of both a single licensure title for counselors and a scope of practice for professional counseling. Of the participating organizations that voted, 28 of 29 endorsed the licensure title of Licensed Professional Counselor, and 27 of 29 endorsed
As counselors know, the ethical and legal requirement of the “duty to warn” has been adopted as a standard of care across many helping professions. It probably represents one of the most universal elements of counseling ethics regardless of cultural or national identity. Based on the Hippocratic notion of “first,