Interdisciplinary Collaboration Challenges Faced by Counselors in Places Where Professional Counseling is Nascent

Abstract

The counseling profession may be considered well established in some parts of the world; however, in most countries it remains non-existent or a nascent profession. For the internationalization of counseling to take place, leading to establishment and advancement, the counseling profession needs to engage in interdisciplinary collaboration. Such a process enables a meaningful inclusion of counselors in professional spaces to allow them to meet the socio-emotional needs of clients and communities. In this article, the authors examine the challenges and barriers counselors experience when participating in interdisciplinary professional environments, specifically in places where the counseling profession is a nascent field. We also recommend strategies for counselor educators, supervisors, trainees, practitioners, and professional organization leaders to employ in efforts to address and overcome some of the challenges and barriers and advocate for the inclusion of counselors as valued members in interdisciplinary settings.