Professional Counseling in Romania: An Introduction

Abstract

The formalization and professionalization processes in Romania resemble the early history of counseling in the United States, where development initially took place in the educational and career/vocational sectors. Brief accounts of the relationship between select periods in Romanian history and access to education and career/vocational support services are presented to provide a context for present‐day counseling activities. Information on the development of counseling in Romania, current practices, and future opportunities are presented as well.

History, Current Status, and Future Prospects of Counseling in South Korea

“…In the next 5 to 10 years, it is anticipated that counseling and psychotherapy in South Korea will continue to evolve and expand; however, it is also expected that the profession will face many challenges as it grows into a distinct and recognized field. South Korea shares many of the challenges as common concerns with other developing countries, such as China (Lim, Lim, Michael, Cai, & Schock, 2010), Denmark (Dixon & Hansen, 2010), Malaysia (See & Ng, 2010), Mexico (Portal, Suck, & Hinkle, 2010), Romania (Szilagyi & Paredes, 2010), and Botswana (Stockton, Nitza, & Bhusumane, 2010), but some will be unique to South Korea. In this section, we discuss societal demands and the challenges that will face the counseling profession in the next few years and the potential actions to respond to those challenges.…”

Acceptability and Preliminary Efficacy of a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender-Affirmative Mental Health Practice Training in a Highly Stigmatizing National Context

“…30 While mental healthcare is provided through both the national healthcare system and privately, utilization of mental health services remains stigmatized. [31][32][33] Notably, however, seeking counseling services is gradually becoming normative in European countries, 34,35 resembling a U.S.-based model of individual counseling. Yet, there is a high need for LGBTcompetent mental health professionals (MHPs) in Romania.…”

Counseling in Brazil: Past, Present, and Future

“…In order for counseling to become a separate field from psychology, stronger professional identity needs to emerge. As with other countries (e.g., Lebanon and Romania), greater professional role definition and education and training (Ayyash‐Abdo, Alamuddin, & Mukallid, 2010; Szilagyi & Paredes, 2010), as well as research and public policies, are needed to help the counseling profession define itself in a culturally appropriate manner.…”