CAREER OPPORTUNITIES OF COUNSELORS

Career counselors help others to recognize their talents and identify their goals while working toward
careers. Career counselors can work with community-based or government apecies, businesses, colleges
or universities or in private practice. Career counselors assist their clients, who often include recent
college graduates and other unemployed adults, with exploring career options and searching and
applying for jobs. They help with education plans and arrange for tests or licensing Career counselors
also evaluate their clients’ training and expertise and teach them to balance work and family.

You career development is a lifelong process that, whether you know it or not, actually started when you
were born! There are a number of factors that influence your career development, including your
interests, abilities, values, personality, background, and circumstances. Career Counseling is a process
that will help you to know and understand yourself and the world of work in order to make career,
educational, and life decisions.

Career development is more than just deciding on a major and what job you want to get when you
graduate. It really is a lifelong process, meaning that throughout your life you will change, situations will
change, and you will continually have to make career and life decisions. The goal of Career Counseling is
to not only help you make the decisions you need to make now, but to give you the knowledge and skills
you need to make future career and life decisions.

Career Options in Guidance Counseling

Guidance counselors generally work in public and private schools, where they meet with students
individually or with entire classes for special events, such as substance abuse lectures and college
recruitment information. To work in a school, counselors must b licensed by their state. Licensing
requirements vary, but most states require a master’s degree in school counseling from an accredited
program. Some states also require guidance counselors to have a teaching certificate and teaching
experience to work in a school.

Most guidance counselors work in elementary, middle and high schools; however, some work in colleges
or universities and may be called academic advisers. Those who do not work in schools find jobs in
vocational rehabilitation services and individual or family services.

Experienced guidance counselors may take on directorial or supervisory roles for counseling personnel
services become counseling educators and school administrators or work for a state’s department of
education.
RIGHTS, RESPONSIBILITIES, ACCOUNTABILI- TIES, AND CODE OF ETHICS5.6

Each professional counselor has an enormous responsibility to uphold the public trust and must seek
high levels of training, education, and supervision in the ethical application of counseling practices, in
particular because counselors often practice behind closed doors with little oversight

Clients Expectations, Rights and responsibilities

You may ask a career professional for a detailed explanation of services including the fees they charge.
You should work with a professional who will permit you to select which services to use. You may also
ask for their credentials (including a copy of their diploma and licensure certificate) and a copy of their
ethical guidelines Professional counselors are required to follow the ethical standards of professional
bodies such as the National Board for Certified Counselors, the American Counseling Association, the
American Psychological Association or the National Career Development Association. You may terminate
services at any time and pay only for the services rendered

You may discuss in advance with a career professional what outcomes you can expect as a result of your
work together. Career counseling requires the expertise of a trained professional. Be skeptical of those
who promise you more money, quick promotions, speedy or guaranteed results or an immediate
solution to career problems. Career counseling issues are usually complex and require the use of many
types of tools and exercises which are best implemented by those who have extensive education,
training and experience in that field.

You Rights as a Consumer

Be informed of the qualifications of your counselor: education, experience, professional counseling

certifications, and license(s).

► Receive an explanation of services offered, your time commitments, fee scales, and billing policies
prior to receipt of services.

4 Be informed of the limitations of the counselor’s practice to special areas of expertise (career
development, ethnic groups, etc.) or age group (adolescents, older adults, etc.).

Have all that you say treated confidentially and be informed of any state laws placing limitations on
confidentiality in the counseling relationship.
Ask questions about the counseling techniques and strategies and be informed of your progress

➤ Participate in setting goals and evaluating progress toward meeting them.

Be informed of how to contact the counselor in an emergency situation.

Request referral for a second opinion at any time.

Request copies of records and reports to be used by other counseling professionals.

➤ Receive a copy of the code of ethics to which your counselor adheres.

Contact the appropriate professional organization if you have doubts or complaints relative to the
counselor’s conduct.

Terminate the relationship at any time.

You Responsibilities as a Client

Set and keep appointments with your counselor. Let him or her know as soon as possible if you cannot
keep an appointment.

Pay your fees in accordance with the schedule you pre-established with the counselor.

Help plan your goals.

Follow through with agreed upon goals.

➤ Keep your counselor informed of your progress towards meeting your goals.

Terminate your counseling relationship before entering into arrangements with another counselor

You are dissatisfied with the services of a Counselor

Remember that a counselor who meets the needs of one person may be wrong for another If you are
dissatisfied with the services of your counselor:

Express your concern directly to the counselor, if possible.

Seek the advice of the counselor’s supervisor if the counselor is practicing in a setting where he or she
receives direct supervision.

➤ Terminate the counseling relationship, if the situation remains unresolved.

Contact the appropriate state licensing board, national certification organization or professional
association, if you believe the counselor’s conduct to be unethical.

Ethical Practices

Career professionals adhere to professional ethical principles. Ethical standards are designed to serve the
best interests of the clients. These standards govern topics such as professional practices, counselor-
client relationships, the provision of services and the use of assessment and evaluation in counseling

Your professional counselor will discuss his or her qualifications, training and areas of expertise.
You can expect that your counselor will provide information about the counseling services and fees,
including the purposes, goals and benefits of the counseling services that you will receive.

