Vistas Online Archive, 2013

The overall number of females entering engineering programs remains relatively low. This is particularly true when discussing the percentage of female mechanical engineering students currently enrolled in university programs. If this percentage of female mechanical engineering graduates is to increase, school, college, and career counselors must assess existing differences between male and female students and systematically target female characteristics related to program recruitment and retention while partnering to change the engineering environment. This study compared male and female mechanical engineering students’ self-reported levels of depression, anxiety, professor and peer influence, perceptions regarding the applicability of engineering projects for each gender, perceptions of the correlation between engineering projects and current skill levels, and need for social connectedness/empathy. Stratified random selection was areas of depression, anxiety, professor and peer influence, and social connectedness. Correlations between anxiety, depression, and professor and peer influence were noted. Implications for assisting female engineering students in school, college, and career counseling settings as well as overcoming gender inequity in recruitment and retention are discussed.

Within the last decade, research has supported the notion that Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) can occur in children and adolescents as well as in adults. This paper elaborates on the trends of the current literature concerning the etiologies, course, gender differences, and recommended treatment approaches for early onset MDD.

This manuscript examines research productivity in counselor education among doctoral students. The factors related to quality research productivity are discussed in the context of published research, including research self-efficacy, interest, mentorship, and the research environment. Suggestions for improving research productivity in doctoral students are discussed, as well as creative methods of teaching research methods.

The purpose of this study was to examine the experiences of counselors-in- training with peer problematic behavior. A sample of 105 master’s-level counseling students completed a self-report survey addressing their experiences and observations of peer problematic behavior. This included their observations and personal experiences as well as the influence of training and departmental policies on reporting. Results highlight the need for departments to develop and implement policies that address student identification and reporting behaviors. In addition, the level of observations of peer problematic behavior was consistent with previous research.

Through a voluntary, confidential, intentional relationship, counselors are able to work with clients from a wellness perspective, or a premise that individuals can change in positive ways despite the presenting issue. From this wellness perspective, diagnosis is often viewed as a counter-productive, mutually exclusive archetype. However, this article presents a model for uniting a wellness lens and diagnostic perspective into a complimentary paradigm. Implications for counselor education programs and supervision practices are included.

Research shows that negative stereotyping leads to social stigmatization of those with mental illness resulting in self-stigmatization, lower self-esteem, diminished self-efficacy, and limited access to social support and mental health services for those with mental illness. Few studies have been conducted to identify who is most predisposed to be supportive of those with mental illness and who may be willing to advocate for greater access to services. The purpose of this study is to clarify who is most open to support and advocate for those with mental illness. Responses from a sample of 48 volunteer college students to a researcher- developed survey of attitudes towards mental illness were analyzed to determine which demographic factors were related to more accepting attitudes of those with mental illness. Results yielded significant main effects for gender F (1, 47) = 5.49, p < .05, and for those who have a relative with a mental illness, F (1, 47) = 17.82, p < .01. Results suggest that females and relatives of those with mental illness are more accepting and could be targeted to help reduce mental health stigma by advocating for, and serving as allies to, those with mental illnesses.

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine 10 supervisors’ experiences providing supervision in rural areas. This study used focus groups and individual interviews to understand the essence of providing rural supervision. Qualitative analysis revealed the following themes that impact the functioning and development of rural supervisors: rural interdependence, lack of resources, role overload, isolation, and ethical and cultural challenges. Implications for the training and support of rural supervisors are discussed and directions for future research are presented.

Examined in this article are ways the use of social media can enhance a counselor education program’s activities in the areas of recruitment, curriculum, pedagogy, extracurricular student contact, and alumni connections. Also discussed are privacy, confidentiality, informed consent, boundary, copyright, liability, and free speech issues related to the administrative and instructional use of social media in a counselor education program. A social media policy is proposed to help counselor educators use this potent tool ethically and effectively.

Social networking creates a new forum for counseling yet poses many ethical challenges. Although educators tout increased student engagement when using social media (Kessler, 2010) and counselors state many advantages to using this cutting edge technology, school counselors realize utilizing social media can pose an ethical grey area. As a result, the use of social media requires much consideration so it is not used in a way that causes harm to individuals or the profession. This article conveys information on the history and prevalence of social media as well as implications of implementing a professional social media page as part of a comprehensive guidance and counseling program in the school setting. A discussion regarding legal and ethical implications is offered to guide school counselors considering the use of social media in counseling.

There are many new technologies and ways that technology can be used with clients to enhance the counseling process (Jerome & Zaylor, 2000); however, there is very little research exploring the use of these technologies beyond distance counseling, computer mediated therapy, or Web therapy. This paper is intended to provide the reader with a basic guide to the new technologies and their uses to empower clients. Barriers, ethics, and techniques will be discussed.

