Career patterns in counseling centers: Counseling psychologists review their past, present, and future.

Abstract

This study reports the results of a survey of 381 psychologists working in college or university counseling centers. Survey questions sought information about career patterns of counseling center psychologists. Included were reasons for seeking, staying with, or leaving a particular position; satisfaction with past and current work activities; and future career planning. An analysis of the survey responses led to identification of distinct career patterns for counseling center psychologists as well as unique drawbacks and advantages associated with counseling center work. Overall, the results suggest that the college counseling center is a satisfying employment setting characterized by early entry and a minimal number of job changes oner the span of a career.

Emerging Administrative Strategies for College and University Counseling Centers

“…Higher salaries, greater opportunities for advancement, and more desirable job activities were the major reasons given for leaving counseling center work. A related study by Simino and Wachowiak (1983) noted that many counseling centers offered diminishing rewards for older staff and a relatively short career ladder. Although recent data about the hiring practices of counseling centers in higher education indicate that most employment opportunities require doctoral degrees (Gallagher, 1992), evidence also exists that opportunities to work in mental health centers and private practice are becoming more popular career choices for psychologists (Watkins, Lopez, Campbell, & Himmell, 1986).…”

Managing Demands on Counseling Services: A Process of Change (A Response to Dworkin and Lyddon)

“…This particular predicament is a very real one for a profession that attracts members who are altruistic, humanistic, and susceptible to what Stone (1988) called "the heroic syndrome." There also is evidence to suggest, however, that counseling center professionals do not generally identify professional burnout as a major concern or a reason they may have for deciding to leave a college or university setting (May, Corazzini, & Robbins, 1990;Simono & Wachowiak, 1980, 1983. Nonetheless, the resolution of this perceived dilemma of choosing between a standard of quality and the personal energies of professional staff members may depend on the work environment within a particular counseling center.…”

Missouri: The History of a User Friendly Program

“…Some previous tallies have indicated that this places Missouri first, followed by Michigan State and Ohio State, in the number of graduates who are directors. Simino and Wachowiak (1982), in a national survey of 381 psychologists working in college and university counseling centers, found that UMC had produced the second largest number of counseling center staff, second only to Michigan State.…”

“…Various indicators of how influential various training programs have been within the field of counseling (e.g., Anderson, 1984;Howard, 1983;Skovholt & Stone, 1984;Simino & Wachowiak, 1982) suggest that many of the features of counseling psychology came together successfully at the University of Missouri; the history of this program tells us something about how a new field develops and what factors cause it to change. Using the Missouri program as an example it is possible to look back and see how vocational development, test development, student selection, individual counseling, outreach, groups, supervision training, and more became part of counseling psychology.…”