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Re ections from a a a a a a a Counselor Counselor Educator
Dr Daphne L L Blick Washington Lambda Chapter
Recently I I was a a a a a a a a a orded the opportunity to to teach a a a a a a a a a graduate course en- tled Orienta on on on to to to Professional Counselor Iden ty ty and Func on on on is class was full of of of budding counselors-in-training eager to to to learn what makes counseling unique from other helping professions Although they all believed there there would be be be value added to to to to their lives by enrolling in in in in a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a professional professional clinical mental health counseling program there there also appeared to to to to be be be a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a strong desire to to to to clearly understand what it it actually meant to to to identify oneself as as as a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a professional professional counselor Students entered the the class with a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a wide array of of of of of vocational backgrounds and and and an an an an an an equally broad range of of of of of aspirational interests a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a er
er
er
completing their degrees With a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a diversity of of of of of professional experiences helping a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a liations and and and academic training of of of of my my own own teaching this course caused me to pause and and re re re ect more closely on on on on my my own own professional counselor identity Granello and and Young believed that “Selecting an an an an an an identity identity as a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a professional professional counselor counselor is a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a fork in in in the the the road You You have selected the the the the values organizations and and traditions of of of of the the the the counseling profession profession profession It means that that that you you you take personal responsibility for making the the the the the profession profession profession better that that that you you you act in in in accordance with its ethical standards and and that that that that you you you are proud of of of the the the profession” (2019 p p p p p p 2) While my service over the the the last 11 years as as a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a counselor educator suggested that that I I I I I had in in in in fact been leaning in in in in this direction I I I I I now felt like
I I I I I needed to to not only become more more conscious of of of how how I I I I I got here but also more more intentional about how how I I I I I would continue developing a a a a a a a solid professional counseling identity while honoring the uniqueness of of of my own vocational journey Teaching a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a class that that is is centered around professional professional counselor counselor identity encouraged me to to re re re re re re ectively read read and re-read material that that that speaks to to to what is is now being de de de ned as as as as a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a professional professional counselor counselor It was also a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a reminder to to to myself that that the the the profession profession of of of counseling has evolved since the the the time in in in in in in in which
I I rst entered it it it as as as as a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a student in in in in in in in in in 1995 and and it it it will continue to to to evolve evolve As such there is a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a need for all counselors counselors and and and counselors-in-training to to to make sure that they are are abreast with with the the the the the current progressions in in in in in in in in in the the the the eld in in in in in in in in in order to to determine how their own views about counseling compare and and contrast with with present day thinking It is is important to to have an an an an an understanding of of of the de de de nition of of of counseling counseling that is is currently being embraced by prominent professional counseling counseling organizations in in in in in in order to to to “try it it it it on” and and see how it it it it resonates with the work that that that you feel drawn to to do For example Chi Sigma Iota (2018) noted that that that counseling is: “a professional relationship that that that empowers diverse individuals families and and groups
to to accomplish mental health wellness education and and and and career goals ” With this de de nition in in in in in in mind as CITs counselors and and and counselor counselor educators obtain more understanding of of the the the current direction that the the the profession is moving we will be able to to assess whether or or or or or not our aspirations as as as mental health 18 CHI SIGMA IOTA EXEMPLAR
Fall 2019 Student Success—Facilitating Professional Counselor Counselor Identity Development: