History and Development

History and Development of Clinical Mental Health Counseling

COUN5223

January 20, 2014

History and Development of Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Clinical counseling’s history and development continues to contribute toward present-day philosophical foundations in the field of counseling, emphasizing care and focus in wellness promotion, prevention facilitation, as well as ongoing development in effective means of providing mental health services. In addition, such influence contributes toward and impacts the evolving development of appropriate roles for individuals in society as well as the development of educational standards (Gladding & Newsome, 2014). This paper includes an analysis of how the history and development of clinical counseling contributes toward philosophical foundations of counseling as well as includes descriptions of counseling’s contributions toward licensing and credentialing, roles within society (communities), and educational standards.

Contributions to Current Philosophical foundations of Clinical Counseling

According to Gladding & Newsome (2014), several significant events in the field of counseling took place in the 1940’s and 1950’s. This time in history holds a major shift from mechanistic-deterministic philosophies of behaviorism and psychoanalytic approaches toward self-deterministic through humanistic approaches and philosophies (Myers & Sweeny, 2008). Professional psychologists and counselors hold that Carl Rodgers deserves much credit for this shift in philosophical foundations for the field. Rodgers ideas and practices continue to shape philosophical foundations in counseling, thereby contributing toward the defining counseling as a legitimate profession. Many professionals hold that Rodgers ideals, works, and beliefs are major catalysts for the birth of professional counseling as a separate entity (apart from psychology, psychiatry, and guidance) (Myers & Sweeny, 2008; Gladding & Newsome, 2014)....