Counseling Association Research Articles

Conceptualization of Psychotherapy Incorporating Equine Interactions in the United States

Abstract While several systematic and mapping reviews have been published in the last decade on the psychological effects of interacting with horses in therapy services, little has been written about how licensed mental health therapists in the United States should best understand, describe, and conceptually position interactions with horses within their clinical practice. To this end, a healthcare-aligned conceptualization of equine interactions in psychotherapy and counseling is presented. Drawing from competencies and statements published by the American Counseling Association and the Human-Animal Interaction section of the American Psychological Association, the proposed conceptualization describes interactions with horses during psychotherapy as a technique and enhancement to existing treatment approaches, not as a standalone intervention or therapy. Additionally, the conceptualization aligns with legal and ethical responsibilities, and the professional identity of the licensed mental health therapist. The proposed conceptualization emphasizes the importance of using science-based information about horses so that their role and function in psychotherapy sessions can be more accurately understood. The conceptualization is proposed to have positive effects on the day-to-day practice of licensed mental health therapists in areas such as professional communication, treatment planning and provision, and engagement with healthcare processes such as service coding, reimbursement and insurance. The conceptualization could also be of use in research efforts as it clarifies how horse interactions should be understood in the context of treatment, which, in turn, affects research design. Use of the proposed conceptualization may help safeguard clients, other stakeholders, horses, and the licensed mental health therapists who incorporate interactions with horses in the provision of psychotherapy.

Creativity in the Classroom: A Content Analysis of the Journal of Creativity in Mental Health from 2005 to 2020

ABSTRACT This content analysis provides an overview of articles specific to creativity in counselor education classrooms published in the American Counseling Association (ACA) journal for creativity – The Journal for Creativity in Mental Health (JCMH) between the years 2005 and 2020. In addition to the number of articles on this topic published during this time period, the study identifies other aspects such as authors and institutional affiliations; methodology; study locations, target populations, and sample characteristics; area of CACREP course offering; and creative teaching strategies and course assignments. Implications for the scholarship of creative teaching in counselor education are discussed. Recommendations are directed toward future research areas for counselor educators’ consideration in the JCMH.

Transformative Psychotherapy and Telehealth: Qualitative Research Findings

focused on CBT might not be generalizable to other psychotherapeutic approaches: To date, much of the evidence base for video therapy comes from CBT and there is limited evidence to support the delivery of other therapeutic approaches online…Yet, estimates indicate over 80% of UK-based therapists have primary training in person-centered, humanistic or integrative practices [British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, 2021, '2.1 CBT focus of evidence base'].

A Call to the Profession: Cross-Cultural Competence and Learning from a Sister Profession

Cross-cultural competence has increased in applied professions, including occupational therapy, physical therapy, psychiatry, mental health counseling, and social work. Despite three decades of research and scholarship advocating the need for cross-cultural competence in TR/RT, it remains lacking. This paper is a call for the profession to do better. Based on (1) learning how American Counseling Association and the National Board of Certified Counselors have positioned cross-cultural awareness, knowledge, and skills as core competence in national and international practice, (2) examining cross-cultural research and scholarship in TR/RT, and (3) drawing from ATRA’s Higher Education Committee Task Force, this paper suggests specific recommendations to develop cross-cultural competence in TR/RT.

Robert L. Smith: Visionary Leader, Extraordinary Mentor, & Beloved Colleague

This remembrance of Dr. Robert L. Smith, 63rd President of the American Counseling Association, contains recollections, tributes, and anecdotes about the life career of a major contributor to the profession of counseling. Dr. Smith's roles as collaborator and mentor are evidenced in the words of students, colleagues, and leaders. He founded the International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors and served as Executive Director of the organization. Personal qualities enabled Dr. Smith to share his gifts with those he mentored. His influence in counselor education will continue through the lives of those who knew and loved him.

Refugees in Counseling Journals: A 20-Year Content Analysis

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.

