Professional Civility and 3 Ways You Can Make a Difference

Recently one of my colleagues, referencing her own observations of online interactions between counselors with differing opinions exclaimed, "What has happened to our profession? Counselors attacking each other."

Professional Civility: A Casualty of Ideologies?

She's not alone in her frustration. It's become more than just a phenomenon in our profession, it's a nation-wide epidemic of thought; a loss of civility.

If you're over 40 you've been around long enough to remember when people dealt with each other in a more civil and respectful manner, especially when they disagreed. For now those days appear to be gone.

I have removed myself from almost every online group that I (used to) belong to. The vitriole and venom is just not worth it anymore and those dishing it out seemingly have no interest in honest dialogue or pondering opposing positions.

What's Changed?

I believe the change has occurred because our entire national-political spectrum of thought has shifted to a dangerous degree in one direction (which direction is not the point, but that it has shifted, is!). Both ends of the spectrum have their fringe elements and neither outlier represents what the vast, vast majority of Americans believe about freedom.

Fanning those flames has been the rapid ascent of the internet. Advancing communication techniques have always been responsible for parabolic changes in civilizations past, and we're no different. The web is the Audobon of information exchange and it's much simpler now for any group to advance an agenda, good or bad, than it was 40 years ago.

Those fringe groups I mentioned earlier? They've never felt the need to deliver their positions with the civility that you and I would. They tend to hide behind a thin layer of it until it no longer serves their purpose then the gloves come off, the claws come out and, here we are.

How Do We Resurrect Civility in Our National Character?

First, recognize that this civility issue is a problem at the national level that has filtered down into our profession. It's not just us. The problem is bigger than just our, "local squabbling".

Second, remain civil in all of your interaction with other people, especially other counselors! Be a part of the solution, not a part of the problem.

Third, get involved in our America in some way that works for you. It took 50 years to get ourselves into this mess and it'll take awhile to work ourselves out of it, but my kids deserve the effort and so do yours. (You can start by voting in this election cycle if you haven't already!)

I should probably back this all up with government reports and news network surveys, but you've all seen and experienced what I'm talking about. You don't need footnotes to know that it's true.

We're professional counselors. We're supposed to know better. And we must do better!

Plan Smart. Be Safe. Serve Others.

Kathleen Mills, LPC-S, CEAP