ABSTRACT
Because of the complex nature of the counseling profession, many students find great benefit in a supportive mentor. Mentors can assist professionals in becoming more grounded in their profession. Mentors can help teach the importance of professional identity and provide up and coming professionals with a role model for clinical skills, scholarly writing and ethical practice. Additionally, new counselor educators often seek out mentors who can guide them into the professorate, and learning how to mentor new professionals is also a skill to develop. This chapter articulates how mentors can play a critical and distinct role in the professional development of helping professionals.
