Counseling Psychology Commons^™

Refugees In Counseling Journals: A 20-Year Content Analysis, Mina Attia, Hanyun Li, Yuquing Qiu, Shiyu Tang

Journal of Counseling Research and Practice

This article is a 20-year content analysis of counseling journals exploring refugees and refugee issues from 1998-2018. The investigation intended to identify publication trends in counseling journals and the field’s responsiveness to the refugee crisis and global climate. An exhaustive analysis of American Counseling Association (ACA) and ACA division journals was conducted. Themes of the publishing trends, gaps in the literature, and recommendations for future research are presented for the counseling field.

Learning From The Standpoints Of Minoritized Students: An Exploration Of Multicultural And Social Justice Counseling Training, Julie A. Cohen, Anusha Kassan, Kaori Wada

The Qualitative Report

The results of a feminist research endeavour that explored multicultural (MC) counselling and social justice (SJ) training experiences from the standpoint of eight culturally non-dominant doctoral students are presented. Participants represented students within the five counselling psychology programs accredited by the Canadian Psychological Association. Specifically, the research aimed to address the following research question: How do counselling psychology doctoral students who self-identify with non-dominant cultural identities perceive their experiences of MC and SJ training? This research adopted a feminist standpoint theory epistemology to guide an interpretative phenomenological analysis to reflect the culturally rich, complex, and situated experiences of participants, while …

Older Adults’ Physical Activities And Subjective Well-Being, Mihae Bae, Hyunsook Kang

Journal of Human Services: Training, Research, and Practice

This study examined the relationships between physical activities as health behaviors and subjective well-being in older adults. Data from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP) survey were used. The NSHAP study sampled persons 57-85 years of age (n=3005). The respondents completed a telephone survey, reporting their background information and social networking characteristics. For data analysis, a two-step hierarchical regression was used in order to identify the associations between the demographic and physical activity factors on subjective perception of well-being in older adults. Our results indicated that, among the demographic, income, education, health status, and participation …

The Gender Freedom Model: A Framework For Helping Transgender, Non-Binary, And Gender Questioning Clients Transition With More Ease, Rae Mcdaniel, Laurel Meng

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

Transgender/non-binary experiences and identities are often represented in academic literature through narratives of distress and are often pathologized through a medical lens. This holds implications for the field of psychotherapy, as interventions aimed to support transgender/nonbinary individuals often focus solely on risk mitigation. This article presents a therapeutic framework that rests on three pillars—Play, Pleasure, and Possibility—as the focal points for reimagining work with transgender/non-binary clients. This model aims to help this population explore gender transition with more ease through building practical skills, cultivating personal and collective pride, and centering pleasure equity.

Mapping Sex Therapy Across The United States: An Exploratory Study, Frances L. Mcclain, Dylan M. Amlin

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

The primary purpose of this study was to determine what someone who was interested in obtaining a provider for sex therapy would find if they simply searched for sex therapy using the Google search engine. The goal was to ascertain how someone might access providers in each state, what types of information someone seeking treatment for sexuality issues might find on provider websites, who is providing the services, what types of services are being provided, and whose services might appeal to given the content of the website. Once all of the data was compiled, the resulting data would include a …

The Role Of Personality In Early Alliance Formation In The Context Of Clinical Supervision Of Psychotherapists In Training, Cynthia Bilodeau, Stéphanie Lalande, Andréanne Kyle

Journal of Educational Supervision

The literature suggests that working alliance is an important predictor of clinical supervision outcomes. However, little is known about the individual factors that influence the development and maintenance of the working alliance. This study aims to explore the role of supervisor and trainee personality traits in the development of early working alliances, as well as supervisor and trainee concordance rates in the context of clinical supervision. This study used the NEO-PI-3 measure to assess personality traits and the Working Alliance Inventory-Supervisor and Trainee Versions (WAI) measures to assess working alliance ratings. Results suggest that supervisors rate the strength of their …

Complicated Grief: Counseling Considerations And Techniques, Loretta Bradley, Nicole Noble, Kumudu Witanapatirana

Adultspan Journal

This article presents a case study about a fictional client’s experience of complicated grief. This article differentiates between complicated grief and normal (adaptive) grief. It also distinguishes between bereavement, grief, and mourning. The counseling process is described using developmental theory and narrative reconstruction to illustrate how to implement creative techniques.