Your career professional will discuss with you guidelines regarding confidentiality, privacy and disclosure
of information for the counseling process.

ACA Code of Ethics

The Code addresses the responsibilities of professional counselors toward their clients, colleagues,
workplace, and themselves by delineating the ideal standards for conducting one’s behavior.

All ACA members must abide by the Code:

The Code has eight sections: A) The Counseling Relationship, B) Confidentiality, Privileged
Communication, and Privacy, C) Professional Responsibility, D) Relationships with Other Professionals, E)
Evaluation, Assessment, and Interpretation, F) Supervision, Training, and Teaching, G) Research and
Publication, and H) Resolving Ethical Issues.

Highlights from each of these areas will be summarized, but students should locate the actual ACA Code
of Ethics on the ACA web site and peruse it in great detail.

Section A: The Counseling Relationship

▸ Counselors must wait five years after the counselor-client relationship has ended before engaging in
any romantic or sexual relations with a client, a client’s family members, or a client’s romantic partner.

▸ Avoidance of nonprofessional relationships with clients is not always possible, and may even be
beneficial (e.g attending formal ceremonies, hospital visits, membership in community organizations,
commerce), albeit when conducted with caution Informed consent includes, but is not limited to:
Purposes, goals, techniques, procedures, limitations, potential risks, and benefits of services the
counselor’s qualifications, credentials, and relevant experience; the intended use of tests and reports,
fees, and billing arrangements; the right to confidentiality and limitations; continuation of services
should the counselor become incapacitated: obtain clear information about their records, participate in
ongoing treatment planning: and right to refuse treatment at any time and the potential consequences
for doing so,

Balance assent from minors and those incapable of giving consent with those of parents and family
members who hold the legal rights of consent, protection, and decision making on their behalf.

Section B: Confidentiality, Privileged Communication, and Privacy

Be respectful of differing views and inform clients with whom, when, and how information will be
shared.

Take precautions to ensure confidentiality when using technologies such as computers, electronic mail,
or voicemail.

Maintain the confidentiality of deceased clients as is consistent with legal requirements and policies.

Inform parents and legal guardians of the confidential nature of the counseling relationship as well as
establish a working relationship with them in order to better serve clients.

Section C Professional Responsibility

Be alert to signs of personal impairment and refrain from providing or offering services if the impairment
could potentially harm a client.

Assist supervisors or colleagues in recognizing impairment and if necessary, provide assistance,

intervention, or consultation.

▸ Designate a specific colleague or “records custodian” and create a proper plan for file and client
transfer of incapacitation, termination of practice, or death.
►Use techniques, modalities, or procedures that have a scientific or empirical foundation and are
grounded in theory. Otherwise, techniques must be labeled as “unproven” or “developing.”

Section D: Relationships with Other Professionals

Become knowledgeable about colleagues and develop positive working relationships and
communication systems.

Be respectful of differing approaches to counseling services as well as the traditions And practices of
other professional groups.

Work to develop and strengthen relations with interdisciplinary colleagues.

Section E: Evaluation. Assessment, and Interpretation

▸ Take into account cultural, social and personal factors when making assessments.

▷ Be aware of social and historical prejudices in the anthologizing and misdiagnosis of specific
individuals and groups, and be cognizant of the role of mental health professionals in the continuation of
these problems.

Generate objective findings that are supported by appropriate techniques and information when
conducting forensic evaluations.

SOULA SUerosion. Fraining, and Teaching

Foster professional relationships and create appropriate boundaries with students Be accurate, honest,
and fair during the training and assessment of students

Sector 6 Research and Publication

>Take the appropriate steps to destroy any documents or records that contain confidential data or may
identify research participants within a reasonable period of time after the completion of a research study
or project.

Do not plagiarize or present another person’s work as your own

When reviewing documents in a professional capacity, counselors should make valid publication
decisions, review materials in a timely manner, avoid biases, and only evaluate documents that fall
within one’s field of competency.

Section H: Resolving Ethical Issues

► If there is a conflict between ethical responsibilities and laws, professional counsellors should make
known their commitment to the Code of Ethics and work to alleviate the conflict. Counselors may follow
legal requirements or regulations if the ethical conflict cannot be resolved in this manner.

► Seek out further action such as referring to voluntary national certification bodies, state or national
ethics committees, state licensing boards, or any suitable institutional authorities when informal
resolution is not appropriate or the issue is not properly resolved.

Do not deny a person’s advancement, admission to academic programs, employment, promotion, or

tenure based only upon their having made neither an ethics complaint nor their being the subject of an
ethics complaint.

Understand how Much you already know about using appropriate potential benefits Of counseling,

Potential Benefits of Counseling

The counseling process is, in many ways, like an educational experience. The client not only learns more
about him/her, but also acquires new skills. Sometimes, counseling involves learning more about a
particular condition (e.g., depression, anxiety, eating disorders) by which the client is affected, so that
he/she can better understand treatment options. Below are some examples of what students can gain

From personal/psychological counseling:

1. Improved communication and interpersonal skills

2. Greater self-acceptance and self-esteem

3. Ability to change self-defeating behaviors/habits

4. Better expression and management of emotions, including anger

5. Relief from depression, anxiety or other mental health conditions

6. Increased confidence and decision-making skills