The counselling profession has changed a great deal over the last decade, and is likely to see more change over the next 10 years. Some of the changes that will likely occur include:

Attitude toward counselling:  There is still some stigma associated with seeking counselling. The next decade is likely to see this reducing further, with greater acceptance and approval of the benefits associated with counselling.

Employment opportunities: As counselling receives greater acceptance across society as a whole, the demand for counsellors will increase. This will lead to a greater variety of employment opportunities for professional counsellors.

Shift in clientele: The baby boom generation is beginning its shift into retirement, which will in turn lead to a shift in clientele for counsellors. The profession is likely to see more clients who are older and dealing with issues related to retirement and ageing.

The next generation: The existing workforce of professional counsellors is ageing and rapidly approaching retirement. This will open up many opportunities for the next generation of counsellors to step in and fulfil the demand for counselling services.

Research: As counselling gains greater acceptance among the general population, there will be more opportunities to conduct the research necessary to advance professional knowledge. Such research may occur in the academic world, such as colleges and universities, or it may occur in the practising world, thanks to active counsellors and professional associations.