Mental Health Counseling: Past, Present, and Future

Abstract

This article examines the significant events in the history of mental. health care that have contributed to the development of a specialty within the counseling profession referred to as mental health counseling. The development of credentials for the specialty and the issues currently facing mental health counseling are discussed, and a perspective on directions for the future is offered.

Exploring the Construction of Professional Selves of Non-Native EFL Teachers at a Saudi Arabian University

“…Professional identity is the result of a process that facilitates individuals to achieve an understanding of their profession in conjunction with their own self-image enabling them to act their role, philosophy and approach to others within and outside their own selected field (Brott & Myers, 1999;Smith & Robinson, 1995). Thus professional identity is strictly related to profession and professionals.…”

The American Mental Health Counselors Association: Reflection on 30 Historic Years

“…Independence Smith and Robinson (1995) reported that from the earliest days of affiliation between AMHCA and ACA (formerly APGA, then AACD), the relationship was difficult and often contentious, as manifested by miscommunication and misunderstanding. AMHCA's agenda, which emphasized professional credentials, recognition, legislative activity, and third-party reimbursement, was a rather extreme departure from the manner in which ACA conducted its business prior to AMHCA's emergence on the scene.…”

“…The history of AMHCA and mental health counseling as a profession has been previously covered by Weikel (1985), Smith and Robinson (1995), and Weikel and Palmo (1989). However, it seems appropriate that on the occasion of such a momentous anniversary we take time to reflect on the significant role that AMHCA has played in the development of mental health counseling as an independent mental health profession and its recognition as a core mental health profession along with psychiatry, psychology, social work, and marriage and family therapy.…”

“…However, it seems appropriate that on the occasion of such a momentous anniversary we take time to reflect on the significant role that AMHCA has played in the development of mental health counseling as an independent mental health profession and its recognition as a core mental health profession along with psychiatry, psychology, social work, and marriage and family therapy. Smith and Robinson (1995) reported that in the 1970s, mental health counselors had no clear identity as a profession and no professional organization to champion their efforts to be recognized as a legitimate distinct profession within the mental health field. The authors indicated that by the mid-1970s, it became clear that there were a large number of individuals who (a) were educationally prepared at either the master's or doctoral level; (b) worked in community agencies, community mental health, or private practice settings; (c) were delivering a wide variety of services very similar to the more established mental health care provider groups of psychiatry, psychology, and social work; and (d) felt they had no professional home by virtue of their uniqueness (p. 159).…”

A Discriminant Analysis of Gender and Counselor Professional Identity Development

“…Professional identity development is a process by which an individual reaches an understanding of her or his profession in conjunction with her or his own self‐concept, enabling the articulation of occupational role, philosophy, and professional approach to people within and outside of the individual's chosen field (Brott & Myers, 1999; Smith & Robinson, 1995). One's professional identity includes the values and beliefs ascribed to by a profession as a whole as well as the way in which one chooses to engage in a chosen occupation (Remley & Herlihy, 2007).…”