This book serves as a guide for counselors who are working in higher education and can be used as a resource book for individuals involved in counselor preparation programs. It explores college counseling as a profession, examines the diverse characteristics of today's college students, and details the variety of roles and services provided by college counselors. The book is organized into four sections. Part 1, "The College Counseling Profession," provides an introduction to college counseling as a profession, including its history and current status, diverse institutional settings, and professional preparation. Part 2, "Counseling Today's College Students," presents an overview of the diverse characteristics of today's college students, with special attention to traditional and nontraditional learners, and minority and international students. Part 3, "Today's College Counselor and the Institution," explores the diverse roles and services provided by the counselors and makes recommendations regarding effective practices. Part 4, "College Counselors and the Future," looks at stories from day-to-day life of college counselors and examines ways counselors can maintain wellness amid the demanding environment. The book is designed to provide an overview of the holistic, developmentally-based profession of college counseling and does not duplicate related publications of other authors about specific topics, such as student affairs preparation, techniques for counseling special populations, or cybercounseling. Resources are included that will assist readers in further exploring their interests. (Contains 474 references and 8 appendixes.) (JDM)