Studies continue to reveal that Asian-Americans from India are being ignored and treated differently in American society. There is a widespread belief that Asian-American Indians are a model minority who are not in need of any special consideration and that they underuse or terminate counseling prematurely. This paper deals with socio-cultural differences and the implications for training multicultural counselors to counsel Asian-Americans from India.

In the southern region of the United States, a creative partnership was forged between a small regional university and a rural public school system lacking the financial resources to employ school counselors in K-8 schools. The partnership placed school counseling interns in as many schools as possible to ensure that the social-emotional, academic, and career needs of students were met. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the program and describes the roles of those that were involved in making the program a success.

The primary purpose of this manuscript is to examine the potential impact lead management principles can have on academic achievement when implemented in comprehensive school counseling programs. The core tenets of the basic program components of the American School Counselor Association’s National Model (ASCA) and also lead management principles are reviewed in terms of pertinent literature. This is followed by the current status of academic achievement in the United States. Lastly, specific emphasis will be placed on the potential impact lead management principles/concepts can have on academic achievement when applied to the three program components of the ASCA National Model that provide direct services to students.

The goal of this project was to prepare Spanish-speaking bilingual educators in Southeast Texas to become bilingual school counselors by reducing barriers to higher education, providing financial assistance, academic tutorial support, and personal support. This article presents those elements found to be essential in training of bilingual school counselors.

This paper presents descriptions of the types of Postpartum Mood Disorders (PPMD) and calls counselors to be effective providers to women, spouses, and families struggling with PPMD. A basic understanding of the symptoms of each disorder and associated risk factors are presented. Finally, the counselor's role in prevention strategies and effective treatment modalities for working with women with PPMD as well as with their spouses and families is discussed.

Grief ensues when an important or meaningful attachment bond is damaged or severed in some way. Loss leaves a “hole” which must be filled over time. Meaning-oriented therapies are widely accepted as one approach to restore such holes and aide bereaved individuals in the grieving process. This paper reviews some of the dominant approaches to meaning making. Additionally, meaning making with respect to three distinct losses: loss of spouse, loss of parent, and loss of sibling, are discussed. Clinical implications and recommendations are provided.

This paper explores the ethical scenario related to confidentiality rights of a minor when his/her parents seek information from the counseling session, in this case related to exploration of sexuality. This paper examines all facets of this ethical dilemma by using Corey, Corey, and Callanan’s (1998) decision-making model. By examining ethical codes, legal statutes, and precedents, consulting relevant literature, identifying all of the possible viable solutions, and weighing all of the consequences of these solutions, the counselor is able to make a well- informed, justified, ethical decision. Upon fully engaging all eight steps in this decision-making model, the counselor deems that she must act on what is in the client’s best interest. In this case, the counselor decides to keep her client’s confidentiality, as this is the course of action that is in the best interest of the client and results in the least amount of harm to the client.

The authors conducted a mixed method study in order to determine gaps in graduate student learning and teaching instruction in a theories course. Sixty- eight counseling students at a CACREP-accredited program participated in the study. Quantitative results indicated participants in the study performed lower when compared to national averages for other students in CACREP-accredited programs. Qualitative results suggested faculty instruction needed improvement in teaching concepts. A discussion follows stating implications for counselor education programs and graduate student learning.

School counselors and other educational professionals need to be trained to do research in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of their programs and often justify their professional existence. Doing research to learn the process of research (DR2LR) has been recommended and is demonstrated in this article. By incrementally implementing the steps that have been suggested by others into a reasonable sequence, simplifying the traditional formal research thesis or dissertation process, utilizing ideas from action research, and strategizing how to keep students progressing through their research, meaningful research can be implemented at the master’s level that initiates students to assessment data in their practices beyond the previous structure of research courses. Key words: research, action research, teaching research, data, assessment, counseling, counselor education, thesis, dissertation

The relationship between clinical supervisor and supervisee is fraught with ethical concerns, as the supervisor serves multiple functions within the relationship. The supervisor has a responsibility to evaluate and foster the supervisee’s professional and clinical growth and development. Additionally, the supervisor has a responsibility to serve as a gatekeeper to the profession and consider the welfare of the supervisee’s current and future clients. The case of Sasha and Hector presents numerous ethical issues to be processed dually with separate regard given to the supervisor-supervisee relationship and the counselor-client relationship. The University of New Orleans Doctoral Ethics Team analyzed and evaluated possible courses of action to aid in resolution of these presented dilemmas. In doing so, the team reviewed current scholarly literature and applied appropriate ethical codes in the context of an ethical decision-making model. The team concluded by offering recommendations within the context of pertinent legal, ethical, and moral codes.

