TPC Journal V8, Issue 2 - FULL ISSUE

The Professional Counselor | Volume 8, Issue 2 111 cultivating holistic wellness or resilience are relatively new, but they also may be worth considering as a means of countering ageism within the practice of counseling. Because the wellness approach incorporates multiple dimensions of functioning, older clients who are experiencing deficits in a particular domain (e.g., limited mobility influencing ability to drive) may find that they can use alternative domains as a means of compensating (e.g., greater reliance on social network to carpool to events; Fullen, 2016a). Similarly, discussion of how older clients have used strengths to navigate loss, overcome adversity, and resist ageism in their own lives may prove to be key ingredients in the therapeutic process. Furthermore, incorporating resilience into an older client’s treatment plan may create a buffer against internalized ageism (Fullen et al., in press), as well as an opportunity to highlight older adults’ abilities to adapt in the face of adversity (Fullen & Gorby, 2016). Conclusion As the number of older adults grows, members of the counseling profession are increasingly likely to encounter older people who seek to benefit from counseling services. A review of existing research demonstrates that there are numerous causes of ageism, detrimental consequences associated with internalizing negative age stereotypes, and gaps in research related to how the counseling profession should respond. In light of the counseling profession’s commitment to diversity, social justice, and advocacy, it is important to better understand the broad impact of ageism. By combating ageism in the domains of public policy, research, teaching, and direct service with clients, members of the counseling profession have the opportunity to counteract ageism’s deleterious effects and promote more positive perceptions of growing older. Conflict of Interest and Funding Disclosure The authors reported no conflict of interest or funding contributions for the development of this manuscript. References Administration on Aging. (2017). A profile of older Americans: 2016 . Retrieved from https://www.acl.gov/sites/ default/files/Aging%20and%20Disability%20in%20America/2016-Profile.pdf American Counseling Association. (n.d.). Medicare, outpatient mental health services, and coverage of licensed professional counselors—S. 562 and H.R. 3662 . Retrieved from https://www.counseling.org/docs/public- policy-faqs-and-documents/medicare-briefing-paper.pdf?sfvrsn=6 American Psychological Association. (2014). Congress should halt Medicare's plummeting psychologist payments . Retrieved from http://www.apapracticecentral.org/advocacy/state/leadership/slc-fact-medicare.aspx Angus, J., & Reeve, P. (2006). Ageism: A threat to “aging well” in the 21st century. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 25 , 137–152. doi:10.1177/0733464805285745 Bartels, S. J., & Naslund, J. A. (2013). The underside of the silver tsunami—Older adults and mental health care. The New England Journal of Medicine, 368 , 493–496. doi:10.1056/NEJMp1211456 Biggs, S., & Powell, J. L. (2001). A Foucauldian analysis of old age and the power of social welfare. Journal of Aging & Social Policy, 12 , 93–111. doi:10.1300/J031v12n02_06 Bishop, T. F., Press, M. J., Keyhani, S., & Pincus, H. A. (2014). Acceptance of insurance by psychiatrists and the implications for access to mental health care. JAMA Psychiatry, 71 , 176–181. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2013.2862