Military Culture in Counselor Education: Assessing Educators’ Perceptions of Inclusion

Counselor educators are tasked with preparing counselors to effectively engage a wide range of topics and populations within counseling practice. The cultural experience of clients is often a significant focus both in content and experiential learning opportunities. Given the attention within the profession of counseling on our ability to effectively serve military service members and veterans, this begs the question as to the degree the context of the military is viewed as a unique culture within the field of counselor education. This article describes a research study of counselor educators’ perceptions of the military as a unique culture. In addition, current and potential strategies designed to address the experience of military service members, veterans, and their families employed within counselor training programs was also surveyed. The study found counselor educators did view the military as a unique culture. Participants also indicated their view of the potential to utilize a wide range of strategies to enhance understanding on the part of counselors-in-training of the unique experience of military service members, veterans, and their families. Limitations of the study, implications for practice, and future research ideas are also provided