Data from both the United States Department of Education as well as estimates in China indicate increases in numbers of children diagnosed with Emotional Disturbance (ED). This is particularly concerning since those diagnosed with ED exhibit poor social, home, and school performance (NICHCY, 2010). Counselors need culturally appropriate interventions to help Chinese children improve negative behaviors and social adjustment. The literature reveals three culturally relevant interventions (Doctor-Parents-Teacher Program, filial therapy, and paint therapy) designed to assist non-acculturated Chinese children with ED living in the U.S. as well as those living in China. The Doctor-Parents-Teacher program, filial therapy, and paint therapy programs will be described following a definition of ED, risk factors, cultural characteristics of Chinese society as well as level of acculturation. Counselors can overcome cultural barriers and assist non- acculturated Chinese children with ED living in the U.S. as well as those still in China if they understand not only the risks and diagnoses of emotional disturbance but also have the cultural knowledge and skills to implement culturally effective programs.

This study is based on archival data completed by 424 participants ranging in age from 13 to 68 who had received or who were receiving treatment for dissociative disorders with comorbid symptoms at various clinical settings in the United States. The participants completed measures describing their treatment and degree of relief for their symptoms. Seven separate regression analyses were conducted. In each analysis, 14 predictor (i.e., treatment) variables were entered simultaneously. The dependent variable in each analysis was a symptom cluster identified by factor analysis of the symptom checklist completed by participants. The results of this study identify the unique treatment variables that predict specific client outcomes and are consistent with extant research indicating that treatment improves client functioning.

One hundred twenty–four college females completed measures of overall family enmeshed/disengaged boundaries, attachment to parents, autonomy from parents, differentiation from peers, and thinness and bulimia behaviors. Bootstrapping results for multiple mediators highlighted the specific indirect paths that the attachment/individuation process has in the relationship between an overall enmeshed/disengaged structural family boundary and excessive worries about thinness and bulimia. Attachment with parents had strong unique indirect effects for concerns about thinness. The unique influence of connection with parents was balanced with the unique influence of feelings of autonomy from parents in the indirect path for bulimia.

Although the majority of service members and their families are able to transition from deployment to reintegration without overwhelming distress, studies show that deployment can have significant negative and long-lasting consequences. Veterans of Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and New Dawn (OEF/OIF/OND) deployments are at risk for anxiety, depression, and post- traumatic stress disorder. Spouses and children also report social, emotional, and behavioral concerns. For some veterans, mental and physical problems, tension among family relations, and challenges with work, finances, and substance use end in suicidal ideation or death. This manuscript provides an overview of the negative outcomes reported by veterans of OEF/OIF/OND deployments, mental health risks of family members, the increased occurrence of suicide among the Veteran population, and the implications of these deployment consequences for counselors.

In an attempt to understand the impacts of multiple deployments on military service members, the author illustrates a comparison between civilian traumas and combat traumas. Furthermore, civilian single and multiple traumatic experiences are compared to military single and multiple traumas as experienced by veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). The author presents a literature review to compare these traumas in an effort to decipher potential differences in military veterans. Implications for counselors and researchers are noted.

An increasing number of children are involved in counseling due to high-conflict divorce and custody disputes (Baker & Andre, 2008; Ellis & Boyan, 2010). Parental alienation occurs when a parent repeatedly and intentionally denigrates the other parent to the child to impair the child’s relationship with the opposed parent (Ben-Ami & Baker, 2012). Counselors who are not familiar with the dynamics among high-conflict divorce cases can ultimately do harm to the clients involved, as well as be at risk for legal and ethical ramifications. Thus, counselors must be able to identify parental alienation among children and provide effective treatment to prevent further alienation with the opposed parent. This article will describe the complex emotional symptoms often experienced by alienated children, as well as treatment implications. Particular emphasis will be given to multidisciplinary collaboration and relevant legal and ethical guidelines.

Several studies have been completed on clergy families. Results of these studies suggest that clergy families experience many stressors, such as lack of a social support network, lack of self-worth, intrusiveness, time demands, and mobility. However, there is little evidence that anything has been done to help address this problem. This article proposes the use of an original Triangular Reality Therapy counseling model to meet the needs for counseling services in clergy families.

