17738. THE WORK OF THE PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR: EXPANDING FUNCTIONS AND ROLE INCONGRUITY. . Drawing on an analytical review of scholarly and professional literature, this paper examines the functions of the professional counselor, considering both the proscribed roles and the actual practice of the working professional counselor. The hypothesis that the work and day-to-day functions of professional counselors is congruent with the proscribed roles of counselors within various counseling specialties is only partially supported. Overall, the findings suggest that even in the face of theoretical consensus on appropriate roles for professional counselors, counselors’ roles and functions vary widely. It is argued that the role and function of the counselor adapts and responds to the needs of clients, environmental pressures, and changing theoretical perspectives. KEYWORDS: counseling roles functions work counselor counseling psychologist school counselor career counselor guidance counselor. Written 2006. 15 pages, 61 footnotes, 24 bibliographic sources. 5241 Words