Counseling Commons^™

Integrating Sexuality Issues In Career Counseling: A Special Commentary, Megan Speciale, Dominique Oster

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

The integration of sexual health and wellness competencies within the career counseling specialization is a crucial aspect of providing comprehensive support to clients. This integration holds significance in three key areas: clinical practice, research, and training. In clinical practice, addressing sexual health concerns that may impact career decisions can enhance the comprehensive support provided to clients. In research, exploring the relationship between sexual health and career development and satisfaction is crucial. Furthermore, incorporating sexual health and wellness competencies into training programs for career counselors is necessary to ensure practitioners have the knowledge and skills required to effectively support clients in …

Incorporating Sexual Health Content Into The Rehabilitation Counseling Graduate Program Curriculum: A Special Commentary, Kenneth C. Hergenrather, Nichole Tichy, Maureen Mcguire-Kuletz

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

Sexual health is considered a state of physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being (World Health Organization, 2006). Persons with disabilities are likely to be presumed as sexually inactive, asexual (Rico Alonso et al., 2021; Sant Angelo, 2000), or sexually deviant (Earle, 2001), often leading to their lack of sexual education, an increased risk of sexual exploitation, unwanted pregnancy, or sexually transmitted infections (STIs; Doughty et al., 2017). This commentary addresses three priorities for rehabilitation counseling graduate program curriculum. Clinical priorities should focus on providing persons with disabilities information and education regarding sexual health and wellness. Training priorities should focus on …

Lgbtq+ Substance Use And Sexual Health And Wellbeing: A Special Commentary, Michael P. Chaney, Nicole Urhahn-Schmitt

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

Although there has been some increased visibility in professional counseling literature pertaining to LGBTQ+ issues, gaps still exist. One such omission is how LGBTQ+ sexual wellbeing is negatively influenced by substance use. This commentary briefly reviews ways LGBTQ+ sexual wellbeing is negatively impacted by substance use. We provide commentary on how counselors may bolster sexual wellbeing when working with LGBTQ+ substance users and highlight gaps in counseling research. Lastly, recommendations for integrating this content into counselor training are provided.

Counseling Sexology In Marriage, Couple, & Family Counseling: A Special Commentary, Judith A. Nelson Ph.D., Lpc

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

Healthy couple and family sexuality adds satisfaction and intimacy to the most important human relationships. Systemic work around sexual issues can be complex yet very satisfying. This commentary includes basic information on clinical priorities in working with couples and families including how a counselor’s comfort level might determine outcomes in sexuality counseling. Research and training priorities and their impact are also discussed.

A Path Towards Intersectionality-Informed Counseling Sexology: A Special Commentary, Bianca R. Augustine

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

It is the goal of professionals within the field of counseling sexology and sexual wellness to provide clients with clinical mental health counseling through a sex-positive and affirming framework. To do so, clinicians must pay special attention to best practices in the field, especially as it relates to historically oppressed and minoritized clients. To do so, appropriate training is required to inform care. Furthermore, clinical practice is also informed by research, making it imperative that research is conducted related to various aspects of sexual wellness and treatment. This commentary will identify and discuss sexual health and wellness priorities within the …

Human Sexuality Education For Counseling Students, An Ethical Imperative: A Special Commentary, Meagan S. Mcbride

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

Human sexuality is a profound and multifaceted component of the human condition that is universally experienced. As such, it is an inevitability that issues related to human sexuality will come up in counseling settings; however, there is a lack of medically accurate sex education in K-12 schools. Additionally, there is no requirement, except for in three states, for students in mental health counseling programs to complete a course on human sexuality. While human sexuality is not a specific competency outlined by CACREP or ACA, it is universally experienced by all clients and counselors. This special commentary highlights the ethical need …

Letter From The Special Issue Editor, Megan Speciale

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

In the midst of the final drafting of the 2024 CACREP standards, this special issue is designed to call attention to the important role of sexuality across the CACREP specialty areas. Voices from across the counseling community have come together to create this special issue. Their contributions and perspective are shared here.

Special Issue 2022 Table Of Contents, Journal Of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research Education, And Practice Jcssw

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

No abstract provided.