Research indicates that prenatal stress, negative birth experiences, and postpartum pathologies can have significant effects on the mother, the offspring, the partner, and the mother-partner relationship. Partner support and perceptions of partner support throughout the pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experience can help reduce stress, help mothers feel in control of their birth experience, reduce postpartum pathologies, strengthen the mother-partner relationship, and therefore strengthen the bond between parents and offspring. In this paper interventions for working with couples in the prenatal and postpartum stages in order to reduce stress and strengthen the partnership are discussed.

Adolescence can be a difficult time with numerous changes and struggles with identify formation. Racial identity struggles and the need to be part of a group can lead to negative behaviors. Guiding adolescents successfully through the adolescent stage requires a family environment where there are solid boundaries and mutual respect. When problems arise, it can be beneficial to involve the entire family in the treatment process. Brief Strategic Family Therapy (BSFT) can assist in creating changes in the environment for at-risk youth that encourage successful navigation through these years. In this study, high risk African American youth and their families received 12 weeks of treatment using BSFT. A survey was administered prior to treatment and at the end of treatment. A pretest/posttest design was used to examine if significant changes occurred in behavior patterns. There were several areas in which significant changes were noted. In reviewing the changes, one can see the benefits of using an intervention such as BSFT. However, additional research is needed to determine if changes can be sustained beyond the adolescent years.

The self-reports of polyamorous clients regarding therapeutic experiences raise concerns for the counseling field. Many poly individuals are not receiving quality mental health care or relationship counseling because of valid fears regarding professional bias and condemnation of their lifestyle choices. The unique issues and concerns of polyamorous clients is an emerging interest in the mental health field and counselors have an ethical obligation to understand, explore, and address the unique needs of this population.

This study examined gatekeeping policies of CACREP-accredited counselor education programs by reviewing gatekeeping procedures as published on or within their web sites. Content analysis was used to examine the published materials of 257 CACREP-accredited programs specifically looking at their policies in the areas of admission, evaluation, remediation, and dismissal.

Consistent with the discipline, undergraduate courses about the field of counseling psychology (CP) should focus on the themes of counseling research, practice, and theory. Pedagogical suggestions for this framework are presented. Preliminary findings regarding the usefulness of this structure were highlighted through students’ post-course reports. Evidence suggested that students felt they learned about CP research, clinical practice, and theory within the course, and thought that what they learned was relevant to their careers and life. Pretest and posttest comparisons demonstrated that, though the students’ occupational aspirations did not significantly change, their educational aspirations decreased by the end of the course as hypothesized.

School counselors have unique, specialized training needs that differ from those of clinical mental health counselors. The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) states school counselors should possess proficient skills in program development, program leadership, collaborative practices, as well as appropriate referral procedures. While the unique needs of school counselors have been documented in the literature, what is lacking are practical ways to meet these unique needs. This article highlights some of the unique needs of school counselors in training and suggests practical ways to meet these needs.

Given the frequency of bullying behaviors among American youth, it is likely that many counselors will encounter bullying survivors at one time or another. The authors created the 2WHO-SCAN mnemonic to provide a seven-step assessment and intervention process. Although no intervention plan can precisely describe what to do in every bullying situation, the 2WHO-SCAN provides an immediate, broad-spectrum assessment and intervention plan. The 2WHO-SCAN mnemonic is easy to memorize and has utility for counselors who work with youth in most settings including schools, agencies, hospitals, and independent practice.

In this article, the authors concentrate on incorporating practical techniques of mind-body psychotherapy into the counseling process. These techniques promote harmony and balance within the client. Specifically, the authors include information on the biology of beliefs concerning mind-body therapy and the concepts of neuroscience to counseling. In addition, the article focuses on the interaction between the conscious and unconscious mind and includes specific techniques to link communcation between the mind and body to promote lasting change. The article is designed from a problem-resolution structure, which includes related research and counseling techniques for psychological issues such as depression and anxiety.

This article is a discussion of a qualitative study in which seven undergraduate college students were interviewed regarding their impressions about the role of solitude in their lives and society’s view of the same concept. Those interviewed expressed value in solitude, but also strongly suggested an imbalance of solitude versus socialization has detrimental effects. The role of social media was cited often, even though not a topic of the interview questions. Responses reflected changes in the conceptualization of solitude in current society. These changes have potential to impact the delivery of mental health services.

Counselors can no longer ignore the obesity crisis which affects 35% of adults and 17% of children/adolescents in the U. S. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2012a, 2012c). One of the most significant issues affecting clients with obesity is weight discrimination, as well as behavior change, isolation, depression, low self-esteem, body dissatisfaction, education and job discrimination, family interventions, bullying, and medical illnesses that accompany obesity. To empower clients to make sustained lifestyle changes, counselors must first recognize and acknowledge their own biases and countertransference issues regarding obesity. Assessment, goals, and interventions are discussed.

