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Widespread misconceptions and mistreatment of mentally ill
Society believed mental illness was untreatable and those affected were best "contained" in psychiatric hospitals. -
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practice
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First guidance program in schools
High school superintendent Jesse B Davis created the first Vocational Guidance porgram for high school students in Grand Rapids, Michigan -
"A Mind that Found Itself" prompted the mental-hygeine movement
Yale grad Clifford Whittigham Beers' horrific tales of his time in a mental health facility initiated the mental-hygiene movement to improve the way the US treats the mentally ill. -
Frank Parsons founded Vocational Bureau of Boston
Dubbed the "father of the American guidance movement", Pasrons ideas and his book "Choosing a Vocation" proved to be the framework for personality psychology's trait theory, a test to measure personality traits and abilities to determine a well-suited career path. -
Sigmond Freud first presented ideas to the US
The furture "father of psychoanalysis" was invited to present his ideas on neurosis. They were widely panned at the time, but his research on the unconcious mind and child development influenced the work of many psychologists to come. His theories remain some of the most talked about (and perhaps most controversial) in psychology today. -
National Vocational Guidance Association founded
The NVGA (renamed National Career Development Association in 1985) published what became the most prominent journal in the field: The Journal of Counseling and Development -
World War 1 prompted need for psychometrists
The start of WW1 meant that 1.5 million people needed to be psychologically evaluated to serve their country. The Army Alpha and Army Beta tests were born, and those administering tests were called psychometrists -
Stanford-Binet scale published
Originally translated in the US in 1909nas the Binet-Simon scale, the Stanford Binet was the orignal intellidence test that contributed in large part toward the measurement movement. Now in its 5th revision, the scale is still used today. -
Smith-Hughes act provides federal funds for vocational education
This act was aimed at providing vocational training in schools for agricultural, industrial, commerce or home economics. Schools were required to submit their educational plans to the newly-created Federal Board for Vocational Education, thus providing a level of control and accountability. -
Child guidance demonstration clinics created
An increased interest in child development led to created of community-based clinics in which teams of professionals worked with maladjusted children. -
Alfred Adler began group therapy
He coined it collective counseling, and it involved work with children and prisoners. Eventually he expanded into family counseling, as he recognized the problems of children were often a result of or extended to their families. -
Strong Vocational Interest Blank created
Psychologist Edward K. Strong Jr. created this job interest test to help find placement for those exiting the military. Revised several times but still in exixtance today, it is known as the Stong Interest Inventory. -
First marriage and family counseling center established in NYC
Abraham and Hannach Stone started this center, thus marking the beginning of marriage counseling as a separate entity. -
Great Depression begins and need for job placement skyrockets
An unemplyment crisis turned the guidance movement's main focus into placing as many people in jobs as possible. Although it bought the profession into the limelight, it was also criticized as "placing square pegs in round holes". -
E.G. Williamson developed first thoery of counseling
During the 1930's, Williamson developed the first theory of counseling, making great strides toward counseling being known as something other than pure vocational guidance. His work was based on the work of Frank Parsons -
Alchoholics Anonymous established
Unemployment from the Great Depression led to a sharp increase in alcoholism. Self-help groups popularized as a result, with the most notable being AA. Authors of the "12 Steps", the organization exists today with chapters almost everywhere in the world. -
Recovery Inc, self-help for mental health issues, formed
As a result of a spike in mental health issues promoted by the -
Dictionary of Occupational Titles published
Published by the US Employment Service, this book probved invaluable during a time of high unemployment. Defining nearly 13000 titles of occupation, it remained in use until it was replaced in the internet-era with the online database called Occupation Informational Network. -
World War II begins, uncovering extensive mental health issues
More than 1 million men were rejetced for service due to psychiatric reasons. As a result, mental-hygiene clinics were set up at recruitment, separation and retirement stations to treat servicemen. -
Carl Rogers proposes client-centered counseling
Rogers introduced a brand new approach to the profession in which the client, rather than the counselor, directed the process of growth and change. He considered the client the expert of their own life and ultimately responsible for its direction. -
WWII creates even greater need for counseling
Just as recriutment efforts uncovered a great need for mental health counseling, vocational counseling was needed in record numbers due to the number of women entereing the workforce to replace the men fighting overseas. Additionally, rehabilitation counseling was needed for many disabled veterans. -
Maslow publishes Heiarchy of Needs
Humanist Abraham Maslow publishes his Heiarchy of Needs, a pyriamid outlining basic needs, whereby people are motivated to reach self-actualization. His work contributed to birth of humanism. -
Erikson, Adler, Horney, Fromm and Frankel's theories emerge
Entering the US to escape Nazi persecution, these psychologists rejected the assessment and diagnostic perspectives as well as pure Freudian and behavioral perspectives. Their beliefs piggybacked off of Maslow and Rogers and contributed to birth of Humanism. -
"Shell Shock" leads to National Mental Health Act of 1946
Soldiers returning from WWII with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (then called shell shock or battle fatigue) reinforced the need for mental health professionals. As a result, the National Mental Health Act of 1946 and the National Institute for Mental Health were created. -
American Personnel and Guidance Association forms
The American Personnell and Guidance Association (APGA) forms, later becoming the American Counseling Association, the largest assocation today dedicated to representing professional counselors. -
The American School Counselor Association joins APGA
The ASCA joins the American Personell and Guidance Association as a branch. The ASCA is still serving schools and school counselors today. -
