This book presents a comprehensive introduction to professional counseling, a profession that helps individuals, groups, and families work through troubles arising from problems experienced in everyday life.  As with previous editions, this text's philosophical and theoretical orientation to counseling is based on a phenomenological, psychosocial, life-span developmental approach.  In this approach counselors help persons resolve or work through situational, developmental transitions and conflicts within a multicultural context.

Highlights of the new edition: 

• The issue of technology and online counseling has been addressed in several chapters throughout the text.
• A new section entitled "Counseling Activities" has been added to encompass the chapters describing the most common work activities of counselors.
• A new chapter on consultation has been included focusing on consultation in schools, mental health agencies, and organizational settings.
• Updated information on accreditation of training programs and licensing and certification requirements.
• Updated discussion of professional, ethical, and legal issues in counseling to reflect the 2005 ACA Code of Ethics.
• Updated material about the role of theories in guiding, evaluating and improving the practice of counseling.
• Revised information about the profession of school counseling and added information about the ASCA National Model for school counseling programs.