Ethical dilemmas encountered by students in a counselor education program are viewed through the lens of the Tarvydas Integrative Decision- Making Model of Ethical Behavior. The structure of the model acknowledges the contextual factors that influence the decision-making process as well as recognizes stakeholders’ perspectives. Because of the complexity of the case scenario used in the 2012-2013 American Counseling Association (ACA) Graduate Student Ethics Competition at the Doctoral Level, the model offers an appropriate framework to evaluate the ethical dilemmas encountered by students and departmental faculty. The analysis considers the ACA Code of Ethics (2005) and relevant laws surrounding minors involved in sexual relationships. An action plan, which reflects the four stages of the model, is provided and institutional recommendations are offered.

Social Cognitive Career Theory proposes that self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and interests influence career choice and development. Many minority students do not pursue certain careers solely due to their perception that they may not be successful. This highlights the need for interventions that increase exposure to careers while improving the career self-efficacy and outcome expectations of students. This article describes how virtual reality environments can be used to increase the career self-efficacy of minority students.

Current multicultural training models may be limited in helping counselors to acquire cultural competencies needed for effective interventions with culturally diverse clients in global communities. In preparing counselors to meet the challenges of diverse societies in the 21st century, multi-dimensional multicultural training models and attributes of cultural competence are examined. Sequential coursework and experiences that assist trainees in developing a deeper understanding of self in relation to global communities are recommended.

The meaning-making emphasis of Transformational Multicultural pedagogy is reviewed and suggested as it pertains to the context of the multicultural counseling class in the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accredited master’s level programs. Suggestions regarding group facilitation, media sources, cross-cultural experiences, and other nontraditional class activities are provided. A specific transformative model is proposed for a group learning process within the multicultural course.

For this literature review study, the researchers critically assessed and evaluated publications in counseling journals on Black family issues over the past 20 years. Criteria for selection included articles that were published during or after 1992, were peer reviewed, were conducted in the United States, and that focused exclusively on Black/African American client populations. A total of 126 articles, both conceptual and empirical, were identified. Reported are frequencies of articles related to Black family clinical issues, such as, the number of articles published in American Counseling Association (ACA) journals versus non-ACA journals, and a preliminary presentation of trends over the past two decades. Of significance, few articles were published in ACA journals. Based upon the preliminary findings of this study, the researchers recommend that the ACA leadership consider taking steps to promote research about African American client populations by offering mini-grants to create incentives and offer special opportunities to disseminate research in this area through special issues of journals.

In this article, the authors discuss the concept of multicultural empathy, an extension of the current literature surrounding cultural empathy. Here, we define multicultural empathy based on an extensive review of the literature and propose a model to assess multicultural empathy in beginner counselors. By introducing external observation rather than self-report measures to assess multicultural empathy, counselors can be rated on five levels of multicultural empathy (ranging from consistently inadequate to consistently advanced) and across four dimensions of human experience (cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and developmental). The proposed Multicultural Empathy Model can be used in counselor training and supervision and has practical implications in a wide range of settings, from classrooms, to training, clinical, and school sites

Nonverbal communication has a primary role in emotional expression and a demonstrated impact on the counseling relationship. Nonverbal communication can vary cross-culturally and can influence the formation of a therapeutic relationship with culturally diverse clients. This article briefly explores the existing research in counseling and related fields and notes the dearth of research on nonverbal awareness and skills training in counselor education. A review of key differences in nonverbal communication across cultures, an outline of basic skills that can be taught to counselors-in-training, and in-class training activities are provided. The authors call for an increased focus on nonverbal communication awareness and skills training in counselor education research and training programs to enhance multicultural competence.

The objective of this study was to examine the impact of a brief mindfulness intervention on the constructs of mindfulness and thought suppression with undergraduates. The brief mindfulness intervention was comprised of both instructive and hands-on exercises that were manualized in a protocol. A randomized experimental design was utilized in this study. The independent variable (treatment) was deliberately manipulated and the dependent variables were assessed. A no treatment waiting-list control group was used. The 34 participants were randomly assigned to the two conditions and the assignment of treatment condition to groups was done randomly. The results of the study suggested that mindfulness could be increased while thought suppression could be decreased through the use of the brief intervention. This research is particularly meaningful since typical mindfulness interventions are of a longer duration.

The following experimental study investigated the relationship of the halo effect and gender influence in the counseling evaluation of graduate students using the Counseling Skills Scales-Revised (CSS-R). Participants (N=74) were assigned to two groups where recipients of a digitally recorded counseling session were led to believe a novice performed the counseling session, and the second group was led to believe an expert performed the counseling session. Overall, the findings indicate the halo effect is a significant source of bias.