A Dilemma Within Doctoral Supervision: Applying an Ethical Decision‐Making Model

This article is based on the second place–winning submission to the 2019 American Counseling Association Graduate Student Ethics Competition for Doctoral Degree Students. The fictional ethical dilemma presents three perspectives within doctoral supervision (i.e., a doctoral supervisor, supervisees, and faculty supervisor) related to grappling with master's‐level school counseling supervisees. A selected ethical decision‐making model is used to delineate the problems and dimensions of the dilemma and offer courses of action in response to the ethical dilemma. Implications for counselors, supervisors, and counselor educators are discussed.

Refugees in Counseling Journals: A 20-Year Content Analysis

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.

Earning Capacity of Private Rehabilitation Counselors

The following study builds upon prior research on rehabilitation counseling salary surveys completed by the American Counseling Association (ACA), the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC), the International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals (IARP), and the American Board of Vocational Experts (ABVE). The present study examines the current state of salary distribution within the private sector of rehabilitation counseling by combining the data sets from the IARP and ABVE participants into one large sample for regression analyses. The survey was created by building on the existing ACA and CRCC salary surveys in the counseling field and refined with the assistance of a Delphi panel of 10 nationally known rehabilitation counselors with an average of 31 years clinical experience. The survey participants included 524 members of IARP and ABVE who completed the identical online survey to provide the data to examine the average annual earnings, demographics, and participants who experienced disabilities during their career within the two national organizations. Results found that gender, education level, practice setting, licensure status, and years in practice were statistically significant.

Crisis Counseling for Black Lives Matter Protests

The resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement in response to the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and other Black individuals during the summer of 2020 was accompanied by widespread public demonstration and protest. Despite the peaceful nature of most demonstrations, data indicate that protesters experienced police violence at a disproportionate rate compared to demonstrations associated with other movements. Due to the crisis and unrest that undue police violence toward Black communities can cause, it is imperative that counselors identify ways to support communities in their collective acts toward resistance and liberation. This article reviews how counselors can integrate the Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies and the American Counseling Association’s Advocacy Competencies into crisis counseling responses that support protesters of the Black Lives Matter movement.

I cannot do that…I'm a counsellor: Implications of professional boundaries on counsellors' public life as entertainers

AbstractBackgroundThis study explores perceptions regarding counsellors who are also public entertainers, an issue on which there is a dearth in literature and in codes of ethics. For this study, we reviewed three codes of ethics: the 2014 American Counselling Association's (ACA), the 2017 British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy's (BACP) and the 2011 Malta Association for the Counselling Profession's (MACP).MethodThe research question begged a qualitative approach using individual, audio‐recorded, semi‐structured interviews with twelve participants: six counsellors and six non‐counsellors. Thematic analysis was selected as the most appropriate methods for analysis.FindingsParticipants think that counsellors can be entertainers during their free time, but need strict boundaries and ethical responsibility whilst following Rogers' (1957, 1980) person‐centred skills of being non‐judgemental, empathic and congruent. Boundaries, the context of a small‐island community, public life, self‐disclosure, wellbeing and challenges were all major themes elicited. Counsellor participants (CPs) highlighted that there is no guide Maltese counsellors can follow regarding what they can and cannot do in public as public entertainers. Participants noted that in the local context, counsellors need to be careful about disclosing their opinions regarding Politics and political affiliations. Politics seemed to be of particular concern and reflects the local biparty culture often loaded with emotions and very strong opinion and allegiances. Participants also reflected that the status of an entertainer/counsellor can also help publicise the profession in the best interest of wellbeing and the profession.Implications for PracticeImplications for practice include training courses with opportunities for reflection on what counsellors can/not do in public in order to continuously address boundaries; training on social media behaviour; training on specialised ethical issues around being a counsellor/entertainer through continuing professional development sessions; specialised training for supervisors; issues to be address in contacts with clients; and updated codes of ethics/ethical framworks.ConclusionRecommendations include personal reflection and supervision, training at master's level, continued professional development, revised codes of ethics and ethical guidance by qualified supervisors. This study was a master's dissertation submission, where Karen was the supervisee and Ruth the supervisor.

