COUN 500 Orientation to the Profession

Orientation and overview of the profession, history of the counseling profession, standards, and credentialing will be discussed. Professional roles and identity development will be explored.

Credits

3

Student Learning Outcomes

1. History and philosophy of the counseling profession and its specialty areas.
2. The multiple professional roles and functions of counselors across specialty areas, and their relationships with human service and integrated behavioral health care systems, including interagency and interorganizational collaboration and consultation.
3. The role and process of the professional counselor advocating on behalf of the profession.
4. Professional counseling organizations, including membership benefits, activities, services to members, and current issue.
5. Professional counseling credentialing, including certification, licensure, and accreditation practices and standards, and the effects of public policy on these issues.
6. Current labor market information relevant to opportunities for practice within the counseling profession.
7. Strategies for personal and professional self-evaluation and implications for practice.
8. Self-care strategies appropriate to the counselor role.
9. Mental health service delivery modalities within the continuum of care, such as inpatient, outpatient, partial treatment and aftercare, and the mental health counseling services networks.
10. Professional organizations, preparation standards, and credentials relevant to the practice of clinical mental health counseling.