Research
Independently Licensed Counselors' Work Values
Stephanie T. Burns,
Hope Sholtis,
Samantha Lemmer,
Ingrid Rauk,
Zeinab Mohamed,
Corresponding Author
Stephanie T. Burns
Department of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology, Western Michigan University
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Stephanie T. Burns, Department of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology, Western Michigan University, 1903 West Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5226 (email: stephanie.burns@wmich.edu).Search for more papers by this authorHope Sholtis
Department of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology, Western Michigan University
Search for more papers by this authorSamantha Lemmer
Department of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology, Western Michigan University
Search for more papers by this authorIngrid Rauk
Department of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology, Western Michigan University
Search for more papers by this authorZeinab Mohamed
Department of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology, Western Michigan University
Search for more papers by this authorStephanie T. Burns,
Hope Sholtis,
Samantha Lemmer,
Ingrid Rauk,
Zeinab Mohamed,
Corresponding Author
Stephanie T. Burns
Department of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology, Western Michigan University
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Stephanie T. Burns, Department of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology, Western Michigan University, 1903 West Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5226 (email: stephanie.burns@wmich.edu).Search for more papers by this authorHope Sholtis
Department of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology, Western Michigan University
Search for more papers by this authorSamantha Lemmer
Department of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology, Western Michigan University
Search for more papers by this authorIngrid Rauk
Department of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology, Western Michigan University
Search for more papers by this authorZeinab Mohamed
Department of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology, Western Michigan University
Search for more papers by this authorFirst published: 11 October 2020
Abstract
Prospective clinical mental health counseling students need to know if their work values align with those of independently licensed counselors before investing their time and accumulating debt. Analyzing the work values of 463 independently licensed counselors in the United States, we found 89% expressing social (altruistic) work values and 22% expressing intrinsic work values. Independently licensed counselors want to help clients become fully functioning and self-actualized by maintaining unconditional positive regard, being congruent, and providing empathy. Clarifying these work values and their interaction can help prospective and current clinical mental health counseling students determine their future job role.
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