Choosing
a Career in Counseling
All people
need help and support as they experience the various stages
and transitions of life. People enter relationships; make
career decisions; face physical, educational, emotional, and
economic challenges. Counselors realize that people continue
to grow and change throughout their lifespan. This profession
differs from other human service professions in its developmental
approach to problem solving. Counselors deal with human development
concerns through support, therapeutic approaches, consultation,
evaluation, teaching, and research. Simply stated, counseling
is the art of helping people grow.
Careers in the counseling field are
open to men and women of all ethnic and social backgrounds.
Professional counselors can be found in a variety of settings....
- Private Practice
- Schools
- Colleges/Universities
- Hospitals
- Mental Health Agencies
- Public Employment Agencies
Success in this field requires motivation,
a commitment to service, and skills in communication. Counselors
will be faced with numerous challenges and opportunities over
the coming years. Society is in a state of flux. The drug
problem is reaching crisis proportions; many people have been
forced to live on the streets; the graying of America has
become a reality. The foundations of the counseling profession
have been intertwined with both social and educational reform
movements in this century. Neither counselors nor the problems
with which people are expected to cope exist within a vacuum.
CACREP's standards outline the necessary knowledge and skill
areas that programs must offer to enable their graduates to
practice successfully as professional counselors.
For more information on the profession
of counseling, including a description of the types of work
settings, job outlook, earnings, and required qualifications,
please visit http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos067.htm
which covers information offered by the Bureau of Labor Statistics,
U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook,
2004-05 Edition.
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