Advocacy and leadership within professional counseling are often cited as critical to the survival and continued success of the profession and, in turn, to the quality of services provided to the public counselors serve (Chang, Barrio Minton, Dixon, Myers, & Sweeney, 2012;Cox, 2003;Gibson, Dollarhide, & McCallum, 2010;House & Sears, 2002;Myers, Sweeney, & White, 2002;Paradise, Ceballos, & Hall, 2010;West, Bubenzer, Osborn, Paez, & Desmond, 2006). The most recent standards of the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP, 2009) include expanded attention to the development of leadership knowledge, skills, and practices of master's-level school counselors; doctoral program standards identify preparation of leaders as one of just four primary obligations of counselor education programs. The development of emerging leaders and leadership fellows programs by leading professional associations such as the American Counseling Association (ACA), Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES) and its regions, and Chi Sigma Iota (CSI) International serve as evidence that leaders in the counseling profession see the need to promote leadership development in students and new professionals.Scholars have engaged in dialogue and research to better understand the range of characteristics, skills, and practices that are essential for effective leadership. CSI Academy of Leaders (1999) published a consensus document regarding 10 leadership qualities and practices that are reflective of leadership excellence. Luke and Goodrich (2010) investigated the impact of student involvement in CSI on future leadership contributions. They found that practical and authentic experiences, internal (thoughts and feelings) and external (behaviors) personal resources, and CSI involvement at the chapter and international levels contributed to future leader-
An Exploration of Counselors' Professional Leadership DevelopmentKristin K. Meany-Walen, Kara Carnes-Holt, Casey A. Barrio Minton, Katherine Purswell, and Yulia Pronchenko-JainLittle is understood about the development of leaders in counseling. This mixed-method study explored leaders' progression through leadership endeavors. The quantitative descriptive statistics and qualitative analysis included 58 elected and appointed leaders from the American Counseling Association and Chi Sigma Iota. Data were analyzed to explore experiences that prompted individuals to assume leadership roles in professional counseling organizations. By understanding how leaders evolve, counseling programs and professional associations can foster counselors' leadership development.