TPC-Journal-V4-Issue3

166 The Professional Counselor Volume 4, Issue 3, Pages 166–178 http://tpcjournal.nbcc.org © 2014 NBCC, Inc. and Affiliates doi:10.15241/sfd.4.3.166 Stephanie F. Dailey, NCC, is an Assistant Professor at Argosy University. Carman S. Gill, NCC, is an Associate Professor and chair of the counseling programs at Argosy University. Shannon L. Karl is an Associate Professor at Nova Southeastern University. Casey A. Barrio Minton, NCC, is an Associate Professor at the University of North Texas. Correspondence can be addressed to Stephanie F. Dailey, 1550 Wilson Blvd., Suite 600, Arlington, VA 22209, stdailey@argosy.edu. Stephanie F. Dailey Carman S. Gill Shannon L. Karl Casey A. Barrio Minton Historical Underpinnings, Structural Alterations and Philosophical Changes: Counseling Practice Implications of the DSM-5 Regardless of theoretical orientation or work setting, professional counselors should have a thorough understanding of the American Psychiatric Association’s (APA) fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ( DSM-5 ). This article includes an overview of the most recent revision process and identification of key structural and philosophical changes in the DSM-5 . The authors conclude with a summary of practice implications for counselors, including specific guidance for recording diagnoses, using diagnostic specifiers and incorporating emerging assessment measures. Keywords: DSM-5 , diagnosis, diagnosis specifiers, assessment, American Psychiatric Association By definition, counseling is a professional relationship between client and counselor based on empowerment, rooted in diversity, and committed to accomplishing mental health, wellness, education and career goals of individuals, families and groups (Kaplan, Tarvydas, & Gladding, in press). To accomplish these goals, counselors often include diagnosis as an essential component of the counseling process. Even counselors who work in settings where they are not traditionally responsible for diagnostic assessment must possess a comprehensive understanding of diagnostic nosology and nomenclature . Such an understanding helps providers recognize diagnostic concerns and participate in interdisciplinary discussions and treatment decisions regarding consumers who experience distress or disability. Despite competitors such as the ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders (World Health Organization [WHO], 1992), the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ( DSM-5 ; APA, 2013) is the world’s standard reference for evaluation and diagnosis of mental disorders (Eriksen & Kress, 2006; Hinkle, 1999; Zalaquett, Fuerth, Stein, Ivey, & Ivey, 2008). The purpose of this article is to present major structural and philosophical changes within the DSM-5 (APA, 2013) in order to make those changes more accessible to counselors. We, the authors, describe how these changes translate to current counseling practice and how they will help counselors utilize the revised nomenclature system. To better understand these changes, we believe it is important to first review development of the DSM and the most recent revision process.