Volume_7_Issue_2_Digest

13 TPC Digest Read full article and references: Burns, S., & Cruikshanks, D. R. (2017). Evaluating independently licensed counselors’ articulation of professional identity using structural coding. The Professional Counselor, 7, 185–207. doi : 10.15241/sb.7.2.185 Related Educational Programs Standards are all guided by these five hallmarks of the profession of counseling. However, independently licensed counselors are not connecting consciously to the philosophy and values of the counseling profession. Once they evolve into clinical practice, independently licensed counselors struggle to articulate not only a counselor professional identity, but also to clearly articulate their services. While this is a problem for the profession of counseling, this is a greater problem for the counselor who cannot clearly articulate why they should be hired, why a client should choose their services, why a legislator should listen to their point of view, or why an individual from another health profession should make a referral. Participants’ responses guided the creation of a model that can guide counselors in evaluating and improving the communication of their professional identity with clients, other professionals and the general public. This study provides a concrete description of how independently licensed counselors are expressing their professional identity when describing their role as a counselor to others. Additionally, counselors may wish to review the various formulations outlined to evaluate their own communications to see if and how their counselor professional identity can be strengthened. Stephanie Burns, NCC, is an Assistant Professor at Western Michigan University. Daniel R. Cruikshanks is a Professor at Aquinas College. Correspondence can be addressed to Stephanie Burns, 1903 W. Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5226, stephanie.burns@wmich.edu .