Bullying among adolescent girls, or relational aggression, involves acts of exclusion from peers or groups, using threats or inappropriate gestures to intimidate, or defaming others through verbal attacks, spreading rumors or even posting slanderous comments on social media outlets. This paper demonstrates that bullying can elicit long-term effects on girls who are victimized and can prove to be more harmful than some physical abuse. Negative effects of relational aggression among adolescent girls are discussed and play therapy techniques that can be implemented in school and clinical mental health settings in order to assist these aggressors are examined.

There are frequent publicized reminders of the need for professional school counselors to be knowledgeable and competent in crisis intervention strategies. School counselors are charged with intervening when students experience a crisis, whether it is a normal developmental milestone or an unexpected tragic event. This research presents the results of a survey of professional school counselors regarding their perceptions related to being prepared to intervene in various types of crisis situations. The results indicate a need for additional training in crisis intervention in order to increase the level of competence of professional school counselors.

School counselors can support teachers and students experiencing social- emotional issues by providing consultation. One viable model of consultation school counselors can utilize is Rational Emotive-Social Behavioral Consultation (RE-SBC). This article provides an overview of theory and highlights concepts school counselors can apply during consultation. Models of RE-SB consultation are presented. Case examples with analyses and recommendations are provided to demonstrate how school counselors can influence teacher performance and student success.

Substance abuse remains a perennial problem among adolescents in the school setting, yet largely invisible. The typical response to a substance abusing student is expulsion, yet we know that substance abuse follows a six stage continuum from no interest on one end to harmful involvement and physical/psychological dependence at the other end. Data also indicates that identification and early intervention provides the best prognosis for these students. While numerous prevention programs have proven effective, none is 100% effective, and a certain percentage of students will not respond to prevention efforts. Given the fact that substance use disorders are responsive to treatment, identification, screening, intervention, and referral are all within the domain of the school counselor. All four of these areas will be discussed.

Through use of the Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scales (SOCRATES), this study measured the impact of a comprehensive substance abuse assessment in 25 clients on three measures: problem recognition, ambivalence, and taking steps. Each assessment was administered by a counselor-in-training located in a college counseling training clinic. Results from two years of data showed a significant decrease in ambivalence and problem recognition measures following the assessment experience. Research indicates that lowered ambivalence and lowered problem recognition are both related to lowered problems in use in the future. Given the extent of problems with substance abuse with college students, this type of interview may contribute to a reduction of future use. Narrative feedback indicated that the counseling relationship was a positive part of the assessment experience. Further investigations to enhance significance of the findings are discussed.

Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (cPTSD), a diagnostic category which addresses the characterological changes that may occur in a survivor of chronic, prolonged abuse, has been proposed for inclusion in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed., text rev.; DSM-IV-TR; American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2000). In this paper, the author examines 1) the research that has been conducted thus far to determine if cPTSD has clinical usefulness and relevance, 2) gaps in the extant research which may impact this usefulness, and 3) how the concept of cPTSD may be applied in a therapeutic setting, taking cultural variables into account.

Medical trauma, while not a common term in the lexicon of the health professions, is a phenomenon that deserves the attention of mental and physical healthcare providers. Trauma experienced as a result of medical procedures, illnesses, and hospital stays can have lasting effects. Those who experience medical trauma can develop clinically significant reactions such as PTSD, anxiety, depression, complicated grief, and somatic complaints. In addition to clinical disorders, secondary crises—including developmental, physical, existential, relational, occupational, spiritual, and of self—can lead people to seek counseling for ongoing support, growth, and healing. While counselors are central in treating the aftereffects of medical trauma and helping clients experience posttraumatic growth, the authors suggest the importance of mental health practitioners in the prevention and assessment of medical trauma within an integrated health paradigm.

The purpose of this article is to raise awareness of shared trauma. A brief overview of the development, signs and symptoms, as well as strategies used by counselors to attend to this phenomenon is provided. Training and educational needs of counselors and counselors-in-training are also addressed.

Parental alienation can have devastating, long-term effects on children (Baker, 2010; Ben Ami & Baker, 2012). Children who are experiencing parental alienation need to be involved in individual and family counseling to prevent emotional and behavior difficulties, especially as such problems could otherwise continue into adulthood. In order for treatment to be successful, counselors must first be able to identify children who are most at-risk. This article will discuss how interviews, observations, and certain standardized and projective assessment instruments can be beneficial when conducting assessments among high-conflict families. The authors will discuss the need for further research to determine if existing assessment instruments can be effective in identifying children who are experiencing parental alienation, as well as the need for the development of a reliable and valid assessment measure that can determine the level of severity of their emotional symptoms.

