ABSTRACT
Competent professional counseling practice is guided by theory. Whether through an integration or assimilation of more than one theory or one theory alone, operating from a sound theoretical framework helps counselors provide therapy with intentionality. Personal theoretical orientation development requires self-reflection of personal values, knowledge of extant counseling and psychological theories, and metacognition while applying basic relationship-fostering counseling skills. Counselor educators and supervisors can help counselors in training develop and refine their personal theories of counseling practice within graduate training programs. However, personal theoretical orientation development is an ongoing process that occurs throughout one’s professional career. This chapter will provide an overview of processes involved in personal theory development for advancing counselors, counselor educators, and supervisors.
