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Development of Professional Identity for Counseling Professionals: A Mindfulness-Based Perspective

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Abstract

Professional identity development (PID), which involves transformational learning, is crucial for counselors and trainees. However most current training approaches focus more on specific tasks related to PID without focusing on the transformational learning aspect. Mindfulness is an important component for transformational learning; however, limited effort has been focused on its likely impact on PID. This conceptual article describes the need for integrating mindfulness into PID, and explains applications of mindfulness practices in assisting counselors to enhance development of a professional identity in the course of completing transformational tasks through a transformative learning process. Recommendations for future practice and research are included.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Educational Psychology and Learning Systems, Florida State University, 3206J Stone Building, 1114 W. Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-4453, USA

    Shengli Dong & Jadelyn Martinez

  2. Miles and Associates, Tallahassee, FL, USA

    Linda Miles

  3. College of Social Work, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA

    Neil Abell

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  1. Shengli Dong
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  2. Linda Miles
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  3. Neil Abell
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  4. Jadelyn Martinez
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Correspondence to Shengli Dong.

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Dong, S., Miles, L., Abell, N. et al. Development of Professional Identity for Counseling Professionals: A Mindfulness-Based Perspective. Int J Adv Counselling 40, 469–480 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-018-9338-y

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