This study was designed to investigate the impact of birth order characteristics on psychological resilience of adolescents exposed to domestic violence. This study predicted that i) younger children will be most resilient to exposure of domestic violence; and ii) older children will take on a parental role, and although able to function well, will not be as resilient. Four participants, recruited from a regional hospital’s behavioral inpatient unit, completed a demographic questionnaire as well as a recorded interview utilizing the Multidimensional Trauma Recovery and Resiliency Interview (Harvey et al., 1994) to assess for psychological resilience. Interviews were transcribed and a resiliency/recovery score was computed using the MTRR-I companion rating scale, Multidimensional Trauma Recovery and Resiliency Scale (Harvey et al., 2000). This study found that there is not one particular birth order that fairs the best or worst in overcoming traumatic events. Rather, all birth order positions have both strengths and weaknesses in domains contributing to resiliency and recovery.

Many rehabilitation counseling students prefer online courses because of their accessibility, convenience, portability, and flexibility. To address the demand, online courses in rehabilitation counselor education programs have continued to grow, and faculty are recognizing a need to train doctoral students in the delivery of online rehabilitation counselor education courses. This article reviews the use of online learning and successful practices that distance educators use, and describes how online learning can be taught to doctoral students using Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory

Research focused on students’ perceptions of their training to incorporate religious and spiritual issues in counseling has provided much information but has not included the training recommendations that come from students. This article discusses the practical applications of teaching counselors-in-training about religious and spiritual issues and presents the value of including religious and spiritual training, a literature review, and specific training recommendations.

Within clinical mental health and healthcare settings, collaboration among Professional Counselors and helping professionals from other disciplines is often necessary. Yet, misperceptions about training backgrounds, professional practices and roles can impact working relationships. This article will examine relevant research on the topic of multidisciplinary collaboration, highlighting some of the associated challenges and benefits. It will outline the authors’ formation and implementation of a multidisciplinary professional development group for interns at a community agency, and it will address some of the difficulties encountered in the experience. The authors will then provide reflections and suggestions for future planning based on the experience.

Ethical dilemmas can prove to be a regular challenge for counselors. Utilizing a decision making model to resolve these dilemmas is beneficial to counselors. The authors apply an ethical decision making model to the case study of Liam. Liam is a counselor for two minor male children who are experiencing difficulties as a result of their parents’ divorce. The ethical and legal concerns of counseling the minors and completing custody evaluations are discussed.

Despite an active discussion in medical literature regarding existential issues related to adult cancer survivors, counseling literature shows a dearth of any such focus. This paper will review three existentially-based individual counseling models and four existentially-based group counseling models for use with cancer survivors. Implications for selecting counseling models most appropriate for clients' needs are discussed.

Yalom (1995) identified altruism as a curative force in counseling and therapeutic groups. This study investigated the relationship between group participants' evaluations of the amount of help they gave other members and the following outcome variables: (1) amount of help they believe they received from others, and (2) satisfaction with their groups. Participants in six-week personal growth groups rated the amount of help they gave and received, and their satisfaction with their groups, at the end of the second and fifth meetings. Results revealed that participants who rated themselves as having given more help rated themselves as having received more help from the group and rated the group experience more favorably. Results suggest that participants who believe they are helpful to their group mates tend to evaluate the group experience as more helpful and satisfying to them.

In this manuscript, we discuss the seemingly fundamental conflict between the desire among African Americans, and particularly African American males, to improve their socioeconomic status, as demonstrated by their enrollment in institutions of higher education, and the reinforcement of unjust practices within academia. We examine family systems and individual personal characteristics and the role they play in Black male academic achievement through the theoretical lens of Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Theory. Using this conceptual framework, we review the experiences of Black males, characterized by microaggressions, stigma, and internalized conflict, within academic and social settings in higher education, and the opportunities available for student affairs professionals to help ameliorate these struggles. We conclude with calling upon counselors to gain a better understanding of how their direct work with African American students in general, and with African American males in particular, as well as counselors’ ability to advocate for this group to promote systemic change, could have widespread implications for Black male student achievement.

Within the United States, homelessness is a growing issue. A disproportionate number of minority women are homeless. There are certain risk factors that increase the likelihood of being homeless including poverty, victimization, and mental health issues. Treatment for homelessness is often lacking. This study examines the common themes reported by homeless African American women who received limited short-term counseling services. Implications for counselors who work with homeless individuals will also be provided.

