As the American Counseling Association celebrates its 60th year as an organization, these counselors offer projections concerning the trends, issues, challenges and successes that might await the profession in the relatively near future. But Snyder contends that artificial counselors will become crucial to the profession because there simply won’t be enough human counselors to meet the growing demand as the world becomes more complex and everyday life is filled with increasingly challenging problems and decisions. To respond effectively, we will need to continue to cultivate a collective professional identity regarding who we are, what we do and where, when, why and how we serve. This post is … Still, it’s stunning to think that there are people who may not understand the instantaneous, far-reaching power of text to save lives. The takeaway for employers and employees of a certain age? This position will grow 36% by 2020 and there is a need right now for more Mental Health Counselors than ever before. In the next decade, we may see important work related to addressing common counseling concerns such as depression, anxiety and addiction through brain regulation. We are currently in a battle to define our profession (i.e., “20/20: A Vision for the Future of Counseling”). The National Institute of Mental Health blog recently had a piece by Thomas Insel that outlined the weaknesses of the current diagnostic system and its disconnect to the research base. And today, children have an even greater burden to manage: Internet bullying. I think that people with issues, especially those who are in trouble with the law, should see a human counselor instead of a computer. Some say that we are no longer world leaders in education. I think Mark Savickas’ narrative counseling approach is going to grow in popularity. In fact, some of the more painful childhood memories reported by some adults involve being made fun of, left out or otherwise bullied by their peers. In the early 20th century, when counseling was first emerging, humanistic reform, with an increased emphasis on the value of all human beings, was also emerging. Crisis Text Line, also free, confidential and available 24/7 in the U.S., can be reached by texting HOME to 741741. Thanks! For social justice advocates, there is now substantial research that shows that poverty, abuse and oppression lead to less gray matter in the brain, less effectiveness in schools and a lifetime of continuing negative patterns. © 2021, American Counseling Association. Why not? I’m so glad to see that online counselling was mentioned as complimentary to physical face to face counselling. Luckily though, actual change will come shaped by collective thinking, the complex evaluation of our profession’s purpose and efficacy, the goodness of fit between our achievements and the challenges the profession will find itself tasked to fulfill and, not least, the degree to which our current and emerging leaders and the visionaries of our profession nurture our own development, unity and growth. The mental health needs of older adults are often overlooked and can only be expected to grow in the immediate future. Seriously consider the challenges our profession is facing today. With all due respect, ask yourself if you may be the boulder-size block on the road to wellness for the people around you. Imagine how easy it would be to advocate for the counseling profession and protect the public if every counselor education program in the United States was accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs; imagine if every graduating counselor attained the credentials of National Certified Counselor and state licensure that was recognized and portable within all U.S. states and territories; imagine if every state licensure board required its licensees to graduate from a CACREP-accredited program and attain the same supervision, experience and examination requirements. All of the blog is very interesting and so is the new research. In the United States, baby boomers represent a growing percentage of the overall population. We cannot be unaware of the disparities in power and privilege that exist between and among peoples. However, the central tenets of the theory or practice remain the same. I have seen how Substance Abuse Counselor and Therapist is listed as #3 on top 20 jobs immune from robots. We know we have an ethical responsibility to provide our publics with the most effective and efficient services possible. Zur Institute has been providing Continuing Education to mental health professionals for over 25 years. In light of these changes, counselor educators will be challenged to create teachable models in a way that students understand. In West Virginia alone, health-care reform could add 175,000 beneficiaries to the state’s Medicaid population. In the creativity realm, I continue to be impressed by the Association for Creativity in Counseling and the Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, edited by Thelma Duffey. Do You Believe That Technology Can Help People Make Meaningful Connections? The training of future counselors, flexibility of service delivery and development of evidence-based practices are vital for people experiencing this inevitable part of human development. The prospect of using virtual reality during practicum and internships is already being explored. 