The Handbook of Counseling

Book Being Reviewed:
Locke, D. A., Myers, J. E., & Herr, E. L. (Eds.). (2001). The handbook of counseling. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications

Reviewer:
Kelly Wester

Curricular Areas:
Assessment, Career Development, College Counseling/Student Affairs, Consultation, Counselor Education, Diversity/Multiculturalism/Social Justice, Gerontological Counseling, Group Work, Helping Relationships/Counseling Theory, Human Development, Marital/Couple/Family Counseling, Professional Identity, Rehabilitation Counseling, Research and/or
Program Evaluation, School Based License, Supervision

Subject Headings:
Aging, Alternative therapies, Anxiety disorders, Career, College, Communication, Depression, Divorce, Elementary school, Female lifespan development, Family dynamics, GLBT issues, Grief & loss, Health/Wellness, High school, Male lifespan development, Middle school, Multicultural/cross-cultural issues, Personality disorders, Racial/ethnic identity, Racial/ethnic politics, Relationships, Spiritual journey

Review:
This past fall I had a first-year entry-level master’s student approach me after class and ask the question, "All my professors consistently talk about the importance of a strong professional identity, yet in talking with my peers we are not sure how we can have a strong professional identity at this point in our education when we did not know what the field of counseling was until we applied to graduate school, and we are still learning?”

The editors of the Handbook of Counseling address this issue of professional identity with a holistic approach in covering the field of counseling. The three main objectives that Locke, Myers, and Herr state in the preface to the handbook are to (1) capture the rich legacy of the evolution of counseling as a profession, (2) define the state of art in counseling as it exists at this point in time, and (3) project trends and issues that comprise our challenges for the next decade. Throughout the book, they tackle each of these objectives.

The book is divided into seven sections, each of which provides a wealth of information about the field of counseling. These sections include: History; foundations; settings and interventions; counselor education and supervision; research in counseling; critical issues and emerging topics; and a conclusion.

Throughout these sections the authors provide a well written history of counseling, how it originated in the late 20th century, events and leaders that propelled the field forward, and professional associations. Along with detailed information on the history of the field of counseling, the editors solicited authors to discuss important aspects in the field, such as basic skills required of counselors, theories to work from, and important ethical and legal issues of which to be knowledgeable. In order to give individuals within, and outside, the field of counselor education a better understanding of our profession, the editors also included information on the variety of settings a counselor could practice in and provide services, as well as information about educational training programs, supervision, and explanations of licensure and certifications.

In a response to moving into the future, the editors included sections on research in counseling and critical issues and emerging topics. The importance of the section on research is that the field of counseling is being driven toward accountability and providing evidence that our services are successful. Thus, individuals entering the counseling profession, along with current professionals, need to understand the basics of research and how to provide evidence-based practice.

A definite strength of the handbook is that one can find a section on future trends or concerns in each chapter, as well as in the conclusion of the handbook. These trends include topics such as the use of technology, the division of the profession, changing demographics of our clientele as well as counselors, and additional hurdles that the profession of counseling will face in the near future.

The editors ensured that the field of counseling extensively was covered in the handbook, which assists in the promotion and maintenance of professional identity of current and future counselors. Throughout the Handbook of Counseling I saw many chapters and sections that would have answered my student’s question about professional identity. The comprehensive fashion in which the information is presented encourages the use of the handbook by many individuals in a variety of settings. It would be a valuable tool to use in an educational training program with counselor trainees of any level. For example, if it was a required purchase at the beginning of a program, the handbook could be used throughout as additional reading or information in a variety of courses. Due to the information that the editors provided in the handbook, sections could be used in a professional orientation course, counseling theories, multicultural classes, diagnosis and assessment, research, and helping skills. Along with using it as a training tool, it would be extremely helpful to individuals considering a career path in counseling to better understand the profession, as well as choose a track in school, community, student development, or marriage and family. Not only is this handbook useful for those considering counseling as a career, it would be beneficial to professionals in the field for strengthening their professional identity and in considering future trends that might impact their counseling practice or the way they educate future counselors.

Originally posted on 8/26/2008 at csi-net.org