"I'M Just Very Open To Trying New Things": Past Sexual Experiences And Sexual Curiosity In Bisexual Women, Rosalyn Zacarias

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Bisexuals make up a large percentage of the LGBTQ+ community. Despite this, they remain invisible in the literature. Sexual curiosity is also a concept with limited and confusing literature. The purpose of the study is to look past sexual experiences and their influence on sexual curiosity in bisexual women. The contribution of this study aims to better understand how bisexual women make meaning out of their experiences and highlight the importance of sexual health research. Data was gathered with a sample of 6 bisexual women ranging from 19-29 years old using semi-structured interviews. Three superordinate themes and five subordinate themes …

Predictors Of Burnout For Immigrant Mental Health Professionals In The United States, Rakesh K. Maurya, Isabel C. Farrell, Dareen Basma, Amanda C. Dediego, Kara M. Hurt-Avila

UNF Faculty Research and Scholarship

Mental health professionals who identify as immigrants encounter personal and professional barriers that can impact overall wellbeing. The current study conducted a survey of 108 licensed mental health professionals who identify as immigrants practicing in the United States. The survey included demographics as well as assessments of burnout, social support, and migratory grief and loss. The results of this study highlighted that a combination of higher migratory grief and lower perceived social support significantly predicted higher levels of burnout in mental health professionals. Implications for mental health programs, supervisors, and mentors and suggestions for future research are provided.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration Challenges Faced By Counselors In Places Where Professional Counseling Is Nascent, Rakesh K. Maurya, Kok-Mun Ng, John J.S. Harrichand, Gideon Litherland, Edward Ewe, Kaj Deborah Kayij-Wint, Gretchen Schulthes

UNF Faculty Research and Scholarship

The counseling profession may be considered well established in some parts of the world; however, in most countries it remains non-existent or a nascent profession. For the internationalization of counseling to take place, leading to establishment and advancement, the counseling profession needs to engage in interdisciplinary collaboration. Such a process enables a meaningful inclusion of counselors in professional spaces to allow them to meet the socio-emotional needs of clients and communities. In this article, the authors examine the challenges and barriers counselors experience when participating in interdisciplinary professional environments, specifically in places where the counseling profession is a nascent field. …

Counselor Self-Reported Competence For Working With Kink Clients: Clinical Experience Matters, Emily Y. Meyer Stewart, James M. Hepburn

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

The experience of counselor stereotyping, bias, and misunderstanding is often very real for those who participate in adult, consensual, non-diagnosable paraphilic sexuality, commonly referred to as kink. A created Counselor Self-Reported Competency Scale, drawn from American Counseling Association competencies, and the Attitudes about Sadomasochism Scale were used to assess counselor knowledge and attitude for working with kink clients. This research suggests competence with kink clients increases as clinical experience working with kink clients increases. The ability to maintain a nonjudgmental attitude and open therapeutic environment seems linked to increased clinical experience with this sexual subculture.

Spring/Summer 2022 Full Issue, Journal Of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research Education, And Practice Jcssw

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

No abstract provided.

Disordered Eating And Risky Sexual Behaviors In College Women, Kassie R. Terrell, Bridget R. Stanton, Hanadi Y. Hamadi

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

Disordered eating (DE) can negatively impact college students’ psychological and physical health; it is crucial to understand DE and its connection to other disruptive and co-occurring disorders. This study investigated if DE behaviors increase the probability of one such issue, risky sexual behaviors (RSB). Participants included 240 single female college students. Multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated a positive correlation between DE and RSB, wherein 44.65% engaged in both DE and RSB (p≤0.001). Compared to students who did not engage in DE, those who did had 3.42 times higher odds of engaging in RSB. Implications are provided for college campuses.

Sexual Violence Survivors In The Indian Diaspora: The Impact Of Acculturation On Support-Seeking Behavior, Bagmi Das

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

Survivors of sexual violence in the United States are provided many more resources than those in Asia. For survivors in the Indian diaspora, this provides a unique perspective when understanding their experience and seeking support. This mixed methods study was an effort to understand the relationship between acculturation and support seeking for these survivors, both from informal and formal supports. This survey research recruited 77 survivors of sexual violence who self-identified as women and within the Indian diaspora in the United States. The participants ranged from 18 to 43 years in age. The Stephenson Multigroup Acculturation Scale, support seeking checklist, …

Practicalities And Possibilities: Par Research In Counseling With Sex Workers, Theodore R. Burnes

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

Scholars have increasingly documented that a participatory action research (PAR) paradigm can strengthen learning about sex workers’ experiences. Many counseling researchers, however, may not be prepared for various contextual factors and experiences that can occur when doing PAR with sex workers. In addition, sex workers’ experiences of oppression and marginalization necessitate that counselors adapt their research methods to engage with this community. The author of this article discusses important process elements of PAR research with sex workers to identify methodological practices for counseling researchers engaging in PAR with sex workers. Implications for training with counseling researchers across the professional lifespan …

Spring/Summer 2022 Table Of Contents, Journal Of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research Education, And Practice Jcssw

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

No abstract provided.

