Once a profession dedicated to guiding people to make wise decisions, counseling has evolved into a dynamic, multidimensional discipline—a comprehensive profession. This text encompasses all that counseling is today—addressing the history of counseling and the theory behind its practice; exploring the multicultural, ethical, legal environments in which counselors operate; and examining the variety of skills today's counselors are expected to exhibit. In addition, six chapters are dedicated to specific populations with whom counselors work and professional arenas in which they practice.