Objective 2: Distinguish the unique aspects of the counseling role. The goal of this activity is to acknowledge that there are many different roles within the counseling profession. With a career in the helping professions, one will often play many roles no matter what place of work and often times no matter what level of licensure and/or certification. Of course there are key differences, but one must be prepared in most roles as at any given time you never know what a client may present with (no matter what the setting). Being a counselor means being educated and trained in many if not most of these roles. Therefore, it’s important to understand that being a counselor means wearing various hats.

• Read Chaper 10 (pp. 368- 400) of your textbook by Mandell & Schram.
• Review this Webpage titled Facts about Clinical Mental Health Counselor
• Write a one-page journal reflecting upon all of the many roles counselors often must learn and be educated/trained in.
• To achieve maximum points for content and analysis, the following elements need to be thoroughly addressed:
  • Review the various roles of a counselor in the field and choose 2 processes/roles that you feel you would be most effective at (i.e, intake/interview, case management, outpatient counseling , crisis management, etc.).
  • Reflect upon what personal skills you have that you feel would make you better at one role vs. another.
  • Do you feel experience in the field will help with other potential roles you have not selected?

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