As a primer for conference participants, members of the organizing committees were asked to provide a brief introduction on counseling in their respective countries.
- Counseling in the United States
- In the last 60 to 70 years, despite much resistance, master’s degree level counselors have established themselves as recognized, legitimate mental health professionals and have distinguished themselves from psychologists, social workers, and other related professionals in the United States. Master’s degree level counselors are licensed in 49 of the 50 states in the United States, standards promulgated by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) have become the accepted curriculum for preparing counselors, and the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) has established national minimum standards for entry into the counseling profession and practice of the profession. All middle and secondary (and many elementary) schools, most community based counseling programs, and all institutions of higher learning employ master’s level counselors.
- Counseling in Italy
- The holistic positive mental health philosophy of counseling is being embraced by a variety of mental health professionals in Italy. However, counselors, as a professional group that are separate and distinct from psychologists, social workers, and related professionals, are just becoming established in Italy. Currently, a number of counselors who have been prepared by counseling associations (rather than universities) practice in private settings and as consultants to organizations. Counseling does not exist in schools and the profession of counseling is not regulated by the government in Italy. Societal changes in Italy are setting the stage for counseling to become more accepted in Italy and for counselors to establish themselves as members of a legitimate profession that is separate from other related mental health professions.