06/01/2014Distance Career Counseling: An In-Demand ProfessionBy Betty McWillieIn my over 25 years of private practice, I have found that the majority of my clients choose a professional to assist them in their career development process because they value the expertise that comes with professional certifications and an adherence to guidelines and ethics codes. As our discipline progresses alongside technology, preferred methods of counseling change. In recent years, counselors have become more involved in working with clients at a distance, which requires specialized training and credentials to offer clients additional assurance of their career counselor's competencies and skills.
Distance counseling may accommodate busy schedules better than traditional office appointments. As Alice Rush stated in 2006, "Employees who work 60 hours a week, travel, juggle small children, work, activities, and school, typically feel as though their lives are out of control and many find they don't have time for traditional career counseling" (Rush, 2004). After years of working with clients primarily in person, I am finding that many of my current clients prefer working online and over the phone.
Common modes of distance counseling include:
These services are readily available anywhere that technology allows. Additionally, practitioners can address the same types of concerns that they would with in-person clients. Distance counseling often puts individuals at ease and provides anonymity, offering clients privacy and a sense of security that allows them to open up and feel comfortable in sharing their issues and concerns.
Web-based career development group seminars and one-on-one services can be offered on a variety of topics for diverse populations and people of all ages, including but not limited to:
Online Career Centers involving all aspects of career development have been developed for clients nationally and internationally. Generally, an in-depth intake form is completed, and the counselor responds with a career plan as a means of charting the client's future path. This plan contains concrete steps that allow the client and the counselor to mark progress and outcomes in the career discovery process. It is behaviorally based and can be used as a guide throughout the client's career.
What recent clients have said about distance career counseling:
It is important to obtain certification in distance counseling to ensure clients experience a high quality, ethical counseling process. Distance Credentialed Counselor training is the training required by the Center for Credentialing and Education (CCE). Legal requirements for distance practices differ from state to state, and it is the counselor's responsibility to know the requirements of their particular state. All credential holders also must adhere to state licensure laws. Information may be found at nbcc.org.
What credentials are necessary to conduct distance counseling?
This certification shows that distance counselors are adhering to national standards of ethical behavior, competencies, and scope of practice in their field. Obtaining the Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC) Certification is a certain step for those of us who are offering this method of service. It proves we are worthy of national recognition and offers accountability for this increasingly in-demand profession.
Reference
Rush, A. (2004, June). Distance Counseling Methods & Tele-counseling Approach for Employee Development. Career Convergence. Retrieved from www.ncda.org
Betty McWillie, LPC, DCC, NCC, MCC, is the owner of McWillie Career Directions in Memphis, Tennessee, an online Career Coach with the University of Phoenix, and career development class instructor to traditional and nontraditional college students. She has over 30 years' experience as a career counselor, career center director, career development facilitator trainer, business owner, and university professor. You may contact Betty at mcwilliecdirects@gmail.com or visit her website www.mcwilliecareerdirections.com 15 Commentsrich feller on Monday 06/02/2014 at 08:44 AM Where and how does one currently receive the training? Mary Rose Tichar on Monday 06/02/2014 at 09:57 AM Please tell us about the compensation for on-line career counseling. I meet all qualifications except for the 15 hrs training. The cost? and does NCDA market our services on the website? I am very interested in this certification and would like more information. Thank you Betty. Lynn Ruffner on Monday 06/02/2014 at 10:50 AM I have the DCC, GCDF, DCF certifications. Where do I market my services? I have 30 years experience as a license counselor. Melanie Reinersman on Monday 06/02/2014 at 04:23 PM NCDA does not market the services of career counselors on the website. NCDA invites members to apply for the Special Designations of MCC or MCDP and then pay a small fee for their name to be included on the website, under "Find A Counselor". Betty McWillie on Tuesday 06/03/2014 at 02:02 PM Julie, Betty McWillie on Tuesday 06/03/2014 at 02:03 PM Hello Rick Betty McWillie on Tuesday 06/03/2014 at 02:06 PM http://www.cce-global.org/DCC/Trainingfor Betty McWillie on Tuesday 06/03/2014 at 02:18 PM Lynn Damona Sain on Tuesday 06/03/2014 at 10:15 PM At the website-- Betty McWillie on Tuesday 06/03/2014 at 11:27 PM The individual in charge of the training at CCE is out of the country and will be returning to her office June 10th. Mark Savickas on Tuesday 06/10/2014 at 01:01 PM In Ohio the Counselor Licensure Board rules that the distance counselor must be licensed in the State in which the client resides. Is that accurate? Betty McWillie on Tuesday 06/10/2014 at 03:13 PM Mark, Michael Jones on Thursday 09/11/2014 at 11:15 PM My company, Renewed Vision Counseling Services, is now an approved provider for the DCC Training. We offer a 23 hour course. The course is approved for NBCC CEUs as well. We charge $425. You can register at www.renewedvisioncounseling.com Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC on Thursday 06/15/2017 at 01:55 PM The DCC course is now being provided by the Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC: https://telementalhealthtraining.com/DCC Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the comments shown above are those of the individual comment authors and do not reflect the views or opinions of this organization.
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Jim Schlimmer on Sunday 06/01/2014 at 05:25 PM
What a pleasure to read your article. Keep up the good work.