Including Diagnostic Training in Counseling Curricula: Implications for Professional Identity Development

Abstract

During the last decade, diagnostic training has been increasingly assimilated into counseling curricula; however, the consequences for counselor identity of including this training have seldom been critically examined. The author argues that this diagnostic trend has major implications for the formation of individual counselor identity and for the counseling profession. He discusses associated risks and suggests ways of presenting diagnostic topics.

Stigma and Mental Illness: Investigating Attitudes of Mental Health and Non‐Mental‐Health Professionals and Trainees

“…This may suggest that despite theoretical differences in training programs with conceptualization and treatment of mental illness, these differences in professional orientation might not result in differences in attitudes toward adults with mental illness. In particular, even though counselor training programs are rooted in humanistic theory (Hansen, 1999(Hansen, , 2000b(Hansen, , 2003, counselors-in training did not differ from others regarding attitudes toward this population. Although humanistic perspectives are unique to counselors, the theoretical framework might not manifest itself in different levels of stigma toward adults with mental illness.…”

“…Although this subgroup of mental health professionals might work in the same professional settings as other mental health professionals, the training background of professional counselors includes some noteworthy differences. When compared with other mental health disciplines, counselor training programs are grounded in humanistic values and assumptions (Hansen, 1999(Hansen, , 2000b(Hansen, , 2003 with a primary focus on the counseling relationship. Although counselors-in-training learn a variety of approaches to working with clients, humanism is at the core of counselor professional identity (Hansen, 2000a).…”

Forming a Professional Counselor Identity: The Impact of Identity Processing Style

“…The collective identity of the counseling profession has been marked by humanistic roots (Hansen, 2003;McAuliffe & Eriksen, 1999), emphasis on empowering relationships that facilitate human development and wellness (Eriksen & Kress, 2006;Kaplan et al, 2014;Mellin et al, 2011), and a contextual and culturally sensitive approach in counseling practice (ACA, 2014;Eriksen & Kress, 2006;McAuliffe & Eriksen, 1999;Van Hesteren & Ivey, 1990). The distinctiveness of this collective identity has been a central theme in the profession's struggles regarding the medical model and diagnosis of mental disorders (Eriksen & Kress, 2006;Hansen, 2003), the growing demand for empirically validated and empirically-supported therapies (Hansen, 2006(Hansen, , 2012, and the articulation of the counseling profession's unique and valuable contribution to the mental health needs of society (Kaplan & Gladding, 2011;Kaplan et al, 2014;Mellin et al, 2011;Reiner et al, 2013).…”

“…The distinctiveness of this collective identity has been a central theme in the profession's struggles regarding the medical model and diagnosis of mental disorders (Eriksen & Kress, 2006;Hansen, 2003), the growing demand for empirically validated and empirically-supported therapies (Hansen, 2006(Hansen, , 2012, and the articulation of the counseling profession's unique and valuable contribution to the mental health needs of society (Kaplan & Gladding, 2011;Kaplan et al, 2014;Mellin et al, 2011;Reiner et al, 2013). The profession's struggles to articulate and maintain a collective identity often affects a parallel process in counselor-trainees who experience confusion regarding their professional identities.…”

Untitled

“…The collective identity of the counseling profession has been marked by its humanistic roots (Hansen, 2003;McAuliffe & Eriksen, 1999), emphasis on empowering relationships that facilitate human development and wellness (Eriksen & Kress, 2006;Kaplan et al, 2014;Mellin et al, 2011), and a contextual and culturally sensitive approach in counseling practice (ACA, 2014;Eriksen & Kress, 2006;McAuliffe & Eriksen, 1999;Van Hesteren & Ivey, 1990). The distinction of this collective identity has been a central theme in the profession's struggles regarding the medical model and diagnosis of mental disorders (Eriksen & Kress, 2006; …”