In millennium era,the counseling career had evolved.In 2002 this profession finally realized that their importance has vary and grows within the needs of the clients and the society themselves.Among the contributing factor for the evolution of counselors role are violence,trauma,and crises,managed care,technology and identity (Bass & Yepp,2002;Hackney & Wrenn,1990;Lee & Waltz,1998).All these demand the counselors to upgrade their services very often according to the development within the society.
Conflicts aroused due to many reasons in this globalized era.Conflicts is defined psychologically by Free Online Dictionary as opposition between two simultaneous but incompatible wishes or drives, sometimes leading to a state of emotional tension and thought to be responsible for neuroses.In this current status quo,conflicts like traumatism,crises and violence are striking the culture of today’s world.War in Palestin,natural disasters in several countries like Indonesia,China and Acheh had put the world in traumatism state.Symptoms of traumatism are intense fear,helplessness or horror.(qtd.in Samuel T.Gladding 20). Prof. Mooli Lahad and Ruvie Rogel in The Australasian Journal of Disaster and Trauma Studies explain the renewed emphasis on stress treatment of acute stress disorder (ASD) :
ASR is a transient disorder of significant severity which develops in an individual without any other apparent mental disorder in response to exceptional physical and/or mental stress and which usually subsides within hours or days. The stressor may be an overwhelming traumatic experience involving serious threat to the security or physical integrity of the individual or of a loved person(s).
Counsellors in Y2K century must have spealised training to deal with these type of clients(qtd.in Samuel T.Gladding 20).Counsellors should provide a long term meeting with the clients as occasionally crises will rise within the period of clients recovery.To deal with these type of clients, Foa wrote in the guidelines for mental health professionals' in response to the tragic events in the US (post September 11 2001) the counselor should be able to;
- Listen actively and supportively, but do not probe for details and emotional responses. Let the person say what they feel comfortable saying without pushing for more.
- Validate and normal natural recovery.
- If people do present to clinics or counsellors requesting help, single-session contact should be avoided. In these instances people should be scheduled for 2-3 more visits over 2-6 weeks time.
- Traumatic experiences may stir up memories and/or exacerbate symptoms related to previous traumatic events. Thus some people will feel like this is "opening old wounds". These symptoms should also be normalised and are likely to abate with time. It may be helpful to ask people what strategies they have successfully used in the past to deal with this, and to encourage them to continue to use them.
Next,the challenge of managed care.Counsellors in millennium era have to deal with the dilemma of working under the managed care organizations (MCOs) or to work effectively on their own.Managed care involves a contractual arrangement between a mental health professional and a third party,the managed care company,regarding the care and treatment of the client( qtd.in Samuel T.Gladding 20).Managed care has become a need in 21st century for the field of mental health practice.They provide guidelines on how a mental health practitioners should deliver their services and the right of consumers .This has somehow boost the counseling profession.Contrary, research has shown that the majority of mental health professionals find the requirements of managed care organizations (MCOs) a substantially negative influence on their practice because they are not well compensated under one roof.
21st century is the century where technologies become the needs of the beings in the era.Before,traditionally technologies are used to keep the counseling records,manipulate data and do the word processing.Currently,as people of today favours interaction within the internet,counseling has now come out with online counseling therapy.Counseling:A Comprehensive Profession Fifth Edition mentioned that list servers and bulletin boards systems has been encouraging interactions between counselors and clients.A good rapport is build for both party which finally enhances the quality of services provided.The flood of online counseling journals has proven to be successful as people often surf for career and job consultations and other counseling purposes.In a nutshell,counselors of 21st century need to learn how to use technology and manipulate the technology to upgrade their standard of work and services.
Counseling is a distict profession.Counsellors should be aware of the environmental change within the societies and the world. This profession need to make some changes in training and in the delivery of counseling to make it professional. Professional counselors of the future need to utilize their strengths and demonstrate to their consumers that they have something important to offer. Counselor is the heart of a school .
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