ABSTRACT

The process of self-exploration includes self-awareness and self-reflection. The goal of increasing self-exploration is to know one’s self better and to bring more of the unknown aspects of self to the forefront of awareness. Self-exploration is also essential to being an ethical and more aware counselor. Self-exploration is also important in the development of counselor professional identity, as it can support the achievement of professional growth and goals. Exploring values, beliefs, and biases is also important for counselors as they engage in self-exploration. Exploring labels people use to describe themselves, as well as how others describe them, can also be a component of self-exploration. For emerging counselors, the field promotes self-exploration and learning to engage in the necessary work of helping others. Self-exploration can entail examining influential components of identity, thoughts and emotions, and descriptions and labels imparted by self and others.