Why is it important for school counselors to be members of professional counseli

Why is it important for school counselors to be members of professional counseling organizations?
Reply with to post 100 words reply and agree
Baily
Being a member of professional counseling organizations has many different benefits. As stated in our text, “Professional counselors, working through professional counselor organizations, have achieved a great deal during the past six decades since the creation of the organization known today as the American Counseling Association” (Erford, 2018). Being a member of these groups helps to uphold the ethical standards for the profession. It helps to ensure that everyone is following the rules and doing what is right by the profession. I also think it is good to be part of these professional organizations because it provides an environment to continue learning and sharing experiences with your colleagues. Being a part of professional organizations provides a great opportunity for meeting new people and networking as well. Being in these groups, you can share experiences and ask questions to a group who is in the same profession as you. They might have already been through what you are experiencing and can provide advice for you. This is also a great networking opportunity and could lead to future job opportunities with the people you meet through the organization. In conclusion, I think being a part of these professional organizations is important and provides a lot of benefits.
Erford, B. T. Orientation to the Counseling Profession (3rd ed.). The Merrill Counseling Series.
Reply to Lori
There are many reasons why it is important to become involved in professional counseling organizations however I definitely can relate to why individuals might necessarily not agree or maybe understand the importance of being a part of one or more organizations. After reading Chapter 2 in the textbook, I was overwhelmed by the amount of organizations available as it relates to the arena of school counseling. I never realized there were so many options for professional counseling organizations. Finishing my first full school year as a school counselor on an emergency permit gives me a new appreciation of the importance of networking (which is one reason to join a professional organization) with other school counselors as I continue to network informally with counselors in my area. Another reason to join a counseling organization includes the opportunity for professional development. With policies, practices, and procedures constantly changing, it’s important to take advantage of professional development with like-minded professionals that is pertinent to the line of work. It keeps school counselors abreast of the ever-evolving theories of practice. Joining a professional counseling organization can also provide education on different branches of counseling, and it might be a line of work that hadn’t been considered previously. I am currently part of an Indiana school counselor listserv. I like to consider it a “blessing and curse” because there are days in which my email gets inundated with counselors around the state with questions. While I have learned a lot from this listserv, it also can be overwhelming at times because there are times in which information/updates are coming in faster than my brain can retain.