Person-centred experiential therapy versus cognitive behavioural therapy delivered in the English Improving Access to Psychological Therapies service for the treatment of moderate or severe depression (PRaCTICED): a pragmatic, randomised, non-inferiority trial

Person-centred experiential therapy versus cognitive behavioural therapy delivered in the English Improving Access to Psychological Therapies service for the treatment of moderate or severe depression (PRaCTICED): a pragmatic, randomised, non-inferiority trial

A Content Analysis of the Offender Population in Counseling Journals

We discuss the findings of an exploratory content analysis related to the offender population by examining literature from 2008 to 2018 in 23 American Counseling Association (ACA) and ACA‐affiliated counseling journals. The findings and implications of the analysis are discussed.

Practising counsellors’ identity salience in clinical supervision

AbstractCounsellors are called to appreciate variety within human experience and culture (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions, 2018). Similarly, counselling and psychotherapy supervisors who support the ongoing development of supervisees are tasked with understanding supervisees in their own cultural context. Supervisees and supervisors bring their own social and cultural identities into the supervisory space. In this study of 94 supervisees, the researchers sought to explore which social or cultural identity supervisees named as most salient in the supervisory relationship and whether the salient identity was one of minoritised or marginalised status. Gender, religion, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation or nationality was often listed as most salient. Further, individuals who identified with a minoritised/marginalised race/ethnicity, nationality or sexual orientation were likely to list that identity as most salient in their supervisory relationship. Implications include the importance of respectful inquisitiveness and supervisor readiness to consider a variety of salient social and cultural identities. Given many of these identities are invisible or ambiguous, supervisors who display cultural humility may be best positioned to provide culturally competent supervision.

Cross-Cultural Mentoring in Counselor Education: A Call to Action

Given the lack of formalized cross-cultural mentorship guidelines within professional counseling associations and accreditation programs, the recruitment and retention of marginalized graduate students, may be in jeopardy. The authors explored the value of mentoring for graduate students, the exponential growth rate of diversity within graduate programs, and how the disparity of marginalized faculty members creates a need and opportunity for cross-cultural mentorship. Recommendations for the creation of holistic cross-culturalmentorship guidelines for faculty-student dyads are provided.

Embodied Ethical Decision-Making: A Clinical Case Study of Respect for Culturally Based Meaning Making in Mental Healthcare

How does embodied ethical decision-making influence treatment in a clinical setting when cultural differences conflict? Ethical decision-making is usually a disembodied and rationalized procedure based on ethical codes (American Counseling Association, 2014; American Dance Therapy Association, 2015; American Mental Health Counseling Association, 2015) and a collective understanding of right and wrong. However, these codes and collective styles of meaning making were shaped mostly by White theorists and clinicians. These mono-cultural lenses lead to ineffective mental health treatment for persons of color. Hervey’s (2007) EEDM steps encourage therapists to return to their bodies when navigating ethical dilemmas as it is an impetus for bridging cultural differences in healthcare. Hervey’s (2007) nonverbal approach to Welfel’s (2001) ethical decision steps was explored in a unique case that involved the ethical decision-making process of an African-American dance/movement therapy intern, while providing treatment in a westernized hospital setting to a spiritual Mexican–American patient diagnosed with PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder. This patient had formed a relationship with a spirit attached to his body that he could see, feel, and talk to, but refused to share this experience with his White identifying psychiatric nurse due to different cultural beliefs. Information gathered throughout the clinical case study by way of chronological loose and semi-structured journaling, uncovered an ethical dilemma of respect for culturally based meanings in treatment and how we identify pathology in hospital settings. The application of the EEDM steps in this article is focused on race/ethnicity and spiritual associations during mental health treatment at an outpatient hospital setting. Readers are encouraged to explore ways in which this article can influence them to apply EEDM in other forms of cultural considerations (i.e. age) and mental health facilities. The discussion section of this thesis includes a proposed model for progressing towards active multicultural diversity in mental healthcare settings by way of the three M’s from the relational-cultural theory: movement towards mutuality, mutual empathy, and mutual empowerment (Hartling & Miller, 2004).

