Objective The aim of the present study was to test the factorial invariance and convergent validity evidence of scores on the Somatic Symptom Scale (SSS)-8 with a national sample of adults living in the United States. Method A data collection contracting service was hired to recruit a national, non-clinical sample (N = 821) of adults in the United States stratified by the census data for age, gender, ethnicity, and geographic location. Results Factorial invariance testing via multiple-group confirmatory factor analysis revealed strong factorial invariance evidence (configural, metric, and scalar) of SSS-8 scores across gender, ethnicity, help-seeking history, education, and income. Convergent validity testing displayed strong correlations between SSS-8 scores and the following established measures: Patient Health Questinaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, and Mental Health Inventory-5. Conclusion Collectively, the results suggest that professional counselors can use the SSS-8 to enhance somatic symptomology screening efforts with adults living in the United States.

We evaluated the psychometric properties of the Trauma Informed Practice Scales – School Counseling Programs Version scores using item response theory with a sample of 270 school counselors. Participants ranged in age from 24 to 69 years (M = 42.82, SD = 9.96). Participants identified as female (81.5%), male (14.1%) or unreported (4.4%,). Participants’ racial and ethnic backgrounds were: White (79.3%), African American or Black (5.6%), Multiracial (5.2%), Latino/Hispanic/Spanish (4.8%), American Indian/Alaskan Native (0.4%), Other (0.4%), or unreported (4.4%). Participants from 14 states completed an online survey, which included demographics questions and the TIPS-SCP. After removing the poorly performing items, partial credit model estimates explained 58.63% of the variance in participant responses. We found psychometric evidence to support its ability to capture trauma informed practices in schools and school counseling programs.

Articles published in 22 counseling journals from 2010–2019 were compared on 26 author and article characteristics. Women now constitute majorities of authorship and counseling journals are publishing larger proportions of research articles, 63% of which used quantitative approaches and about 11% of which studied counseling interventions.

The Social Justice Scale (SJS) and various subscales were studied on a sample of 414 human services university undergraduates. Internal consistency (α = .93), discriminant validity, and response bias were adequate. The 4-factor model demonstrated an excellent fit. Implications were discussed for use of the SJS in practice and research.

This study presents a reduced version of the Perception of Family Support Scale (PFSS)—a measure of family support designed for research and clinical purposes—and examine construct validity, invariance, and reliability evidence for scores obtained from the instrument. Data collection occurred in 2019. Using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses with college student samples from Australia, Brazil, Hong Kong, and Turkey (N = 1,256), we identified an oblique three-factor model corresponding to the original scale’s internal structure (e.g. affective consistency, family maladaptation, and family autonomy). We also found configural, metric, and scalar invariance, good reliability coefficients, and significant relationships with distress (e.g. depression, anxiety, and stress) across the four studied countries. These results indicate good validity evidence for using the brief version of the PFSS. Applications of the PFSS and implications of the current results are discussed.

Psychometric characteristics of CESD-R scores were explored on a sample of 966 undergraduate students. Internal consistency (α = .92), external convergent and discriminant validity, and response bias were adequate to excellent. Strong measurement invariance was evident for gender and race comparisons, and the unidimensional model fit the data best.

We examined dimensionality and temporal stability of the Interpersonal Stress Scale-Counselor (ISS-C) scores in a sample of professional counselors (n = 518). Confirmatory factor analyses provided support for a four-factor model previously identified through exploratory factor analysis and a bifactor model. Using a randomized test-retest, temporal stability was evident among the scores of the ISS-C of the same client condition.

We developed and validated scores on the Lifestyle Practices and Health Consciousness Inventory (LPHCI)-2: Brief Version, a short form for measuring global wellness (mental and physical health). Tests of internal structure (EFA, CFA, and higher-order CFA) as well as convergent validity supported the psychometric properties of LPHCI-2: Brief Version scores.

Single-case research design is a useful methodology to investigate counseling treatment effects through a time-series graph. A systematic review of 42 counseling journals was conducted, yielding 50 studies, including 272 graphs. Most graphs did not meet recommended guidelines. How graphs impact visual analysis and suggestions to enhance interpretability are discussed.

This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Hope-Action Inventory (HAI) scores with a problematic substance use population (N = 783). The hierarchical seven-factor structure of the HAI fit the data well. Further, the HAI scores had satisfactory internal consistency reliability and good convergent evidence for validity.