A Practical Application Of Self Psychology In Counseling, A. Jordan Wright

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Self psychology has undergone a significant evolution since it was initially developed and proposed by Heinz Kohut, including broadening conceptions of what purposes selfobjects can serve for individuals. Its application to counseling has been as an organizing framework and overarching theory of human development and psychopathology. The concept of selfobjects, however, has the potential to provide specific guidance and technique in micro-interactions within counseling. Individual moments within counseling present opportunities for a counselor to intervene, and self psychology can provide a deliberate decision-making tool for how to respond. Being deliberate in interventions throughout counseling has the potential to improve outcomes. …

Crisis Counseling Self- Efficacy: Personal Abilities And Situational Influences, Suzanne Maniss Ph.D., Yuleinys A. Castillo Ph.D., Jason Cartwright, Selma D. Yznaga Ph.D.

Journal of Human Services: Training, Research, and Practice

Crises are unpredictable in nature and affect the general well-being of individuals. A proper crisis management foundation can prepare future counselors to effectively work with clients who are experiencing a crisis. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the perceptions of counselors-in-training (CIT) in relation to their anticipated crisis intervention abilities. This paper reports the results of qualitative focus groups of counselors in training. Participants reported perceived strengthens and limitations shaping their ability to handle a crisis. Counselor preparation offers opportunities to properly train culturally responsive providers for crisis management.

Key words: Crisis counseling; self-efficacy; counselor education

A Need Of Further Training For Marriage And Family Therapy Students’ On Food Addiction And Related Eating Disorders, Darren D. Moore, Chichun Lin, Clinton Cooper

The Qualitative Report

The purpose of this study was to explore Marriage and Family Therapy students’ perspectives regarding food addiction and associated eating disorders, as a clinical treatment issue. In a standard addictions course housed in a Marriage and Family Therapy program approved by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE), 20 students completed a qualitative survey where they reflected on the topic of food addiction, Binge Eating Disorder, and Bulimia Nervosa, within the context of individual, couple, and family relationships. In the study four major themes emerged, which included (1) Defining Food Addiction, (2) Perceptions of Eating …

The Use Of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (Dbt) Techniques Creatively In The Treatment Of Perinatal Mood And Anxiety Disorders, Rosanne Nunnery, Missy Fauser, Elizabeth Hatchuel, Mary Jones

Journal of Counseling Research and Practice

Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) is a serious condition impacting up to 21 percent of woman after the birth of a child (Byrnes, 2018). Jane, a 32-year-old female presented for treatment for anxiety, depression and mood disturbance (5th ed.; DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association, 2013) and in need of feeling more connected to her baby and her life. The use of creative techniques including mindfulness, distress tolerance activity, emotion regulation, and interpersonal skills (Linehan, 2015, 2016) were implemented. The use of these skills can be added to the repertoire of practice of a mental health counselor working with clients with …

Counseling Adolescents Aging Out Of Foster Care: A Neglected And Underserved Population, Taylor Tertocha-Ubelhor, Bryan R. Russ

Journal of Counseling Research and Practice

The high prevalence of youth aging out of the foster care system and the numerous poor outcomes they experience during the transition to emerging adulthood has been well documented. Although addressing the complex needs and concerns of this distinct population can be difficult, mental health counselors maintain the philosophical tenants and training strengths necessary to successfully serve youth aging out of foster care. This article aims to provide counselors with the historical context, developmental framework, and specific challenges needed to better understand this population, as well as suggested counseling implications to address their unique needs by reviewing relevant literature.

On Seeking Help: Social Reactions Experienced By Sexual Violence Survivors In The Indian Diaspora, Bagmi Das

Journal of Counseling Research and Practice

Sexual violence trauma counseling should be informed by the intersections of a survivor’s identity. This research focused on the social reactions experienced by survivors of sexual violence from the Indian diaspora. This study used quantitative survey research methods and correlational analysis as well as descriptive statistics to understand the social reactions that survivors received from informal supports and formal supports. Significant results, implications for counselors, and future research recommendations are discussed.

Full Issue, Mississippi Counseling Association

Journal of Counseling Research and Practice

No abstract provided.

Toward A Voice-Centered Relational Anti-Racist Listening Praxis In Counselor Education, Michelle R. Bertrand

Teaching and Supervision in Counseling

Abstract This article outlines key elements of an anti-racist listening praxis in counselor education. It demonstrates how racism in relationships of teaching and learning impacts racialized subjectivities, and the personal, cultural and ancestral worlds these subjectivities articulate, in a way that limits the capacity of racialized practitioners to be relational subjects and uses them instead to reinforce White/Western normativity. It describes a way of both listening to and challenging these impacts by re-centering the “I” of racialized speakers and the personal, cultural and traditional knowledges, identities and preferred ways of being to which they refer in their stories. Examples of …

Book Review: What Every Mental Health Professional Needs To Know About Sex, 2nd Ed., By Stephanie Buehler, Laura R. Haddock

