The Evolution of University Counseling: From Educational Guidance to Multicultural Competence, Severe Mental Illnesses and Crisis Planning
Year: 2009
Type: article
Abstract: The role of university counseling has evolved over time out of an educational and vocational guidance background.The original focus of university counseling on transitional issues has been maintained to a degree but has also developed as the needs and demographics of college students have changed.Currently university counseling centers are handling a mental health crisis and learning how to counsel an increasingly diverse population of students.Furthermore in the wake of September 11, 2001 and the Virginia Tech incident, crisis planning/disaster mental health has also become important.As the institutional workload of university counseling centers continues to grow, the author recommends a more preventative approach to mental illness through the fostering of mental health.The current status of university counseling is a product of the historical, political and social situations of the past.Thus, first, a brief explanation of the historical and philosophical roots of university counseling will be given.Next, the current role of a university counselor will be discussed based on issues that have come to be of importance today.University counselors have been trying to increase their multicultural competence, adapt to the increasing severity of mental illnesses among college students, and plan for crisis/disaster.Lastly, the author will offer some recommendations that may decrease the institutional workload and pressure that university counseling centers are currently experiencing. HISTORIC AND PHILOSOPHICAL ROOTS Historic RootsUniversity counseling traces its roots back to the early educational guidance movement of the 1930s.Since that time, it has evolved as a consequence of various historical events; in particular the Great Depression, World War II, the Civil Rights and women's movements, and the Cold War.The guidance movement of the 1930s and 40s focused on assisting young people with life changes such as leaving home, succeeding in school, and obtaining employment (Sweeney, 2001).During this time, the Great Depression in the U.S. heightened the need for vocational services for citizens and the first attempt to institutionalize these services 1
Author: Alison M. LaFollette
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W41622882