Counseling International Students

Considering the increasing diversity of our culture and the continued growth of globalization, it is essential to investigate the topic of counseling international students in a collegiate setting. This manuscript will discuss aspects of counseling as they relate to international students. Focus is centered on the counseling theories and empirically supported therapy techniques utilized with international students attending college in the United States. This paper discusses the considerations important to counseling international students, such as demographic information, challenges to service delivery, mental health issues specific to international students, and gaps in the literature. Additionally, a review of current literature reveals how theory and intervention might be used to help counselors integrate existing knowledge into practice. Specifically, person- centered theory and cognitive behavior therapy are discussed as effective approaches when working with international students. This paper concludes with example treatment modalities for this population and implications for further study.