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

The ability to understand and address sexuality issues is a critical skill set for all mental health professionals. This comprehensive review of the second edition of \textit{What Every Mental Health Professional Needs to Know About Sex} includes an overview of the contents with emphasis on the strengths and weaknesses of the text. Written by Stephanie Beuhler, a licensed psychologist and AASECT certified sex therapist and supervisor, the contents are educational, promote increased self-awareness for the reader, and facilitate insight into the lived experiences of clients while also providing practical and useful exercises and resources that are valuable regardless of a …

Telehealth Best Practice: A Call For Standards Of Care, Donna S. Sheperis, Arielle Smith

Journal of Technology in Counselor Education and Supervision

Teletherapy is an approach to working with clients that mental health providers have used in some form for years. However, the onset of COVID forced the provision of therapy into teletherapy almost exclusively for a period of time. Currently, mental health providers conducting therapy virtually are not required to be trained in telehealth and are operating without consistent uniform standards of practice. This manuscript pulls from the current literature and guidelines across counseling, psychology, psychiatry, family therapy, and social work to provide a Proposed Standards of Practice for Telehealth. Such standards benefit mental health counselor by grounding practice in common …

Children As Mischievous Spirits: Legitimizing Child Cruelty And Filicide In Contemporary Africa, Chima Agazue

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

The belief that certain humans are spiritual entities and the belief that some people are spiritually possessed can be found across histories and cultures. While these individuals are not always viewed in the negative or treated inhumanely, cases abound whereby degrading and inhumane treatments are meted out to some of them. In the African continent, certain groups of people, particularly children are linked to certain mischievous spirits due to their unusual appearance, aberrant behavior, disability, chronic illness, psychopathology or exceptional ability. Some are also suspected and consequently mistreated due to events surrounding their birth. Such children are known by different …

The Influence Of Cyber-Sexual Assault On The Mental Health Outcomes Of Survivors, Kelley R. Holladay, W. Bryce Hagedorn, David Boote

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

Researchers examined data collected from the only national sample of cyber-sexual assault (CBSA) survivors (N = 97; 3.75\% response rate to the online survey) using three valid instruments that measure symptomology of sexual assault. We found that participants scored high across each of the inventories, indicating CBSA survivors respond in ways that are similar to sexual assault survivors concerning emotional dysregulation, depression, and post-traumatic stress symptomology, particularly if they had a history of sexual assault. Implications for counselors are reviewed, and clinical recommendations are offered.

“No One Can Make That Choice For You”: Exploring Power In The Sexual Narratives Of Black Collegians, Candice Hargons, Della Mosley, Carolyn Meiller, Jardin Dogan, Jennifer Stuck, Chesmore Montique, Natalie Malone, Carrie Bohmer, Queen-Ayanna Sullivan, Anyoliny Sanchez, Joseph Oluokun, Danelle Stevens-Watkins

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

Power is enacted to oppress others, pursue wellness, or resist oppression. For Black people, societal and relational oppression influences racialized and gendered expressions of power within sexual encounters. The current study analyzed power dynamics within Black university students’ first and most recent sexual encounters. Using narrative inquiry within a critical paradigm, five narrative strategies were identified within participants’ interviews: 1) Offering a Peek into Powerlessness, 2) Detailing Disempowerment, 3) Privileging Stereotypical Power, 4) Reclaiming Power, and 5) Emphasizing Empowered Sex. Racialized, gendered sexual socialization among Black students is discussed. Counseling considerations to increase sexual wellness for Black people are explored.

Investigating Financial Biases That Can Increase Impact On Paying Bills And Saving, Lucy M. Delgadillo Ph.D.

Journal of Financial Therapy

This article explores financial biases and their relation to financial management behaviors. Using cognitive, evolutionary psychology, and behavioral finance theories, this study suggests that biases can be intentionally used to our benefit. The study shows statistically significant associations between some biases and financial management practices such as paying bills on time and saving regularly in the surveyed sample. The study provides insights into intentionally using financial biases to increase impact and success by helping individuals commit to the best course of action or choose the least costly financial alternative.

Promoting Success For First-Generation Students Of Color: The Importance Of Academic, Transitional Adjustment, And Mental Health Supports, Sophie W. Schuyler, Jonique R. Childs, Timothy A. Poynton

Journal of College Access

Nearly 1 in 3 college students (30%) are first-generation students of color (FGSOC), possessing the intersectional identity of being both a first-generation college student and a racial minority. FGSOC face increased psychological and social difficulties in college when compared to students in other groups, resulting from cultural differences, lack of academic preparedness, stigma surrounding socioeconomic status, racial discrimination, and marginalization. This article summarizes peer-reviewed literature related to three types of supports that can improve the college experience and promote the academic success of FGSOC: academic supports, transitional adjustment supports, and mental health supports. The reviewed literature is framed by a …

The Rise In Use Of Emotional Support Animals By College Students: The Impact Of Parenting Styles, Misty G. Smith, Samantha Ballard, Jill Willis

