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Professional counselors prevent, diagnose, and treat mental, emotional or behavioral disorders and associated distresses which interfere with mental health (American Counseling Association). Professional counselors help people of all functioning levels grow mentally, emotionally, socially, educationally, spiritually, and in terms of careers. The American Counseling Association, in its licensure statement, identifies professional counselors as people who have earned a minimum of a master's degree and possess professional knowledge and demonstrable skills in the application of mental health, psychological, and human development principles in order to facilitate human development and adjustment throughout the life span.
