Developing Your Professional Identity
Rachel Rivers
Capella University
Developing Your Professional Identity
The school counselors’ professional identity has evolved from a guidance counselor only dealing with academics, to counseling the client and being an advocate for the client and community. The professional identity is developed through the understanding of their chosen profession and one’s own self-concept of their morals and values. Being an effective school counselor involves understanding the history and roles of the profession, being knowledgeable of the other counseling fields, the required state licensure and certification, and the increasing modernization of technology and how it will affect the school counseling practice.
School Counseling Specialization and Professional Development
School counselors have become an important part of the educational team as they can provide assistance in counseling and educating students from elementary to high school and beyond. School counseling began as a vocational guidance movement in the beginning of the 20th century. Because of some unfortunate events that occurred due to the Industrial Revolution, educators and activists proposed some programs to help students with their vocational development and goals. Leaders of the early guidance movement include: Jesse B. Davis, Frank Goodwin, Anna Reed, Frank Parsons, and Eli Weaver.
Frank Parsons also known as the “Father of Guidance”, has been considered to have started the guidance movement in the United States. Parsons focused his work on the vocational development when young men make their transition from high school to work. In the 1950s, the National Defense Educational Act (NDEA) was enacted, providing aid to all levels of education in the U.S. Also, during this time the American School Counselors Association (ASCA) was formed, furthering the professional identity of the school counselor. The 1970s allowed for a more...