Counseling Dictionary, The: Concise Definitions of Frequently Used Terms
PrefaceBehind every book there is a story. This dictionary is no exception. The story is simple. A few years ago, one of my students asked me if I could give her a concise definition of a word often used in counseling. I thought I could provide a definition, but I told her I would consult the glossary of a leading book in the field to make sure the definition was concise. To my surprise, that book did not have a glossary. "No problem," I thought. "I'll go to another leading book in the field." However, that book had a glossary but did not include the word I was looking for. "Well, surely another major book in the field will have what I want," I thought. However, I was wrong again!Not known to give up easily, I decided I would find a dictionary of counseling terms. Surely, going to an authoritative source would solve my problem and save me time. Well, I was incorrect once more. I found a lot of dictionaries for a number of professions, but when it came to counseling, I could locate only three. One had been published in the 1960s, one in the early 1980s, and one more recently-but it contained less than three hundred terms and not the one I wanted. Wow! The task that I expected would be simple had turned out to be anything but that.Thus the idea to write a concise dictionary of counseling terms was born. The purpose of this book is threefold. First, it is aimed at students who are entering or have entered the profession and wish to better learn the language of counseling. Second, it is intended to serve professors and practicing counselors as a quick reference source to commonly used counseling terms. Finally, this dictionary is meant to be a resource for the public in discerning what counselors and other helping professionals mean when they use specific words.The Counseling Dictionary will give you basic information on over 2,100 words and abbreviations often used in the profession of counseling. I have italicized words that are defined in this dictionary that are a part of another counseling definition or that are particularly germane to a definition. This dictionary also contains websites that can enrich your understanding in select areas of counseling. It is my hope that you will both enjoy as well as benefit from this reference. If so, your frustration may be lowered and, more importantly, your understanding enhanced.In writing this dictionary, I am indebted to my teachers, colleagues, students, and clients, both past and present. They are too numerous to name. However, there are some who have been especially helpful in recent years. Anita Hughes, my administrative assistant, read my initial drafts and offered invaluable input and suggestions. Also providing me with excellent feedback were my colleagues Donna Henderson, Pamela Karr, and Debbie Newsome at Wake Forest University; Mike Ryan, my graduate assistant, also at Wake Forest; Mary Guindon at Johns Hopkins University; and these outside reviewers: Bob Barret, University of North Carolina, Charlotte; Carole A. Campbell, California State University, Long Beach; Joseph C. Ciechalski, East Carolina University; Chris Maglio, Truman State University; Lynda K. Mitchell, California State University, Los Angeles; Julia Orza, Western Maryland College; Simeon Schlossberg, Western Maryland College; Michael J. Stevens, Illinois State University; and Claire Cole Vaught, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. I am also grateful to my wife, Claire, and our children, Ben, Nate, and Tim, for their understanding of what I have been doing and for their allowing me use of our home computer. Finally, I appreciate the fine professionals at Merrill/Prentice Hall with whom I have been working since the mid-1980s. Kevin Davis in particular has been most encouraging and supportive. Who could ask for more?SAMUEL T. GLADDING