The present article addresses the effects of violence on academic progress and classroom behavior. Violence is an essential aspect of dysfunctional behavior for youth. Researchers have identified a negative association between violence, academic progress, and appropriate classroom behavior. At the front lines of this issue is the harsh reality of the transferred behaviors from the family and community atmosphere into the classroom environment. Educators play a pertinent role for children who are emotionally sensitive and socially inept by providing a safe haven and learner-centered environment. It is the purpose of this article to highlight the personal, social, and academic factors related to violence and youth involvement, from a parent’s perspective.

Counseling is an emotionally demanding field that requires that counselors engage in effective self-care practices to lessen the risk of counselor distress, burnout, and impairment. Although there are several different types of self-care (physical, emotional, social, cognitive, and spiritual), this project starts with the very pragmatic physical type of self-care. The research question asks "can a practicing counselor demonstrate the effectiveness of self-developed physical wellness plans (exercise and nutritional plans), through reduction in body weight, resting heart rate, and blood pressure (systolic and diastolic)?" The single subject participant monitored her dependent variables daily for 41 days during baseline (phase A), then engaged in her self-developed exercise plan (utilized an online exercise wellness module based on the American College of Sports Medicine, 2006, guidelines for exercise prescription) for 28 days (phase B), then did a combination of her exercise plan with her self-developed nutritional plan (utilized an online nutritional module that contained a nutritional tracker - www.choosemyplate.gov) for an additional 28 days (phase C). The results indicated that the participant lost 12 pounds during the project, and increased her heart efficiency by 11.0% (decreased her resting heart rate from 82 to 73 beats per minute). The participant's blood pressure was in an optimal range during baseline and did not change significantly during the study.

This article addresses the issue of school counselor role confusion and the importance of demonstrating accountability so that counselors can clarify and validate their roles as relevant stakeholders and systemic change agents in the school setting. Further, this article discusses the advantages of following the ASCA National Model and the benefits of being data-driven in order to reduce and clarify role confusion. Implications for the school counselor regarding the importance of using data are examined. In addition, suggestions for future research are stated, in order for counselors to further substantiate that they are valuable participants and play an instrumental role in the success of all students.

Educational reform has turned its focus on professional educator evaluation systems that require multiple data sources. In 2012, the Tennessee Educator Acceleration Model (TEAM) School Services Personnel Rubric was developed to evaluate school counselors. In response, a study was conducted during the first year of TEAM use to investigate school counselors’ experiences using this assessment and to explore their perceptions of its alignment with their role and functions. Results indicated that TEAM rubric domains and indicators measure much of what school counselors do, but more revisions are needed. Also, we found that more evaluator training is needed to ensure effective use of the TEAM rubric and counselor confidence in the evaluation system. Implications for counselors and training programs in other states are discussed.

School counselors are trained to implement counseling core curriculum lessons to address topics that can impact school climate. Adventure based counseling engages participants in team building activities that foster responsibility for behavior and has the potential to positively impact school climate. However, teachers have limited time to address academic curriculum, let alone allow time for counseling curriculum in the classroom. The authors present a cooperative approach to implementing adventure based counseling through physical education classes. This integrative approach simultaneously meets both academic and counseling curriculum standards.

Researchers have documented that traditional counseling approaches to school counseling have failed to meet the social and cultural needs of Chicana/o and Latina/o high school students. The intent of this paper is to examine the role high school counselors can play in facilitating academic achievement for Chicana/o and Latina/o students by drawing on an empowerment approach to school counseling.

Limited research covers substance use disorders (SUD) in the older offender (ages 55 years and older). This study (N=334) found limited cognitive coping resources, extensive trauma histories, and limited exposure to SUD/mental health care in-prison for older offenders with SUD in a state prison system.

A special issue of the Journal of Employment Counseling in December 2011 presented 13 brief articles from 17 current career counseling thought leaders (Arthur & Collins, Leong, Pope, Krumboltz, Schlossberg, Bright & Pryor, Hansen, McMahon, Niles, Magnusson & Redekopp, Savickas, Amundson, and Neault & Pickerell). Eight of those authors came together at the NCDA 2013 conference in Boston to participate in a “Thoughts on Theories” panel based on their contributions to that special issue. All agreed that, if time permitted, it would have been interesting to apply their theories and approaches to a common case. Seven of the original authors and NCDA panelists have contributed to a brief case conceptualization that vividly illustrates the similarities and differences in their approaches to working with clients. Approaches included in this article include the Chaos Theory of Careers, Culture-Infused Career Counselling, Career Engagement, Happenstance Learning Theory, and Active Engagement through Metaphors.