DSM-5: Do Counselors Really Want an Alternative?

Abstract

The results of a survey exploring counselor attitudes toward the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ( DSM-5) are presented. The survey revealed that counselors have mixed attitudes toward the DSM. They view DSM positively and see it as both beneficial to their profession and important in determining treatment. They also believe that DSM-5 revisions reflect the best science available. Counselors worry that the DSM prioritizes diagnosis over treatment, have concerns about proposed DSM-5 revisions, and support developing alternatives to the DSM.