PROBLEMS OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS CAMPS, MAIDUGURI METROPOLIS, BORNO STATE, NIGERIA

This study assessed problems of internally displaced Junior Secondary School Students in Maiduguri IDPs camps Borno State, Nigeria. The one research questions and one null hypothesis were formulated to guide the study. Survey research design was adapted for the study. Five IDPs Camps were sampled, with the population of 2,369 of which 1,075 were males and 1,294 were females. Stratified random sampling technique was used to obtain 222 males and 275 females. Research instruments were used for data collection, which was developed by the researcher with the help of the supervisor and assistance from an expert in Measurement and Evaluation Department of Social Science Education, University of Maiduguri. The data collected was describe using descriptive statistics of frequency counts and percentages in answering the research questions while chi-square was used in testing the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The results revealed that the displaced students were faced with educational, health and challenges of basic needs. The study also found that there was significant gender difference in problems of displaced Junior Secondary School Students in Maiduguri IDPs Camps. The study also concluded that female’s students experienced more psychological problems compared to male students. It, therefore, recommended that Counselling Association of Nigeria (CASSON) Borno State chapter should be visiting the IDPs camps to interact and providing counselling services to the IDPs and also if there is need of referral, they should refer them to appropriate bodies. Article visualizations:

Addressing Albert’s Anger Through Logic-Based Therapy

Here I recount my practicum sessions with Albert, a client who struggles with anger outbursts. Since it can be hard to draw a line between a DSM and a non-DSM issue, my first inclination as a practitioner of Logic-Based Therapy (LBT)—and in line with practice boundaries and referral standards affirmed by the National Philosophical Counseling Association (NPCA)—was to refer Albert to a licensed therapist. But since Albert was already seeing a therapist, and since Albert never loses cognizance of what he is doing during an outburst, I proceeded with Albert anyway. I did make it clear, however, that we would not focus directly on past traumas or substance abuse or family dynamics, but simply on his emotional reasoning in and around those times when he feels angry. Ultimately, I found (1) that damnation, can’tstipation, and perfectionism were the chief fallacies nurturing Albert’s tendency for outbursts and (2) that the uplifting philosophy of Spinoza would be especially effective at stoking self-respect, self-control, and metaphysical security (the direct antidotes to these fallacies) in someone like Albert, an informed and committed naturalist and determinist.

The acceptance of school counselor in the use of ICT during school from home in the Covid-19 era

The Covid-19 pandemic marks an era of using online as a medium of learning communication, including counseling services. School Counselor are required to use ICT as a form of adaptation to learning with students. The research design using a quantitative Structural equation modeling aimed to test correlation of two or more variables. The participants are 214 School Counselor who are members of the Indonesian Guidance and Counseling Association (ABKIN) and the Guidance and Counseling Teacher Council (MGBK). This study measures the participation of School Counselor who fill out online questionnaires with respect to their perceptions of maximizing the use of ICT in providing counseling services. Measurement of the successful use of ICT in Guidance and counseling (BK) services during a pandemic will be measured through the attributes of Computer Anxiety (CA), Computer Self-Efficacy (CSA), Collegial Collaboration (CC), Lack Facility (LF), Perceive Usefulness (PU), and Perceived Ease of Use (PEOU). The results showed findings in which all attributes have a significant outcome on the use of ICT on School Counselor.

School Counselors Applying the ASCA 2016 Ethical Standards

<p>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 when providing services to diverse students. Next, the authors will highlight sections of the ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors (ASCA, 2016) that specifically address diverse students’ needs. Case scenarios will also be provided.</p>