ABSTRACT
Developing a strong counseling professional identity is both an interpersonal and intrapersonal process that begins in counselor training and continues to develop and strengthen with experience. Endorsing the shared definition and philosophies of counseling consistent with training, licensure, and credentialing is essential to obtaining professional identity. Further, self-reflection is important in order to know how personal attributes and traits fit with that of professional counseling and work to inform counselors’ unique expression of professional identity. In addition to a unified counseling identity as a profession, building a unique professional identity is an essential and important part of being a counselor. Upholding a unified counseling philosophy that is endorsed within the profession, and of which new counselors are indoctrinated, undergirds professional identity. This philosophy is a summation of values and beliefs that are unique to counselors that inform their professional activities and responsibilities and helps them define their role among other mental health professionals.