“When A Tornado Hits Your Life:” Exploring Cyber Sexual Abuse Survivors’ Perspectives On Recovery, Rachel A. Adler, Spring Chenoa Cooper

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

Introduction: Forty-eight US states and 11 countries have enacted legislation criminalizing
the act of revenge porn, or cyber sexual abuse. This represents a shift in recognition of
the effects of cyber sexual abuse, as survivors continue to face societal norms of victim-
blaming. By capturing stories of individuals who consider having overcome their experience
of cyber sexual abuse, we aim to understand the process of recovery. Methods: We conducted
qualitative interviews with 15 adults who indicated, through a digital eligibility form, that they
had “overcome” their incident of cyber sexual abuse. Utilizing a grounded theory approach, the
authors …

Fall 2021 Full Issue, Journal Of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research Education, And Practice Jcssw

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

No abstract provided.

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.

Understanding Education In Sexuality Counseling From The Lens Of Trainees: A Critical Examination And Call For Increased Attention And Training, Kelly Emelianchik-Key, Adriana C. Labarta, Taylor Irvine

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

Although sexuality counseling is an essential component in counselor education training, research demonstrates that counselors lack competence and willingness to explore sexuality issues with clients. Counselors must be ready to address sexuality issues to provide comprehensive and culturally competent care. Sexuality counseling education needs further exploration to inform future training and educational standards. This qualitative study uses thematic analysis to examine 524 reflective journals of counselors-in-training (CIT) engaged in a sexuality counseling course to inform future education, training, and clinical practice standards in this area. This study revealed themes reflecting common ways CIT matured personally and professionally through sexuality counseling …

Sexuality And Disability In Rehabilitation Counseling Curricula: Rehabilitation Counselor Educators’ Attitudes, Comfort, And Knowledge, Sharesa H. Mccray, Tyra T. Whittaker, Jeff Wolfgang, Tammy Webb, Glacia Ethridge

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

Purpose: To examine the attitudes, knowledge, and comfort levels of rehabilitation counselor educators towards sexuality and disability, and to determine if significant differences exist within variables.

Method: Data was collected from a sample of rehabilitation counselor educators (N=27) via an internet-based survey. The Knowledge, Comfort, Approach and Attitudes towards Sexuality Scale (KCAASS) and demographic questionnaire was disseminated to collect data. A MANOVA was conducted to examine if there was a relationship among the variables of attitudes, knowledge, comfort, age, gender, and ethnicity.

Results: Results indicates educators having high comfort levels and positive attitudes towards sexuality and disability. The mean for …

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 …

Fall 2021 Table Of Contents, Journal Of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research Education, And Practice Jcssw

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

No abstract provided.

Exploring Multicultural Competence Skills Of Lgbtq+ Counseling Trainees, Jacob Perez

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

While counselors develop multicultural competence through counselor education, training, and supervision, the practice and demonstration of multicultural competence remains nebulous and lacks thorough prescription of specific counseling skills. The present study was conducted to explore and concretize the skills used by LGBTQ+ counseling trainees to demonstrate multicultural competence for understanding the client worldview and the counseling relationship. Data was gathered with twelve LGBTQ+ counseling trainees from CACREP-accredited master’s-level clinical mental health counseling programs through semi-structured interviews using a relational-cultural theoretical framework. Seven domains encompassed the 37 skill categories that emerged from phenomenological data analysis. The domains included (a) counselor authenticity …

Spring 2021 Full Issue, Journal Of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research Education, And Practice Jcssw

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

No abstract provided.

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 …

Deconstructing Sexual Shame: Implications For Clinical Counselors And Counselor Educators, Stacey Diane A. Litam, Megan Speciale

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

Although clients often seek treatment for sexuality-related concerns, counselors may lack the competence, comfort, and skills to adequately address these issues. Counselors may address these treatment barriers by developing a sex-affirming counseling framework. The following article outlines the importance of deconstructing sexual shame within clinical counseling settings and provides specific strategies to enhance the sexual empowerment of clients.

Sex Is Not A Four-Letter Word: Sexuality Counseling Training For School Counselors, Wynn N. Dupkoski, Viki Kelchner, Amber S. Haley

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

Although sexuality counseling training is not a requirement for Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accredited Counselor Education programs or for licensure in most states as a professional counselor, there is increasing dialogue taking place among professional counselors regarding the need for additional training in this area. The current article highlights techniques for incorporating and enhancing sexuality counseling training in Counselor Education programs based on the eight CACREP core competencies. After a review of the relevance of sexuality counseling within each area, with attention given to implications for school counselors.

Spring 2021 Table Of Contents, Journal Of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research Education, And Practice Jcssw

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

No abstract provided.