Assignment Task:
Cody Ohira
Professional organizations, preparation standards, and credentials play a vital role in supporting counselors in providing and maintaining quality, competence, and ethical practice in both school counseling and mental health counseling. Some key professional organizations that influence the field of school counseling are the American Counselors Association and American School Counselors association. These organizations establish ethical codes, advocate for the profession, and provide guidance and frameworks that shapes professional identity and best practices for counselors (American Counseling Association [ACA], 2014; American School Counselor Association [ASCA], 2022).
Preparation standards set by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CAREP) are significant in counselor training. CACREP-accredited programs ensure that students in different schools across the country receive consistent, rigorous education in core areas such as, ethical practice, multicultural counseling, assessment, and supervised clinical experiences with practicum and internships. These standards have been proven to strengthen professional identity and ensure graduates are prepared to meet licensure and practice expectations (CACREP, 2024; Gibson et al., 2010).
State licensing requirements are essential because they protect clients and the public by verifying that counselors meet minimum educational, experiential, and examination requirements to be practicing independently in schools or in their own practices. In addition, licensure holds counselors accountable to ethical and professional standards through regulatory oversight and disciplinary authority ensure competent and ethical practice (National Center for Biotechnology Information [NCBI], 2010).
Collectively, these organizations, standards, and credentials help foster ethical decisions making, professional accountability, and competence, which safeguards the well-being of individuals that receive counseling services. Overall, it promotes evidence based, culturally responsive, and ethical care, that forms a structure counselors follow to provide safe and effective supports clients and students and promotes a positive environment (American Counseling Association [ACA], 2014). Need Assignment Help?
American Counseling Association. (2014). ACA code of ethics.
American School Counselor Association. (2022). ASCA ethical standards for school counselors.
Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. (2024). 2024 CACREP standards.
Gibson, D. M., Dollarhide, C. T., & Moss, J. M. (2010). Professional identity development: A grounded theory of transformational tasks of new counselors. Counselor Education and Supervision, 50(1), 21-38.
National Center for Biotechnology Information. (2010). Requirements related to the practice of counseling. In Provision of Mental Health Counseling Services Under TRICARE. U.S. National Library of Medicine.