The authors provide a sociohistorical overview of the development of the counseling profession in Japan. They describe Japan's major social, cultural, and political changes; growing psychological problems in Japanese society; and an increased need for counseling services. Historical overviews and the current state of counseling are presented with…

Ratings of actual and ideal goals and tasks of counselor licensing boards were obtained. A sample of 237 licensing board members from states issuing licenses, certification, or registry to counselors was provided by 37 boards. Board members rated public protection goals as most frequently accomplished and public protection tasks as most…

Since its inception, the counseling profession has continuously developed a positive identity among the helping professions. This situation appears to be the result of advancements in counselor credentialing, improved counselor preparation standards, greater governmental and other third-party payer recognition of counselors' competencies, and more…

Counselor credentialing can be confusing to counseling students as well as counseling practitioners. There is as yet no definitive set of national standards applicable within and among states. This monograph aims to clarify the meaning, value, and drawback of various types of credentials, so as to help counselors decide which credentials are…