American Rehabilitation Counseling Association formed
The ARCA forms as a branch of the American Counseling Association. It still exists today, serving counselors, practitioners and students on improving the lives of people with disabilities. -
National Defense Education Act passed
Russia's launch of Sputnik sparked fear that the US was inferior and prompted a need for more highly trained math and science students. In order to direct these students into the proper training quickly, Congress created programs to increase number of school counselors and guidance programs. -
The Counselor in a Changing World shined a light on cultural insensitivity
In his report, C Gilbeert Wrenn's claimed that too many "culturally encapsulated" counselors failed to view their clients in the context of their culture, in effect criticizing their cultural sensitivity. With the racial tension and feminist movements of the 1960's, this created debate as to future training of counselors. -
Community Mental Health Centers Act enacted
This act gave funding for community based mental health centers to act in response to an increased problem with alcoholism, drugs, marital problems and family crisis. -
Civil Rights Act opened new educational and career choices for minorities
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibited discrimination on basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Among many other changes, this opened the door for many new opportunities for minorities. With that came the need for more counselors to guide them through educational and career changes. -
APA legislation committee placed restrictions on who could provide counseling
Among other changes, this legislature led to graduates of education department counseling programs being barred from taking psychology licensure exam. This was a big push toward the APA moving toward state and national licensure for counselors. -
The Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development chartered
Originally named the "Association for non-white concerns in personell and guidance", it changed its name in 1985. It was formed to improve cultural, ethnic and racial concerns in counseling. -
APGA calls for legislation efforts for licensure in all 50 states
In their position paper "Counselor licensure: position statement", the APGA outlined need for licensure requirements across the US. It took several decades to accomplish. By 1994, the 41st state adopted licensure requirements, and the final state (California) did so in 2009. -
Counseling first recognized as legitimate licensed profession
Virginia becomes first state to pass a regulatory act for professional counselors. The American Counseling Association refers to this as the official birth of counseling as a recognized profession. -
The Education for all Handicapped Children Act passed
The EAHCA, requiring all schools accpeting federal funds to meet provisions for disabled children, prompted demand for more specialized training for counselors in the needs of disabled children. -
Rape-crisis centers formed to counsel victims
New legislation allowed for increased rights for rape victims and community-based rape-crisis centers for formed across the country to properly counsel rape victims. -
The American Mental Health Counselors Association chartered
The AMHCA formed to meet the needs of the rising number of new counselors finding work in community and non-school settings. Formed toToday it remains the leading national organization for licensed clinical mental health counselors. -
Arkansas becomes 2nd state to require licensure for counselors
Arkansas followed Virginia's lead in 1979 to become the 2nd state. Alabama would be the third. -
AMHCA certifies mental health counselors
The newly-created American Mental Health Counselors Association gave their first examination for licensure to about 50 applicants at John Hopkins University on Feb 3, 1979. -
The APGA changes name to American Association for Counseling and Development
Toward the end of the 1970's, the American Personnel and Guidance Association began questioning if their vision reflected the changing nature of what had always been known as guidance. To redirect and renew its commitment to counseling, the organization made the name change in 1983. -
The Association for Adult Development and Aging chartered
The AADA was formed to advocate for the developmental, personal and professional issues of adults across their lifespan. Still in existance today, they strive to promote education of counselors on the latest issues and treatment concerning older adults. -
Americans with Disabilities Act passed
The ADA was passed to protect Americans with disabilities from discrimination and promote equal opportunities. Counselors working with individuals affected by this law need to be familiar with the law's provisions in order to connect the client with the right organizations or counsel them through career decisions. -
Associaion for Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Issues in Counseling chartered
The AGLBIC was originally formed in 1975 as the Caucus of Gay and Lesbian Counselors as a means of gay rights activism within the (then-called) APGA. Until 1973, the APA classified homosexuality as a mental illness. The organization exists today as the Assoc for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender issues in Counseling. -
National Certified Counselor certifications held by over 31,000 counselors
The NCC certification is given by the National Board for Certified Counselors, established in 1983 to promote counseling through certification. The voluntary certification involves coursework, practicing hours, supervision, and an exam. -
20/20 Committee formed: future for the vision of counseling
A group of 31 organizations worked together to advance the counseling profession, calling their committe the 20/20: A Vision for the Future of Counseling. In March of 2013, committee leader Kurt Kraus wrote a letter thanking all for a successful 8 years and announced the group was finished -
California becomes 50th state to license counselors
Gov Arnold Schwerzenegger signed into law the legislature for California to become the 50th state to enable licensure of professional clinical counselors. This ended the 30 year push from the ACA for 50 state licensure requirement. -
Affordable Care Act signed into law
The passage of the Affordable Care Act means big changes for health care providers and mental health counselors. The act is designed to increase health insurance coverage, and mental healh is included. The challenge for providers can be understanding coverages so they can provide the best care possible. -
Federal regulation issued for Mental Health Counselors under TRICARE
New regulations require that all MHC operating under a TRICARE program must have a Master's Degree or higher from a CACREP accredited program as well as complete a minimum of 2 years experience in mental health counseling.
