Activities influencing the professional development of New Zealand counsellors across their careers.

New Zealand counsellors (n = 123) were surveyed as an extension of a multinational study of therapist development. Comparisons were made with samples of Canadian and US counsellors. New Zealand counsellors perceived themselves to have developed in skill and knowledge across their careers, and reported high levels of ongoing development at all stages of their careers. Involvement in supervision and training were notably high, exceeding that of the Canadian and US samples, and did not diminish with increasing time in practice. Involvement in personal therapy was also high, though slightly lower than the comparison samples. New Zealand counsellors regarded supervision, training, and personal therapy as having had a strong, positive influence on their professional development. Ratings of the influence of these activities exceeded the ratings of comparison samples. Throughout their careers, counsellors are engaged in a process of professional development that includes growth in therapeutic skills, theoretical understanding, and confidence in the therapeutic role (Blair & Peake, 1995; Friedman & Kaslow, 1986; Grater, 1985; Kottler & Jones, 2003). Although the ultimate aim of this process is to achieve optimal effectiveness in their therapeutic practice, a sense of ongoing professional development may also be a source of satisfaction and sustenance for counsellors themselves, potentially helping to counteract the emotional drain that is common in mental health careers (Farber & Heifetz, 1981; Kramen-Kahn & Hansen, 1998; Norcross & Guy, 1989; Skovholt, Grier, & Hanson, 2001). The issue of professional development is also of interest to those involved in counsellor education and supervision,