History of Counseling
The Vocational Guidance Movement
– Lysander S. Richards and Vocophy: The first to envision the role of
a counselor or “vocopher” in helping people choose professions.
– Frank Parsons: “The father of the guidance movement,” and
credited with being the first true counselor. He used a scientific
process to help people choose careers.
– Jessie B. Davis: Brought vocational counseling into the schools.
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History of Counseling
The Vocational Guidance Movement (continued)
– Anna Y. Reed and Eli Weaver: In the early 1900’s they established
counseling services based upon the concept of Social Darwinism.
– National Vocational Guidance Association: Established in 1913, it
advocated counseling in regard to career choice.
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History of Counseling
The Mental Health Counseling Movement
– Dorothea Dix: In the early 1800’s, she advocated for the
establishment of institutions that would treat people with emotional
disorders in a human manner.
– Clifford Beers: Founded the Mental Hygiene Movement in the early
1900’s after his own experiences within a mental hospital.
– William Healy, M. D. : In 1908, he established the first community
psychiatric clinic.
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History of Counseling
The Mental Health Counseling Movement (continued)
– Wilhelm Wundt: In the late 1870’s, in Germany, he founded the first
experimental psychology laboratory and studied the human mind.
– William James: He carried on Wundt’s work regarding the human
mind in the United States.
– Granville Stanley Hall: He proposed a scientific approach to the
study of social problems. He also founded the first psychology lab
in the United States.
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History of Counseling
The Mental Health Counseling Movement (continued)
– David Spence Hill: He organized the first guidance and counseling
services in New Orleans and used Simon Binet’s appraisal
instruments to provide vocational counseling for kids in school.
– James Cattell: He was the first person to focus on ways to
measure intelligence in the 1890’s.
– Binet-Simon Test: In 1905, this test was used in France to
determine intelligence.
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History of Counseling
The Mental Health Counseling Movement (continued)
– L. M. Terman: Revised the Binet-Simon test to be used in the
United States. It was called the Stanford-Binet as Terman was from
Stanford University. At this time the term IQ (Intelligence Quotient)
began to be used.
– Army Alpha and Beta Tests: These were used during WWI to help
decide placement for soldiers. This ushered in the proliferation of
standardized testing.
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History of Counseling
The Development of Professional Identity
– E. G. Williamson: Developed what some consider to be the first
theory of vocational counseling and utilized a directive counselorcentered approach which came to be known as the “Minnesota
point of view.”
– Dictionary of Occupational Titles: This was published in 1938 and
provided counselors with a basic resource to match people with
occupations.
– The American Counsel of Guidance and Personnel Association
(ACGPA): Formed in 1934. It name changed in 1939 to the
Council of Guidance and Personnel Associations (CGPA).
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History of Counseling
The Development of Professional Identity (continued)
– National Defense Education Act of 1958: This was the
government’s response to Sputnik. The act provided for resources
to determine which youths of America had mathematical and
scientific talent that could be nurtured for use in the American
space program.
– WWII: Counselors were needed during WWII for testing and
placement of soldiers. As soldiers returned with “battle neuroses”
more counselors were needed to treat them.
– Veterans Administration: Began hiring counselors in earnest to
help returning soldiers cope with personal and vocational issues.
They provided training and opened numerous positions.
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History of Counseling
The Development of Professional Identity (continued)
– The National Institute of Mental Health: It provided training
stipends for doctoral students.
– Carl Rogers: Developed a nondirective counseling approach called
client-centered (now person-centered). He also identified core
conditions for counseling that is utilized by many theories and
approaches today.
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History of Counseling
The Influence of Federal Legislation
– Great Depression: It inspired government-sponsored programs
that included counseling.
– 1938 George-Dean Act: Appropriated 14 million dollars for
vocational education.
– Throughout the history of the counseling profession, the Federal
Government has been influential. The following slides are a
highlight of some legislation. Space constraints prohibit detailing all
of it.
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History of Counseling
The Influence of Federal Legislation (continued)
– 1917: The Smith-Hughes Act created funding for a nationwide
vocational education program.
– 1944: The Veterans Administration established a nationwide
network of guidance services to aid veterans including
rehabilitation, counseling, training and advisement.
– 1963: The Community Mental Health Centers Act created more
than 2,000 mental health centers and provided an opportunity for
counselors to be employed outside of educational settings.
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History of Counseling
The Influence of Federal Legislation (continued)
– 1972: Title IX of the Education Amendments to the 1964 Civil
Rights Act mandated that no one is discriminated against, including
through sex-biased appraisal.
– 1981: The Older American Act was enacted to improve the lives of
those over age 60.
– 1994: The School To Work Opportunities Act set up partnerships
between faculty, businesses and employers to aid student’s
transition into the world of work.
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History of Counseling
The Influence of Federal Legislation (continued)
– 1998: The Workforce Investment Act revamped all the job training
programs and reauthorized the Rehabilitation Act.
– 1999: The Elementary-School Counseling Act allocated 20 million
dollars for schools to hire qualified school counselors.
– 1999: Work Incentives Improvement Act removed the financial
disincentives that have kept the disabled out of the workforce.
– There are many more important acts and pieces of legislation and
any of the books used to make this presentation cover this area
well.
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History of Counseling
– 1952-1983: It was known as the American Personnel and
Guidance Association.
– 1983-1992: It was called the American Association for Counseling
and Development.
– 1992 to present: It is called the American Counseling Association.
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