A Brief Orientation to Counseling: Professional Identity, History, and Standards, now in its third edition, offers a concise yet thorough exploration of the counseling profession, tracing its development from foundational concepts to contemporary practices and ethical standards.

Organized thematically, the book begins with an examination of the professional identity of counselors, integrating discussions on the defining characteristics of counseling, professional associations, and the essential traits of effective practitioners. It then explores the historical context and current trends that shape the profession, offering insight into an array of topical issues like the evolution of professional divisions, credentialing processes, and advances in ethical guidelines.

The text concludes by addressing the intrinsic standards within the counseling profession. Attention is given to major accrediting bodies in the discipline such as CACREP, articulating their roles in accreditation and the critical nature of credentialing. Additionally, the book provides a comprehensive discussion on ethical considerations and the significance of multicultural competence, cultural humility, and social justice work within counseling.

Designed with academic rigor, yet accessible in tone, A Brief Orientation to Counseling is ideal for courses covering history and current trends, introductory counseling concepts, foundations of the profession, and ethical guidelines.