Dictionary of Counseling and Human Services

The Dictionary of Counseling and Human Services: An Essential Resource for Students and Professional Helpers equips readers with concise and straightforward definitions of nearly 3,000 concepts and terms used within the disciplines.



Leveraging a unique coding system, each word or term is ranked according to its likelihood to appear on a credentialing exam in counseling and separately ranked according to its likelihood to appear on a credentialing exam in human services. This valuable feature renders the text a vital resource for individuals studying to obtain various certifications and credentials.



Helpful appendices provide lists of websites of the American Counseling Association and its divisions; websites of the National Organization of Human Services and its regions; websites of select professional associations and mental health associations; ethics codes, competencies, and credentialing bodies of select professional associations; graduate programs in counseling, human services, and related professions; undergraduate programs in human services; and an overview of DSM-5 diagnostic categories.



Comprehensive, thorough, and approachable, the Dictionary of Counseling and Human Services is an exemplary resource for students preparing to enter helping professions. It is also an important reference book for helping professionals to add to their libraries.

Dr. Edward Neukrug is a professor of counseling and human services at Old Dominion University. A licensed professional counselor and licensed psychologist, he has experience in outpatient therapy, crisis counseling, substance abuse counseling, couples and family counseling, private practice, and as a school counselor. Dr. Neukrug is a nationally known author, presenter, and researcher. He was granted ACA Fellow status by the American Counseling Association in 2019. Dr. Neukrug is the author of eleven books: The Dictionary of Counseling and Human Services; Skills and Techniques for Human Service Professionals; Counseling Theory and Practice (2nd ed.); The World of the Counselor (5th ed.); Experiencing the World of the Counselor: A Workbook for Counselor Educators and Students (4th ed.); Theory, Practice and Trends in Human Services: An Introduction to An Emerging Profession (6th ed.); Essentials of Testing and Assessment for Counselors, Social Workers, and Psychologists (3rd ed.); A Brief Orientation to Counseling: Professional Identity, History, and Standards (2nd ed.); Skills and Tools for Today's Counselors and Psychotherapists; Counseling and Helping Skills: Critical Techniques for Becoming a Counselor; and Sage Encyclopedia of Theory in Counseling and Psychotherapy (editor).

Michael Kalkbrenner, Ph.D. M.S., NCC is an assistant professor of counseling and educational psychology at New Mexico State University. He holds a doctorate in counselor education from Old Dominion University.

Kevin C. Snow, Ph.D., M.A., NCC, ACS is an assistant professor of counselor education at Marywood University. He holds a doctorate in counselor education and supervision from Old Dominion University.