Counseling Psychology's Public Image

Abstract

One of the major issues in need of increased attention from professionals in the field of counseling psychology is that of public image. What type of image do we, as members of the discipline, wish to project? And how may we further the perception that counseling psychology is a vital resource to be utilized in addressing societal issues? This report, comprising several working papers presented at the Third National Conference for Counseling Psychology: Planning the Future (the Georgia conference), approaches these issues first, by providing a capsulated overview of pertinent literature in the field and, second, by forwarding a number of recommendations or action plans for the development and promotion of a positive professional image among academicians, practitioners, and the public at large. As a means of implementation for the recommendations made, an Ad Hoc Committee on Public Image was formulated and subcommittees identified to address academic, media-related, and political concerns.