Georgia Journal of College Student Affairs

As the generational context of higher education shifts, a rise of Emotional Support Animals (ESA) and mental health concerns are present for students on college campuses. While previous studies have aimed to address the relevancy and controversy of ESAs in higher education as well as their effectiveness in supporting individuals, less research has explored underlying factors that contribute to the use of an ESA. The purpose of this study was to explore the parenting behaviors of parents/caregivers of students with ESAs in comparison to parents/caregivers of students without ESAs. An embedded mixed methods design was used. Participants completed the Parenting …

Describing Gambling Affinity: The Role Of Personality Traits, John Grable, So-Hyun Joo, Eun Jin Kwak

Journal of Financial Therapy

This study was undertaken to determine the degree to which personality dimensions provide insights into who is likely to gamble a significant dollar amount at a casino. Using measures of the Big Five, respondents were grouped into one of the following four personality clusters: (a) Moderate Trait Scores, in which no trait dimension was dominant; (b) Elevated Trait Scores, where a respondent scored highly across trait dimensions; (c) Agreeably Conscientious, in which a respondent scored highly on the agreeableness and conscientious trait domains; and (d) Highly Extraverted, where a respondent’s dominant trait dimension was extraversion. Respondents who were classified as …

Full Issue, Mississippi Counseling Association

Journal of Counseling Research and Practice

No abstract provided.

Using An Idiographic Approach To Clients With Health Anxiety, Scott Peters, Christine D. Gonzalez-Wong

Journal of Counseling Research and Practice

Worries about one’s health, while ubiquitous, can for some become quite distressing. Health anxiety occurs when one becomes focused on symptoms and fears they may become ill or die. This often overtakes their life due to continued worry. They often spend an inordinate amount of time and effort to seek answers. Other aspects of their life are placed in the periphery or abandoned. Traditional approaches are aimed at symptom relief. While effective for some, others continue to struggle. A more novel approach that aims to look at the client both holistically and individualistically can address much more than symptom amelioration.

Best Practices In Multicultural Supervision In Counseling, Caroline Fernandes, W. David Lane

Journal of Counseling Research and Practice

The latest U.S. Census Bureau listed an increase in ethnic and racial diversity in the United States. Contributing to this are the growing statistics of refugees and immigrants whose intrapersonal experiences vary from the mainstream culture. Considering this growth, it is vital that counseling supervisors are aware of various cultures, ethnicity, social, and spiritual experiences of supervisees in training in order to provide ethical and competent supervision. This paper discusses supervisory issues, directions and trends, social justice issues, and the use of technology in multicultural supervision.

Development And Validation Of The Optimal Supervision Environment Test (Oset), Ki Byung Chae, Charles R. Mcadams Iii

Journal of Counseling Research and Practice

The purpose of this study was to develop and validate the Optimal Supervision Environment Test (OSET), an instrument designed to assess the supervisor’s ability to create an optimal supervision environment. Using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), the initial validation of the OSET has yielded a three-factor model that identifies the following three environmental domains of supervision: the Emotional Environment, the Learning Environment, and the Power Environment. The total scale and each OSET subscale have strong internal consistency (.84 to .90). These results provide initial support for using OSET as a valid and reliable multidimensional supervision instrument.

Counselor, Know Thyself. The Impact Of Mental Health Literacy And Stigma On Stress And Satisfaction In Practicing Counselors, Allison Crowe, Patrick Mullen, Allison Spargo

Journal of Counseling Research and Practice

As a professional counselor, awareness of one’s attitudes, biases, and assumptions is critical. Previous research has demonstrated that counselors are not immune to stigma nor to negative attitudes towards mental illness and seeking professional services when concerns arise. Furthermore, researchers have begun to explore relationships between mental health literacy and stigma and how these impact stress and satisfaction levels. To examine these variables in practicing counselors, the current study surveyed a total of 145 participants. Findings from this research indicated that higher levels of self-stigma and negative attitudes towards help-seeking predicted greater levels of stress and less life satisfaction. Mental …

School Counselors Applying The Asca 2016 Ethical Standards, Glenda S. Johnson, Josh C. Carrico

Journal of Counseling Research and Practice

As the student population becomes more diverse in the United States (Human Rights Campaign, 2018; National Center for Education Statistics, 2018), school counselors (SCs) are also called upon to provide comprehensive school counseling programs to meet the needs of all students (ASCA, 2019). In addition to following the profession’s national model, the American School Counseling Association’s Ethical Standards (2016) provide a set of guidelines including specific language aimed at providing culturally competent counseling services to students and stakeholders. With this in mind, the purpose of this manuscript is twofold. The first goal is to provide SCs with strategies for use …