ABSTRACT
The cost of the lack of self-care has many potential implications for counselors including burnout, professional impairment, and a less than effective delivery of services to clients. As a result, counselors are challenged to make personal self-care a priority. Many professional counseling organizations have placed an emphasis on the wellness of counseling professionals. The American Counseling Association (ACA) has a longstanding commitment to counselor self-care. More than two decades ago, ACA confirmed their allegiance to counselor wellness when ACA, formerly the American Association for Counseling and Development (AACD), developed a strategic plan that included the point: "the Governing Council of AACD declares a position for the profession as advocates for policies and programs in all segments of society which promote and support optimum health and wellness". Counselors must examine their own thought processes that underlie assumptions about their professional identity.
