Counseling Past and Present: Is There a Future?

Abstract

Major criticisms directed at counseling are identified and prominent suggestions for their elimination are described through an analysis of the counseling literature of the past 10 years. A brief outline of the history of counseling offers a historical perspective to the discussion. One suggestion to improve counseling, that counselors become change agents in their institutions, is examined and described with steps for its implementation. The implementation of the change‐agent role for counselors would address much of the substantive criticism directed at counseling, and would remold the profession to more effectively meet today's needs.