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. We as a profession will be propelled in new directions by genomic discoveries and the neurosciences. I encourage you to keep reading about counseling and see that when we counsel someone, we help him of her with the mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual areas of life. Contact her at dstokes@TheBetterBrainCenter.com. Casey A. Barrio Minton is an associate professor and counseling program coordinator at the University of North Texas and president of Chi Sigma Iota International. Contact him at tjsweeney@csi-net.org. An emphasis on wellness is here to stay as Americans realize its importance. An unforeseen, entirely new paradigm may emerge that challenges all of our current assumptions. We have authored a common definition of counseling and defined guiding principles [as part of the 20/20 initiative], and we begin these next years with ample room and welcome for a grand diversity of practitioners, specializations and missions. Global literacy implies an understanding of the contemporary world and how it has evolved over time. Contact her at casey.barrio@unt.edu. But this isn’t a post about systems, it’s about a divide between people. I also see a growing trend with young adults and teens presenting with poor social skills and the inability to interact one-on-one or in groups. Follow Counseling Today on Twitter @ACA_CTonline and on Facebook: facebook.com/CounselingToday. For an “inside” perspective, Counseling Today also approached a number of leaders in the field and asked them to share their thoughts (in their own words) on the next decade of counseling. In the next decade, I expect we will develop a more sophisticated understanding of complex connections [between] mental health and a variety of factors such as neurobiology, spirituality, environment and culture. Examine historical contributions to the identity of the mental health counseling profession. We have achieved licensure in every state, but there are over 40 different titles for professional counselor licensees and trainees. If you have a dream to help others as a counselor. I am so excited and hope to make a difference. Thabiso, I want to encourage you not to let your age be a barrier. 4) Finally, the struggle over using evidence-based techniques (difficult to replicate in noncontrolled client settings) or focusing on the therapeutic alliance and common factors will continue. I believe the growth of the profession is dependent on the growth of the people it serves. Assignment: The Past, Present, and Future of Counseling. About your privacy In order to give you the very best experience, we use cookies to help understand how our our articles and content is used. Instead of a live counselor being the first stop for someone with mental health, career, relationship or other issues, Snyder believes that person will initially ask the personal avatar “counselor” on his or her computer for feedback and advice. We could be there for someone during the 15 minutes they are having a panic attack.”. They experience stress, seek out services and then have a hard time paying for them — leading to more stress. It has been exciting, rewarding, and HARD! They can simply post a hurtful message, mean-spirited blog or compromising photo. The state exchanges will be competitive marketplaces that allow individuals and s… The counseling profession has some of the best minds in the country writing, researching and implementing practices in the wellness area. Hello all! The viability of the profession is dependent on our ability to take risks and think differently. There is a plethora of information currently available on the neuroplasticity of the brain. A revival of existential thought (Western Buddhism) may re-emerge in counseling. In many workplaces, employees say that mental health problems are stigmatized or misunderstood, and they get no support or strategy for improving the situation. In the next decade, I believe we will continue to realize the vital role of rigorous, socially valid research and intentional advocacy regarding professional counseling. The person can work fruitfully, contribute to the community and be able to handle and cope with the stress life may bring. Counseling will lead in its emphasis on continuously refining itself as a profession and fulfilling its mission accordingly. They are sick of covering—hiding part of their identity from coworkers. Integral to these skills are knowledge and competencies suited to a diverse and culturally rich global society. The news can be a gut punch, especially for people dealing with similar issues in their own family. Or are they simply providing a packet of resources and sending you out the door in search of therapy? ental health counseling brings a unique approach to the mental health care professions in that it offers a broader response to the definition of care than the traditional fields of psychiatry and clinical psychology. In addition, we are currently witnessing a revolution in how we can help those we serve. Courtland C. Lee is a professor of counselor education at the University of Maryland and a past president of ACA. Right now i’m only a in 9th grade. (Google it). Think of the host of problems all of these new technologies will bring to the counseling office. When I stepped into the 21st century just a few years ago, I wouldn’t have imagined that my phone would keep me connected to the world in thousands of ways, limited only by my number of “apps.” Next year, I’ll probably laugh that I thought a smartphone was innovative. We have developed what I refer to as an “additive approach” to helping that does not fully address the needs of culturally diverse clients. The significance for counselors, he says, is that computers will be loaded with software enabling the machines to answer their owners’ questions — including questions that people today often go to see a counselor to discuss. To support our momentum as a profession, we need to address the needs of our clients. Mental health issues are complex and require a combination of therapies that most often take place outside of work. 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