Counselor Professional Identity: Findings and Implications for Counseling and Interprofessional Collaboration

This exploratory, qualitative study examined the professional identity of 238 practicing counselors and how they perceived counseling as distinct from psychology and social work. Participants' professional identities seemed to be grounded in a developmental, prevention, and wellness orientation...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of counseling and development 2011-03, Vol.89 (2), p.140-147
Main Authors: Mellin, Elizabeth A., Hunt, Brandon, Nichols, Lindsey M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Best practice
Career Counseling
Collaboration
Counseling
Counselling
Counselor Attitudes
Counselor Training
Counselors
Helping Relationship
Identification (Psychology)
Identity
Interagency collaboration
Interdisciplinary approach
Mental health
Practice
Prevention
Professional identity
Professionals
Professions
Psychological aspects
Psychologists
Psychology
Qualitative Research
Rehabilitation
Roles
School counseling
Social psychology
Social Work
Socialization
Specialization
Stereotypes
Students
Studies
Wellness
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Summary:This exploratory, qualitative study examined the professional identity of 238 practicing counselors and how they perceived counseling as distinct from psychology and social work. Participants' professional identities seemed to be grounded in a developmental, prevention, and wellness orientation toward helping. Participants also seemed to embrace a unified professional identity. Psychology was perceived as emphasizing testing and social work as focusing on systemic issues. Findings and implications for the counseling profession and interprofessional collaboration are discussed.
ISSN:0748-9633
1556-6676
DOI:10.1002/j.1556-6678.2011.tb00071.x